cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radioimmunological Measurements of Bacterial Antibodies: II. Human serum antibodies reactive with Bacteroides fragilis and Enterococcus in gastrointestinal and immunological disorders

Serum antibodies to Bacteroides fragilis and an Enterococcus species were measured by a radioimmunological technique similar to that which we have described for measurement of antibodies to Escherichia coli (J Lab Clin Med 82:125–136, 1973). Concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies were determined in healthy subjects and in several groups of patients with gastrointestinal disorders. In healthy subjects, the concentrations of antibodies within each immunoglobulin class to B. fragilis, Enterococcus, and E. coli were of the same order of magnitude, despite marked differences in total numbers of these organisms in gut contents. IgG and IgM antibodies quantitatively predominated by several-fold over IgA antibodies. In gastrointestinal disorders, concentrations of antibodies to Enterococcus were normal or only modestly elevated. By contrast, concentrations of antibodies to B. fragilis often were elevated, particularly in regional enteritis and chronic ulcerative colitis where increases in all three classes of antibodies of as much as 14 times were observed; antibody levels were roughly correlated with severity and pyogenic complications of these diseases. More modest antibody elevations were found in patients with nontropical sprue, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, or chronic liver diseases. IgG antibodies to B. fragilis, as to E. coli (J Lab Clin Med 82:125–136, 1973), were elevated in patients with selective deficiency of serum and secretory IgA. Results of these studies provide evidence that: (1) concentrations of serum antibodies to intestinal bacteria are not much influenced by the relative numbers of various bacteria that inhabit the gut; (2) serum IgG and IgM antibodies to the bacteria studied are quantitatively superior to IgA antibodies; (3) increased concentrations of antibodies to B. fragilis in the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases most likely are consequences of the diseases, but a pathogenetic role of Bacteroides is a possibility; (4) absence of IgA from gut fluids might result in increased synthesis of serum IgG antibacterial antibodies.
Economic Value of Wildlife Resources in the San Joaquin Valley: Hunting and Viewing Values

This chapter quantifies the effects of agricultural drainage on the recreational demand for wildlife resources in the San Joaquin Valley (Valley). The current value of waterfowl hunting is $3.2 million annually at public refuges and $16.5 million for the entire Valley. The value of viewing birds in the Valley is $64.7 million annually. An estimate of the change in waterfowl hunting benefits at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) resulting from control of agricultural drainage water is made by combining information on wildlife response to selenium with a quality differentiated demand equation for waterfowl hunting. This simulation illustrates how a bioeconomic analysis of waterfowl hunting benefits from reducing wildlife contamination can be performed.
Biosynthesis of Glucosyl Diglycerides by Mycoplasma laidlawii Strain B

Monoglucosyl diglyceride is synthesized from 1,2-diglyceride and uridine-5′-diphosphoglucose (UDP); diglucosyl diglyceride from monoglucosyl diglyceride, and uridine-5′-diphosphoglucose by membranes of Mycoplasma laidlawii strain B. All of these enzymatic activities reside in the membrane. Membranes solubilized by detergent action or succinylation and acetone powders of membranes were inactive. Requirements for Mg2+, UDP, and appropriate lipid acceptor were demonstrated for biosynthesis of both glycolipids. Glucose-1-phosphate plus uridine triphosphate could replace the UDP requirement. A medium of relatively high ionic strength and a critical concentration of sodium lauryl sulfate stimulated biosynthesis of the monoglucosyl diglyceride. The optimal pH for both reactions was 8.0. A specificity for 1,2-diglyceride from the homologous organism was found for optimal synthesis of the monoglucosyl diglyceride, and a specificity for monoglucosyl diglyceride was found in the case of diglucosyl diglyceride synthesis. Both reactions were specific for UDP.
A New State of Surveillance? Applying Michel Foucault to Modern Motherhood

This project analyzed how "New Momism" (Douglas and Michaels 2004) is perpetuated among contemporary mothers. Previous work has argued that New Momism is most powerfully represented through the media. Our results indicate that New Momism is also practiced intensively on an interpersonal level via Michel Foucault's (1975) Panoptic stage of punishment: post-structuralist surveillance. We analyzed data from a snowball sample of 323 mothers through an online survey tool. Results indicate that while the media remains an important influence, the strongest predictors of New Momism are surveillance of fellow moms and surveillance of self through guilt. Results are discussed in light of Foucault's conceptualization of post-structuralist surveillance.
An energetic interpretation of nonlinear wave digital filter lookup table error (invited paper)

In this paper, we study error in wave digital filter nonlinearities from an energetic perspective. By ensuring that power dissipation corresponding to this error is non-negative, we respect the basic wave digital filter premise that errors should not correspond to an increase in system energy. In particular, this has implications for the formation of lookup tables and the choice of lookup table interpolation method. We give recommendations for both based on the sign and second derivative of the wave-domain function which is to be tabulated. These recommendations are used to study interpolation of a diode characteristic.
Diagnostics and Discovery in Viral Central Nervous System Infections

The range of viruses implicated in central nervous system disease continues to grow with globalization of travel and trade, emergence and reemergence of zoonoses and investments in discovery science. Diagnosis of viral central nervous system infections is challenging in that brain tissue, where the pathogen concentration is likely to be highest, is not readily obtained and sensitive methods for molecular and serological detection of infection are not available in most clinical microbiology laboratories. Here we review these challenges and discuss how they may be addressed using advances in molecular, proteomic and immunological methods.
3D immunolocalization with plastic sections.

Publisher Summary Electron microscopy (EM) tomography combined with immunolabeling is an important first step toward localizing proteins in 3D volumes of well-fixed material at high resolution. Immunolocalization of antigens on serial plastic sections cut for EM has the potential to map the 3D distribution of macromolecules in the context of relatively large volumes of biological material. The challenges of this technique involve the necessary compromise between the preservation of cellular ultrastructure and the preservation of antigen reactivity. The ideal situation would arise if macromolecules could be localized within a cell or tissue without the need for permeabilization to accomplish antibody access. The chapter discusses several options for labeling techniques, protocols for fixation and embedding, and antibody options and types of 3D reconstructions for EM immunocytochemistry. It also provides several examples of successful applications of these methods. It suggests new methods that may bridge the gap between the compromise of good structure and antigen reactivity through the use of low-temperature methods and other forms of labeling.
Randomized, controlled trial of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Development, design, and sample composition.

Following its introduction in 1947 for treatment of erythroblastosis fetalis and in 1949 for hyperbilirubinemia, exchange transfusion became accepted as the most effective means of preventing increasing serum bilirubin concentrations in the newborn infant from reaching a hazardous level.2 At that time, there was general agreement that the risk of bilirubin encephalopathy increased when serum bilirubin concentrations exceeded 20 mg/dL of serum and that this risk became greater with increasing concentrations. The safety of exchange transfusion was assessed by Boggs and Westphal14 in 1960 and found acceptable for that time. In 1958, Cremer et al22 reported a distinct lowering of serum bilirubin levels in infants exposed to direct sunlight. This observation was followed by development of light sources for exposure of infants to treat or prevent hyperbilirubinemia (phototherapy). Although phototherapy had been used and reported in Europe and South America, it was not until 1968 that the first study64 appeared in the pediatric literature of the United States. Other studies36,41,83 followed and suggested a potential role for phototherapy in the management of hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn infant. However, these studies suffered from lack of a sufficient number of patients to accommodate appropriate statistical adjustment procedures for the many known confounding variables. Also, these studies had inadequate numbers of control infants and phototherapy-treated infants who were followed long enough to perform evaluations of the impact of the mode of therapy on such parameters as hearing, sight, speech, IQ, and behavioral performance.31,74 DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDY In May 1972, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences established a Committee on Phototherapy in the Newborn.
Debating the criteria for brain death.

The article on the bioethics of brain death by Neil Lazar and colleagues does a superb job of covering the basic issues.[1][1] However, one important situation that the authors do not discuss concerns the patient with a massive head injury who meets the criteria for brain death imperfectly, perhaps
Temperature stratification and mixing dynamics in a shallow lake with submersed macrophytes

ABSTRACT This paper describes an investigation of temperature stratification and vertical mixing in lacustrine macrophyte beds. Field measurements in a shallow lake show pronounced diel temperature dynamics, driven by surface heat transfer. The temperature stratification data also indicate a significant dependence of vertical mixing characteristics on macrophyte stand height. While natural convective mixing during night-time cooling was rather uniform between measurement sites, wind-driven mixing during the day was significantly attenuated in dense, full-depth macrophyte beds, resulting in increased stratification and higher maximum surface temperatures. An unsteady, one-dimensional heat transfer model has been formulated to simulate temperature dynamics in shallow lakes with submersed macrophytes. Surface mixed layer dynamics are successfully modeled at time scales down to 1 hour, using an integral energy model formulated to include the effect of light attenuation and turbulent kineuc energy dissipation ...
414. Clozapine-induced upregulation of apolipoprotein D expression in mouse brain

utilizing a human cDNA library established from adult brain. These were subcloned into the plasmid pcDNA 3.1. Northern hybridization experiments were conducted utilizing commercially available blots. Polyclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing rats with recombinant or synthetic proteins for g2 through g4 and the antibodies were used in Western blotting and immunohistochemical studies. Northern hybridization revealed g2, g3, and g4 expression in CNS and lung. Western blotting revealed g2 and/or g3 in adult human brain. g2 is located at 22q13.1, quite close to a putative marker for schizophrenia and near but not in the critical deletion region for velocardiofacial syndrome. g3 is located near 16p12-p13.1 which is a region associated with a hereditary seizure disorder. g4 is located on chromosome 17q24-q25 and g5 is located at 17q22-q24 which are regions linked to hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy. Several new voltage-gated calcium channel g subunits are identified, cloned, and characterized. These genes should be evaluated as potential candidate genes for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Discrete o-minimal structures

On poursuit l'etude de la theorie des modeles pour les structures ordonnees. On discute l'existence des structures 0-minimales discretes
Organizing Principles of Cortical Layer 6

Neurons in the deepest layer of mammalian cerebral cortex are morphologically and physiological diverse and are situated in a strategic position to modulate neuronal activity locally and in other structures. The variety of neuronal circuits within which layer 6 neurons participate differs across species and cortical regions. However even amidst this diversity, common organizational features emerge. Examination of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of different classes of layer 6 neuron, each specialized to participate in distinct circuits, provides insight into the functional contributions of layer 6 neurons toward cortical information processing.
Extending neurological care to a developing world.

Most of the specialty areas of Neurological Science have developed over the course of the past 70 years. This has come about with the advent of angiography followed by nuclear scanning, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. The operating microscope and surgical loops have brought us microneurosurgery. Various instrumentation measures provide methods of spine stabilization. The joint efforts of various specialties have refined surgery at the skull base. The electronic age and computers have provided us the ability to communicate and educate on a worldwide basis. Yet, neurological care for people in developing countries is largely minimal or non-existent. The question is: “What can we do to extend neurological care to the developing world?
Reduction of geometric and intensity distortions in echo‐planar imaging using a multireference scan

Echo-planar imaging (EPI) is very sensitive to patient-induced field inhomogeneity caused by susceptibility changes between different anatomical regions. This results in geometric and intensity distortions in the image, especially near tissue/ air and tissue/bone interfaces. A new approach is presented to reduce geometric and intensity distortions in EPI. A phase-encoded multireference scan is used to estimate the amplitude and phase errors in the measured signals due to the field inhomogeneity. The EPI data is corrected using both the amplitude and phase of the measured errors. This technique has been evaluated using EPI pulse sequences implemented with conventional gradients and implemented with imaging systems that have special resonating gradients and fast analog to digital converters. The results in both phantom and human studies show that in the absence of object motion the new correction technique can effectively reduce the geometric and intensity distortions.
Actomyosin-Driven Motility on Patterned Polyelectrolyte Mono- and Multilayers

Positive polyelectrolytes were investigated as new surface coatings for promoting in vitro actomyosin motility. Two surface arrangements were studied: a monolayer of the polyelectrolyte PAH, poly(allylamine hydrochloride), and multilayers consisting of 11−41 layers of alternating polypositive PAH/polynegative PSS (polystyrene sulfonate) electrolytes. For in vitro motility assays, rabbit skeletal muscle heavy meromyosin (HMM) was applied to the PAH surface of the polyelectrolyte mono/multilayer. Myosin-driven motion of actin filaments labeled with rhodamine−phalloidin was recorded at 30 °C using epifluorescence microscopy. Actin filaments were found to have a mean speed of 2.9 ± 0.08 μm/sec on the multilayer surface compared to 2.5 ± 0.06 μm/sec on the monolayer surface. Average filament length and speed increased when nonionic surfactant was added to HMM and ionic strength of the motility buffer increased, respectively. Microcontact printing with a water-insoluble charged block copolymer on PAH produced ...
Changing one's prejudiced ways: Awareness, affect, and self-regulation

In this chapter, we review and integrate efforts related to the internal conflict people experience over their often automatic prejudiced tendencies. We first describe the Should-Would Discrepancy questionnaire, which assesses people's awareness of responding with greater prejudice than their standards prescribe. Results from numerous studies showing awareness of prejudice-related discrepancies and examining validity issues are summarised. Studies examining the affective consequences of discrepant responses are then reviewed. The development and testing of a model concerning the self-regulation of prejudiced responses are described. The model explains how people establish cues for control, which facilitate the inhibition of prejudiced responses. Finally, acknowledging that people sometimes fail to self-regulate their prejudiced responses, we review recent investigations concerning the effects of confrontation by others on the subsequent control of prejudiced responses.
Occupational representation by race, ethnicity, and residence in turn-of-the-century New Orleans

Abstract In this article we expand Gilmore's 1944 study of New Orleans by investigating the manner in which cultural and developmental factors affected competition for residential location. The analysis of ethnic and spatial variations in occupational structure underscores the utility of considering traditional and modern aspects of spatial differentiation within a single city. A sample of male household heads drawn from enumerator's books of the 1900 Federal Census reflected differing occupational structures according to the race, nativity, and residence of the incumbents. The residential patterns of employed male household heads generally supported the view that the emerging capitalistic economy was spatially segregated from the traditional craft-guild economy. Self-employed craftsmen predominated in the Creole city, while skilled wage-workers were overrepresented in the Anglo-American sector. Race and ethnicity combined with sector to affect the occupational structure. In the Creole sector, blacks maintained the traditional dominance of craft occupations. Entrepreneurial positions were opening up in the commercially expanding Anglo sector for some groups—notably the foreign-born—but not for blacks. Skills and cultural preferences of the immigrants were clearly evident in their overrepresentation in both the craft and entrepreneurial occupations. In the Creole sector, the foreign-born were more likely to take advantage of the availability of traditional craft occupations. The extent of modernization combined with cultural factors in creating and maintaining occupational niches.
Simplified Design of Roller-Compacted Concrete Composite Pavement

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is a durable, economical paving material for heavy-duty traffic. In the past, most RCC pavements have been built for low-speed traffic because of the difficulty of producing a smooth surface. A composite pavement system consisting of an RCC pavement structure and a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) riding surface is proposed. Simplified design tables, based on mechanistic analysis, are presented. Only fatigue cracking was considered, because performance studies of RCC have shown very little tendency for joint or crack faulting. Use of the design procedure is illustrated through an example. Results are compared with several other design procedures. Guidance for materials selection for the HMA surface layer and the subbase layer is provided, and construction considerations are reviewed. Cost data show that the initial cost of RCC pavements may be as low as 62% of the cost of conventional paving alternatives (not counting the HMA surface course). Suggested areas for further research into ...
Hepatic parenchymal calcifications—differentiation from intrahepatic stones

Intrahepatic hyperechoic lesions with acoustic shadows could be stones or nonspecific calcifications. To verify this, 9 patients with hepatic parenchymal calcifications were compared with 40 patients with intrahepatic stones. A set of criteria are proposed for the diagnosis of intrahepatic stones: (A) dilated intrahepatic duct; (B) pneumobilia; or (C) 2 or more of the following: (1) common hepatic duct more than 6 mm in diameter, (2) multiple lesions in one lobe, (3) left lobe involvement, and (4) elevated serum alkaline phosphatase. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 97.5%, 88.9%, and 95.9, respectively. The criteria help in the selection of patients for evaluation of intrahepatic stones.
Assessing identification of compliance requirements from privacy policies

In the United States, organizations can be held liable by the Federal Trade Commission for the statements they make in their privacy policies. Thus, organizations must include their privacy policies as a source of requirements in order to build systems that are policy-compliant. In this paper, we describe an empirical user study in which we measure the ability of requirements engineers to effectively extract compliance requirements from a privacy policy using one of three analysis approaches—CPR (commitment, privilege, and right) analysis, goal-based analysis, and non-methodassisted (control) analysis. The results of these three approaches were then compared to an expert-produced set of expected compliance requirements. The requirements extracted by the CPR subjects reflected a higher percentage of requirements that were expected compliance requirements as well as a higher percentage of the total expected compliance requirements. In contrast, the goal-based and control subjects produced a higher number of synthesized requirements, or requirements not directly derived from the policy than the CPR subjects. This larger number of synthesized requirements may be attributed to the fact that these two subject groups employed more inquiry-driven approaches than the CPR subjects who relied primarily on focused and direct extraction of compliance requirements.
Radiologic features of retroperitoneal cystic hamartoma

Retroperitoneal cystic hamartoma is a rare tumor believed to originate from small portions of the embryonic tailgut that normally disappear in early fetal development. Depending on the location and size of the mass, a wide range of clinical presentations is associated with the lesion. Most lesions are found in the presacrococcygealretrorectal space, but they may also occur in other retroperitoneal locations. Computed tomography (CT) is the most sensitive radiologic study for detecting these tumors, which usually are small, round, sharply marginated, and of homogeneous soft tissue density. We describe the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features in four patients. In three cases, the lesions occurred in the perirectal space, and in one it was found in the iliac fossa. In this last case, there was an additional lesion in the perinephric region.
Cross‐equatorial eddy momentum fluxes as evidence of tropical planetary wave sources

The large-scale asymmetries in the release of latent heat in the Tropics should be an important source of planetary waves. According to planetary wave theory, such sources are accompanied by a convergence of eddy momentum flux. These planetary waves may provide eddy fluxes of momentum across the Equator from the winter to the summer hemisphere in agreement with observation.
Mitochondrially targeted wild-type p53 suppresses growth of mutant p53 lymphomas in vivo.

The complex apoptotic functions of the p53 tumor suppressor are central to its antineoplastic activity in vivo. Besides its well-known action as a transcriptional activator of apoptotic genes, p53 exerts a direct proapoptotic role at the mitochondria via protein–protein interactions with Bcl2 family members, thus executing the shortest known circuitry of p53 death signaling. We recently reported that exclusive delivery of p53 to mitochondria exerts a significant in vivo tumor suppressor activity in p53-null lymphomas. However, it was unknown whether mitochondrially targeted p53 has suppressor activities in tumors harboring missense mutants, which constitute the vast majority of p53 alterations in human tumors. Here, we show that targeting p53 to mitochondria does confer a significant growth disadvantage in B-lymphomas expressing various point mutants of p53, resulting in efficient apoptosis induction in vitro and in vivo in mice.
Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate restores the ability of aged leydig cells to produce testosterone at the high levels characteristic of young cells

The wealth of knowledge about the function and regulation of adult Leydig cells, the cells within the mammalian testis that produce testosterone, make these cells ideal for studying principles and mechanisms of aging. A hallmark of mammalian aging is decreased serum testosterone concentration. In the Brown Norway rat, this has been shown to be associated with the reduced ability of aged Leydig cells to produce testosterone in response to LH. Herein, we demonstrate that culturing the aged cells with dibutyryl cAMP, a membrane-permeable cAMP agonist that bypasses the LH receptor-adenlyly cyclase cascade, restores testosterone production to levels comparable to those of young cells and also restores steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and P450scc, the proteins involved in the rate-limiting steps of steroidogenesis. These results strongly suggest that signal transduction deficits are responsible for reduced steroidogenesis by aged Leydig cells and that bypassing signal transduction reverses the steroidogenic decline by the aged cells.
Non-Darcy Flow Experiments in Anisotropic Porous Media

The velocity-pressure drop relationship in the near-wellbore region of high capacity gas and condensate reservoirs often deviates from Darcy's law. Furthermore, many naturally-occurring porous media are anisotropic and often layered. This study is directed at combining these facts in developing a mechanistic understanding of non-Darcy gas flow in anisotropic porous media. Non-Darcy flow coefficients, permeabilities, and electrical tortuosities are measured in cores with layers both in the parallel and perpendicular directions to flow and in non-layered, anisotropic cores. The presence of a connate water saturation decreases permeability in all cores but increases the non-Darcy coefficient significantly only in the perpendicular core. Both a macroscopic and a pore-scale network (microscopic) model of anisotropy are proposed. The product of permeability and non-Darcy coefficient is shown to be less anisotropic than either the permeability or the non-Darcy coefficient tensors in both experiments and simulations. In the microscopic model, the non-Darcy term has been found to be tensorial and proportional to the square of the superficial velocity at the macroscopic scale. As the pore-scale anisotropic parameter increases, non-Darcy coefficient and tortuosity increases, but permeability decreases. The models developed show order of magnitude agreement with experimental data.
The measurement of urinary tetrahydroaldosterone by gas-liquid partition chromatography

Abstract A gas-chromatographic method for the analysis of tetrahydroaldosterone in urine has been devised. The mean basal excretion of 46.7 μg/24 h was determined in five normal subjects on normal sodium intake. This metabolite was observed to increase in response to sodium deprivation and to corticotrophin administration. Two other, more mobile components were also observed. One of these was found to be consistently increased by sodium restriction and was thought to represent an additional mineralocorticoid metabolite. The advantages of this method are those of efficiency, speed, accuracy and replicability.
Mother and Child Reports of Preschool Children's Social Support Networks: Network Correlates of Peer Acceptance

This study examined the relations between characteristics of preschool children's social support networks and peer acceptance. Mothers and their children completed network interviews that assessed structural features of the child's network, the actual performance of supportive behaviors across four support domains (daily maintenance, occasional maintenance, emotional support, recreation), and the perceived closeness of the relationships between children and network members. Mothers tended to identify broader networks than did their children, and both maternal and child reports of the number of males included in the network were significant correlates of peer acceptance. A gender effect was also revealed suggesting that boys' networks included more male members than those of girls whereas girls mentioned more females as network members than did boys. Further analyses indicated that maternal reports of enacted emotional support, network size for emotional and recreational support and perceived closeness to network members were positively associated with peer acceptance measures. Child reports of the number of network members with whom he/she had a ‘special relationship’ and enjoyed spending time were correlated positively with peer acceptance. Multiple regression analyses revealed that network variables accounted for significant proportions of variance in peer acceptance measures.
Interaction of nitrogen dioxide with cholesterol monomolecular films: effect of initial surface pressure, time of exposure, and concentration of nitrogen dioxide.

Abstract The interaction of NO 2 with cholesterol monomolecular films was studied as a function of the initial surface pressure, time of exposure, and concentration of NO 2 . A condensation of the cholesterol films was observed that increased with the time of exposure and concentration of the NO 2 . This effect apparently was due to the loss of cholesterol from the interface.A percent apparent loss of cholesterol was calculated. Films exposed at an initial surface pressure of 7 dynes/cm.exhibited a greater percent apparent loss of cholesterol than did those exposed at 0 dyne/cm.An explanation for these results based on the orientation of the cholesterol at the interface is offered, and the possible biological relevance of this work is considered.
Manganese Treatment Modulates the Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors in Astrocytoma and Neuroblastoma Cells

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play roles in neural cells by regulating energy balance, cell proliferation and anti-oxidant responses although the molecular mechanisms underlying such roles are unclear. Chronic exposure to excess manganese (Mn) leads to neurotoxicity, although Mn-induced neurotoxic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized Mn neurotoxicity differentially alters the expression of PPARs. We investigated the effects of manganese chloride treatment (0.01–4 mM) on protein expression of PPAR isoforms (α, β, and γ) in human astrocytoma (U87) and neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cells. The two cell types expressed the 3 PPAR isoforms differentially: their expression of the PPARs was altered by Mn-treatment. Furthermore, nuclear and cytosolic fractions derived from the 2 cell types, with and without Mn-treatment, exhibited marked differences in the protein content of PPARs. Our results constitute the first demonstration that the PPAR signaling pathway may assume pathophysiological importance in Mn neurotoxicity.
Socratic Teaching in Social Studies

(1986). Socratic Teaching in Social Studies. The Social Studies: Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 158-161.
Retroviral Splicing Suppressor Requires Three Nonconsensus Uridines in a 5′ Splice Site-Like Sequence

Rous sarcoma virus RNA contains a negative regulator of splicing (NRS) element that aids in maintenance of unspliced RNA. The NRS binds U1 snRNA at a sequence that deviates from the 5′ splice site consensus by substitution of U's for A's at three positions: −2, +3, and +4. All three of these U's are important for NRS-mediated splicing suppression. Substitution of a single nonconsensus C or G at any of these sites diminished NRS activity, whereas substitution of a single A generated a preferred 5′ splice site within the NRS.
The study of soil chemistry through quasi-steady-state models: II. Acidity of soil solution

Abstract The acidity of three hypothetical soil solutions was studied with a quasi-steady-state model. Processes were assigned to one of three time scales: fast (processes at equilibrium), slow (processes for which the kinetics are specified explicitly), or very slow (processes that have a negligible effect on the steady-state solution). Reactions among species in solution and precipitation/dissolution reactions of solid Al(OH) 3 (s) were considered to be at equilibrium. The slow processes were uptake of nutrients by plants, root respiration, release of nutrients, production of CO 2 and organic acids during decomposition of organic matter, decomposition of organic acids, nitrification, atmospheric deposition, exchange of CO 2 with the atmosphere, and weathering. The relative importance of biological, chemical, and physical processes controlling the acidity and speciation of soil solution was examined; three cases illustrate high vs. low rates of weathering and absence vs. presence of organic acids. The sensitivity of the calculated solution pH to values of parameters in the model was examined through calculated sensitivity coefficients and an analysis of equations governing the system. Fluxes of acidity due to biological processes are larger than fluxes due to other processes, but because of internal feedback their effect on pH may not be as large as expected.
Reinstatement of latent inhibition following a reminder treatment in a conditioned taste aversion paradigm.

Reminder treatments have been shown to facilitate the retrieval of a variety of conditioned responses. Whether or not similar results would occur with an experimental paradigm which involves primarily memory for a stimulus, i.e., where no particular response is specified, is unclear. Accordingly, using Sprague—Dawley rats, we employed a latent inhibition paradigm with a long (10 days) retention interval between sucrose (CS) preexposure and sucrose—illness pairing (training). The results demonstrated a loss of latent inhibition following the 10-day retention interval suggesting “forgetting” of the CS preexposure. However, placing a single reminder exposure to the CS within the preexposure-to-training interval reinstated the preexposure effect. Controls indicated that in the absence of the initial preexposure the reminder per se did not produce latent inhibition. Thus, a reminder can reinstate a stimulus attribute (flavor representation) and explicit conditioned responses.
Sequence divergence in the Treponema denticola FhbB protein and its impact on factor H binding

SUMMARY Treponema denticola is an anaerobic spirochete whose abundance in the subgingival crevice correlates with the development and severity of periodontal disease. The ability of T. denticola to survive and thrive in the hostile environment of the periodontal pocket is due, at least in part, to its ability to bind factor H (FH), a negative regulator of the alternative complement pathway. The FH binding protein of T. denticola has been identified as FhbB and its atomic structure has been determined. The interaction of FH with T. denticola is unique in that FH bound to the cell surface is cleaved by the T. denticola protease, dentilisin. It has been postulated that FH cleavage by T. denticola leads to immune dysregulation in periodontal pockets. In this study, we conduct a comparative assessment of the sequence, properties, structure and ligand binding kinetics of the FhbB proteins of strains 33521 and 35405. The biological outcome of the interaction of these strains with FH could differ significantly as 33521 lacks dentilisin activity. The data presented here offer insight into our understanding of the interactions of T. denticola with the host and its potential to influence disease progression.
X-band ISAR imagery of scale-model tactical targets using a wide-bandwidth 350GHz compact range

The demand for high-resolution ISAR data on tactical targets at all radar bands has been growing steadily. Here we describe a new 350GHz compact range currently being constructed to acquire fully polarimetric X-band data using 1/35th scale models. ERADS currently operates compact ranges from X to W-band using 1/16th scale models. The addition of this new compact range using 1/35th scale models will permit the measurement of larger targets and the measurement of multiple targets arrangeed in a scene. It will also allow us to take advantage of teh large number of commercially available models at 1/35th scale. The 350GHz transceiver uses two high-stability optically pumped far-infrared lasers, microwave/laser 350GHz mixer side-band generation for frequency sweep, and a pair of waveguide mounted diode receivers for coherent integration. The 35GHz bandwidth at a center frequency of 350GHz will allow the X-band transceiver system to collect data with up to 6-inch down range resolution, with a round trip half power beam diameter corresponding to 60 feet. Tactical targets may be measured in free space or on various ground planes, which simulate different types of terrain. Compact range measurements of simple calibration objects have been performed and compared to theoretical results using computer code predictions. A correlation study of X-band data using field measurements, 1/35th scale models and 1/16th scale models is planned upon completion of compact range construction. Available results of the diagnostic testes and the correlation study will be presented.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Electrocatalytic Activity of Gold−Platinum Clusters for Low Temperature Fuel Cell Applications

The electrocatalytic activity of gold-platinum (Au-Pt) clusters was investigated in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. The clusters were synthesized by electrodeposition on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) substrates and carbon disks with dimensions from 50 to 200 nm. Methanol electrooxidation (fuel cell anode) and oxygen electroreduction (fuel cell cathode) activities were measured using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results for methanol electrooxidation showed that platinum could be partially substituted by gold to achieve higher resistance to poisoning without affecting the activity in acid electrolyte, while in alkaline environment, a significant overall improvement in performance was observed. On the other hand, for the oxygen electroreduction, kinetic results obtained using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) indicated that Au alloying with Pt does not significantly alter the catalytic activity in acidic electrolyte, while a significant improvement in activity was observed in an alkaline electrolyte, which is attributed to a synergistic effect between the Au and Pt.
Laser-induced nuclear orientation studies of 1-μs 85mRb

Abstract We have conducted a series of laser-induced nuclear orientation (LINO) experiments with the 1-μs nuclear isomer of 85 Rb ( 85 m Rb at 514 keV), and present here, along with the results, a quantitative model of the physical processes occurring in the 85 m Rb sample which characterizes the observations exceedingly well. The LINO process uses laser optical pumping to produce nuclear orientation, resulting in spatially anisotropic nuclear decay radiation patterns. The use of a cell configuration in these experiments, entirely off-line, has required the careful selection of a suitable parent—daughter system for isomer production, but in return, it allows careful monitoring and control over the processes affecting nuclear orientation. The model presented here incorporates the production and neutralization of the 85 m Rb “isomeric atoms”, the nuclear orientation achieved through optical pumping, and the aspects associated with detection of the characteristic anisotropic nuclear decay radiation. Predictions of this model accurately match measured absolute signal sizes over extreme variations in experimental conditions. It is hoped that some of the insights gained here will be of general use in the study of laser interactions with short-lived nuclear systems.
Does increased nerve length within the treatment volume improve trigeminal neuralgia radiosurgery? a prospective double-blind, randomized study

Abstract Purpose: To test the hypothesis that increasing the nerve length within the treatment volume for trigeminal neuralgia radiosurgery would improve pain relief. Methods and Materials: Eighty-seven patients with typical trigeminal neuralgia were randomized to undergo retrogasserian gamma knife radiosurgery (75 Gy maximal dose with 4-mm diameter collimators) using either one (n = 44) or two (n = 43) isocenters. The median follow-up was 26 months (range 1–36). Results: Pain relief was complete in 57 patients (45 without medication and 12 with low-dose medication), partial in 15, and minimal in another 15 patients. The actuarial rate of obtaining complete pain relief (with or without medication) was 67.7% ± 5.1%. The pain relief was identical for one- and two-isocenter radiosurgery. Pain relapsed in 30 of 72 responding patients. Facial numbness and mild and severe paresthesias developed in 8, 5, and 1 two-isocenter patients vs. 3, 4, and 0 one-isocenter patients, respectively (p = 0.23). Improved pain relief correlated with younger age (p = 0.025) and fewer prior procedures (p = 0.039) and complications (numbness or paresthesias) correlated with the nerve length irradiated (p = 0.018). Conclusions: Increasing the treatment volume to include a longer nerve length for trigeminal neuralgia radiosurgery does not significantly improve pain relief but may increase complications.
RNA polymerase II transcripts as targets for 5-fluorouridine cytotoxicity: antagonism of 5-fluorouridine actions by α-amanitin

The cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouridine (FUrd) results from actions directed at the synthesis of both DNA and RNA. The role of mRNA as a target for FUrd was investigated by selectively decreasing the incorporation of FUrd into RNA polymerase II transcripts of K-562 erythroleukemia cells, which was accomplished by the addition of α-amanitin to cultures of K-562 cells permeabilized with lysolecithin. In these cells α-amanitin at concentrations of 1–5 μg/ml inhibited the incorporation of [3H]-uridine into polyadenylated RNA by up to 45% and decreased the steady-state levels of two specific mRNAs but had no effect on poly A- RNA synthesis. α-Amanitin decreased the incorporation of FUrd into poly A+ RNA by up to 60%. The decrease in FUrd incorporation produced by α-amanitin was accompanied by an antagonism of the growth inhibitory effects of the fluorinated pyrimidine nucleoside by the mycotoxin, as measured by both growth in suspension culture and colony formation in 0.12% agar. Antagonism between these agents increased as the concentration of α-amanitin was elevated; furthermore, it was sequence-dependent, occurring only when α-amanitin preceded FUrd. These findings provide evidence that the actions of FUrd directed against mRNA are antagonized when FUrd incorporation into mRNA transcripts is decreased and that the effects of FUrd on mRNA produce cytotoxic consequences.
Age-related neuronal loss in the cochlea is not delayed by synaptic modulation.

Abstract Age-related synaptic change is associated with the functional decline of the nervous system. It is unknown whether this synaptic change is the cause or the consequence of neuronal cell loss. We have addressed this question by examining mice genetically engineered to over- or underexpress neuregulin-1 (NRG1), a direct modulator of synaptic transmission. Transgenic mice overexpressing NRG1 in spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) showed improvements in hearing thresholds, whereas NRG1 −/+ mice show a complementary worsening of thresholds. However, no significant change in age-related loss of SGNs in either NRG1 −/+ mice or mice overexpressing NRG1 was observed, while a negative association between NRG1 expression level and survival of inner hair cells during aging was observed. Subsequent studies provided evidence that modulating NRG1 levels changes synaptic transmission between SGNs and hair cells. One of the most dramatic examples of this was the reversal of lower hearing thresholds by “turning-off” NRG1 overexpression. These data demonstrate for the first time that synaptic modulation is unable to prevent age-related neuronal loss in the cochlea.
Supporting Student Work: Some Thoughts About Special Collections Instruction

ABSTRACT During the past decade we have noted a marked increase in the use of special collections materials in the university classroom. This presents the library with an opportunity to assert its role as a unique and irreplaceable contributor to the University's core mission. Asserting this is predicated on the assumption that an instructor's goals will be met, that students will become successful researchers, and that library staff will survive the encounter. This is not easy to accomplish and this article is an attempt to describe those elements that we have found to be central to a successful instructional outcome.
Fetal Surgery: It Has a Past, Has It a Future?

The past history of fetal surgery is briefly reviewed. The current controversies revolving around the fetal treatment of hydrocephalus and obstructive uropathies (posterior urethral valves, prune belly syndrome, hydronephrosis) are compared and contrasted with the remarkably similar controversies that raged when fetal transfusions were first introduced. The future of fetal surgery is discussed in the light of the ethical issues raised by the prospect of fetal surgery and the rather disturbing medicolegal climate. There are already important legal precedents which will affect the field of fetal surgery. The strong opinion is expressed that fetal surgery must only remain an option offered to the mother and never forced upon her.
Estimating the Federal Reserve's implicit inflation target: A state space approach

Abstract Existing estimates of the Federal Reserve's implicit inflation target typically rely on the assumption that it is constant for the duration of the period of analysis. This paper relaxes this assumption and estimates the implicit inflation target using a time-varying parameter model and the Kalman filter. In applying this method to the Volcker–Greenspan period, it finds significant time variation in the implicit target that is consistent with hypotheses about ‘opportunistic disinflation’ and the recent ‘deflation scare’.
Long range interactions and spin wave excitations in FexPd82−xSi18 metallic glasses

Abstract The low temperature magnetization of amorphous FexPd82−xSi18, 2 ⩽ x ⩽ 25, approaches saturation like 1/H. RKKY-type cluster-cluster interactions and single impurity effects are indicated. The effective strength of the RKKY interaction decreases with increasing x. The magnetization of both spin glass-like and weakly ferromagnetic alloys exhibits Bloch's T 3 2 dependence. The spin wave stiffness constants increase linearly with 2 ⩽ x ⩽ 25. The range of exchange interactions decreases with increasing x.
43.1: A Simple Vision Model for Inhomogeneous Image-Quality Assessment

The single filter model for image quality assessment previously presented at this meeting breaks down when the image luminance or masking contrast energy varies spatially within the image. A slightly more complex version of the single filter model is presented which allows for these inhomogeneities.