cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presenilin 1 is necessary for neuronal, but not glial, EGFR expression and neuroprotection via γ-secretase-independent transcriptional mechanisms

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays pivotal roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue development, while EGFs protect neurons from toxic insults by binding EGFR and stimulating survival signaling. Furthermore, recent evidence implicates this receptor in neurometabolic disorders like Alzheimer disease and aging. Here we show that absence of presenilin 1 (PS1) results in dramatic decrease (>95%) of neuronal EGFR and that PS1-null (PS1(-/-)) brains have reduced amounts of this receptor. PS1(-/-) cortical neurons contain little EGFR and show no epidermal growth factor-induced survival signaling or protection against excitotoxicity, but exogenous EGFR rescues both functions even in absence of PS1. EGFR mRNA is greatly reduced (>95%) in PS1(-/-) neurons, and PS1(-/-) brains contain decreased amounts of this mRNA, although PS1 affects the stability of neither EGFR nor its mRNA. Exogenous PS1 increases neuronal EGFR mRNA, while down-regulation of PS1 decreases this mRNA. These effects are neuron specific, as PS1 affects the EGFR of neither glial nor fibroblast cells. In addition, PS1 controls EGFR through novel mechanisms shared with neither γ-secretase nor PS2. Our data reveal that PS1 functions as a positive transcriptional regulator of neuronal EGFR controlling its expression in a cell-specific manner. Severe downregulation of EGFR may contribute to developmental abnormalities and lethal phenotype found in PS1, but not PS2, null mice. Furthermore, PS1 may affect neuroprotection and Alzheimer disease by controlling survival signaling of neuronal EGFR.
NO2 Reduction with Nitromethane over Ag/Y: A Catalyst with High Activity over a Wide Temperature Range

Nitromethane (NM) is a very efficient reductant for converting NO2 to N2 over Ag/Y: Between 140 °C and 400 °C, the N2 yield is close to 100%. This high N2 yield results from the ability of Ag/Y to effectively catalyze the reaction between NM and NO2. This high catalytic activity of Ag/Y is minimally affected by surface bound CN−, NC−, or acetate, all of which are stable at temperatures below ∼300 °C. At T ≥ 400 °C, there is a reaction path that yields N2 from NM even in the absence of NO2. However even at 400 °C, under typical deNO x conditions, most N2 molecules are formed as a result of the reaction of NM and NO2.
The influence of semicarbazide-induced depletion of γ-aminobutyric acid on presynaptic inhibition

Summary Administration of semicarbazide to acute spinal cats resulted in a gradual and complete suppression of the dorsal root reflex and dorsal root potential. Semicarbazide also produced marked reduction in the long-latency inhibition as measured by monosynaptic testing. The time course of these effects correlated with the time course of the semicarbazide-induced depletion of GABA in the spinal cord. Semicarbazide had little or no effect on mono- and polysynaptic reflexes or postsynaptic inhibition. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that GABA is involved in the mediation of presynaptic inhibition.
Determination of total 14C residues of sarafloxacin in eggs of laying hens.

[14C]Sarafloxacin was orally administered to six laying hens for five consecutive days. Eggs were collected for 15 days after the initial drug treatment. Egg yolk and egg albumen were separated and assayed for total radioactive residues (TRR) using a combustion oxidizer and scintillation counting techniques. Radioactivity was detected in egg yolk and egg albumen on the second day of dosing and reached a maximum at 24 h after drug withdrawal. Thereafter, the sarafloxacin TRR levels in egg albumen declined rapidly and were undetectable 2 days after the last dose, whereas the levels in egg yolk declined at a much slower rate and were undetectable 7 days after drug withdrawal. In both the egg albumen and yolk, HPLC analysis indicated that the parent sarafloxacin was the major component. Keywords: Fluoroquinolone; sarafloxacin; residues; egg
Diagnosis and management of surgical adrenal diseases.

a f v h s p h c p g a m d d s t m s he adrenal glands are paired retroperitoneal organs situated on the anteromedial surface of ach kidney. The adrenal cortex, constituting 85% o 90% of the gland, arises embryologically from he mesoderm and can be subdivided into the zona lomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. ach zone produces steroid hormones from a comon precursor, pregnenolone. The zona glomeruosa produces the mineralocorticoid aldosterone, nd the zona reticularis and zona fasciculata prouce the glucocorticoid cortisol, as well as androens and estrogens. Within the cortex lies the adreal medulla, consisting of catecholamine-secreting hromaffin cells derived embryologically from neuoectoderm. Glucocorticoids play key roles in cellular metablism, immunosuppression, and antiinflammaion. Regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitarydrenal axis, adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) s secreted by the anterior pituitary in a diurnal hythm, with a morning peak and a midnight nadir. ldosterone primarily controls salt and fluid balance. egulated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone xis, it is synthesized and secreted in response to ncreased levels of angiotensin II, hyponatremia, or yperkalemia. The catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephine, and dopamine are produced from the precuror tyrosine. Once synthesized, catecholamines are tored in vesicles and released by exocytosis with timulation of preganglionic nerves. Responses inlude inotropy and chronotropy of the heart, vasoonstriction, bronchodilation, lipolysis, increased etabolic rate, and pupillary dilation.1,2
CD31 Antibody Conjugation Improves Re-Endothelialization of Acellular Kidney Scaffolds for Whole Organ Engineering

95% CI [0.9655-7.192]). Graft survival was significantly lower in the ECD group than in the IKG group (p1⁄4 0.003, HR: 3.773, 95% CI [1.540-9.240]). CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation with ECD grafts was associated with an increased incidence of surgical complications and a reduced graft survival. However, with a 5-year survival of 88.7 % for ECD, it remains an interesting alternative for selected patients given the organ shortage.
A new algorithm for analytic element modeling of large-scale groundwater flow

This work introduces a new iterative Analytic Element Method (AEM) algorithm for solving 2D steady-state groundwater flow models containing large numbers of head-specified elements (e.g., rivers and lakes). The new algorithm improves convergence of models containing head-specified elements by explicitly computing fluxes of all such features at the start of each iteration. The new algorithm also enables the use of efficient parallel processing on distributed-memory super-computers. The combination of parallel processing and reduced number of iterations significantly extends the size and complexity of problems that can be modeled using AEM.
Three-photon induced fluorescence of the calcium probe Indo-1

We report the calcium-dependent emission spectral properties of the calcium probe Indo-1 for three-photon excitation. We found that Indo-1 could be readily excited with the femtosecond pulses from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser at 885 nm. This wavelength is too long for two-photon excitation, which is expected to occur for wavelengths no longer than twice the longest single-photon absorption wavelength of 400 nm. For excitation at 885 nm the emission intensity was found to depend on the cube of the laser power, as expected for simultaneous interaction with three photons. At wavelengths below 840 nm the emission intensity depends on the square of the laser power, indicating two-photon excitation at shorter wavelengths. The intensity decays of Indo-1 were found to be dependent on Ca2+ and essentially identical for one- and three-photon excitation. The emission anisotropy of Indo-1 was found to be considerably higher for three-photon excitation than for one-photon excitation, consistent with cos6 theta photoselection, as compared with cos2 theta photoselection for one-photon excitation. The high values of the anisotropy are in agreement with those expected for a three-photon process. Calcium-dependent emission spectra were observed for Indo-1 with three-photon excitation, demonstrating that three-photon excitation of Indo-1 can be used for calcium imaging by emission intensity ratio measurements. The calcium-dependent emission spectra indicate a higher three-photon cross-section for the calcium-free form of Indo-1 than for the calcium-bound form. The possible advantages of three-photon excitation include the availability of the appropriate wavelengths with solid-state lasers, enhanced spatial resolution due to a reduced size of the excited volume, absence of light quenching, and possibly high selectivity of the three-photon excitation process.
Biotech Venture Capital: The Investment Decision Process

There are only a few dozen top life science venture capital (VC) funds yet no formal study to our knowledge has evaluated what differentiates the firms or investing styles. We attempt to explain how the top life science venture capital investors evaluate investing opportunities in private biotechnology companies. While this article does not attempt to teach the proper way to invest, since clearly there are as many different styles as there are venture firms, the authors hope to shed some light on how some of the best biotechnology investors approach companies and investment decisions. The results suggest that there is a link between a style of investing and the people9s backgrounds at these firms. Furthermore, there is some loose correlation to the investing style to the returns enjoyed. Lastly, a few myths about the industry are debunked.
Precision of the Cone Calorimeter and ICAL Test Methods

Repeatability and reproducibility are typically determined for standard fire test methods on the basis of an interlaboratory test program (round-robin) to define their precision. Significant differences in precision were found in the past between the repeatability and reproducibility of small-scale and intermediate- and large-scale fire test methods that all utilize oxygen calorimetry to measure heat release rate. Repeatability of heat release rate related measurements with small-scale apparatus has been found to be significantly better than the repeatability of the intermediate and large-scale apparatuses. In this paper, the results of two round-robins are compared on the basis of relative repeatability standard deviations and relative reproducibility standard deviations calculated for individual materials for individual test parameters. The first one was a cone calorimeter round-robin and the second was an intermediate-scale calorimeter (ICAL) round-robin. The objective and subjective factors that might have contributed to the differences between the two test methods in both repeatability and reproducibility were analyzed. The most important factors that caused the differences in the ICAL round-robin were higher theoretical uncertainty of the ICAL, inadequate pre-round-robin calibrations, the small numbers of participating laboratories and samples tested, prevalence of fire-retardant-treated materials, and possible failure of some of the laboratories to fully comply with the standard. These factors, especially the fact that the testing procedures and apparatuses in the participating laboratories may not have been in complete accordance with the standards, indicate that the results of the round-robins did not reflect the real precision of the test methods. However, the terminology using the two components of precision, repeatability and reproducibility, is maintained in this paper except where a specific distinction is noted. Recommendations are made on how to improve the results of future fire test round-robins.
Recent rapid uplift in the Bolivian Andes: Evidence from fission-track dating

Apatite and zircon fission-track cooling ages constrain the Tertiary cooling and uplift history of the eastern Cordillera and Altiplano of Bolivia. Fission-track data are from two Triassic plutons and surrounding Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks in the eastern Andes north of La Paz. Zircon cooling ages indicate that the roof of the Huayna Potosi pluton was emplaced in the zircon partial annealing zone and that the Zongo pluton was emplaced entirely in the zircon total annealing zone. Apatite cooling ages for both plutons record uplift in the past 5-15 m.y., and zircon cooling ages from the Zongo pluton reflect uplift in the past 25-45 m.y. Uplift rates calculated by these apatite and zircon cooling ages suggest that uplift rates were 0.1-0.2 mm/yr between 20 and 40 Ma and increased significantly between 10 and 15 Ma. By 3 Ma, uplift rates may have been as high as 0.7 mm/yr.
Transient studies of screw and edge dislocation generation at crack edges

Exact transient analyses of the generation of screw and edge dislocations at the edges of stationary cracks subjected to the diffraction of, respectively, plane SH- and SV-waves, and their subsequent arrest are performed. The solutions are examined in light of a dislocation emission criterion which is based, simultaneously, on standard dislocation force concepts and quasi-static emission studies. This examination allows expressions for the times of emission and arrest, the distances traveled by the dislocations, and the dynamic stress intensity factors to be derived in terms of parameters such as dislocation speed and yield stress. These expressions exhibit distinctive dynamic effects and reveal several features of the generation process: In particular, the times and distances are, while on a micromechanical scale, not necessarily insignificant, and imply that purely brittle fracture may not easily occur. Then, edge dislocation emission would appear to occur at a preferred speed, while screw dislocation emission apparently prefers to take place quasi-statically. Examination of a general incident waveform class shows that a continuous wave could cause dislocation generation to occur before a step-stress wave can. Moreover, the emission process depends upon a weighted time history of the incident wave stress, not its instantaneous value. This, in turn, implies that dislocation emission does not necessarily shield the crack edge by lowering the dynamic stress intensity factor. Finally, unless the dislocations are allowed to decelerate to zero speed upon arrest, a repetitious process of start-stop motion can in principle take place.
“That Is Best Which Liest Nearest”: Longfellow Family Art, 1804–1924

The two-hundredth birthday of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow prompted two curators at the Maine Historical Society to gather materials that demonstrate the skill and respect for art makin...
A Bayesian approach to compare observed rainfall data to deterministic simulations

We compare ground rainfall with purely deterministic Regional Climate Model (RCM) simulations within a Bayesian framework. A truncated normal model is fitted to the observed ground data to represent spatial variability. The predictive posterior distribution of the spatially aggregated rainfall is obtained by using a Markov chain Monte Carlo method and compared to the RCM simulations. Also, the predictive posterior distribution of the RCM output is downscaled using the truncated normal model and obtaining pointwise rainfall estimates from aerial observations which are compared to the ground observations. These two procedures allow us to determine if the differences between the two sources of information are compatible with the variability predicted by the spatial model. Also, point rainfall estimates at locations without rainfall measurements conditioned on RCM observations can be obtained. We considered a set of data from an area in Nebraska for which time is considered fixed and rainfall is accumulated monthly. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Yield analysis of large capacity magnetic bubble circuits with redundancy design

As the capacity of magnetic bubble circuit designs is increased the processing yield decreases due to the finite number of defects in the epitaxial garnet film and the overlay circuit. A model is presented to examine the effect on the fabrication yield of an on-chip modifiable redundant circuit design for a 105bit serial shift register. The yield model is based on a conceptual design which consists of a primary loop and a set of secondary loops which may be eliminated from or made part of the memory storage loop without introducing blanks in the data stream. The ability to enable and disable the secondary loops has a finite yield which is included in the calculation of overall yield. Other factors which contribute to the overall yield include the contribution of the garnet film and the processed circuit, which take the form of a sum of binomial terms, each with a Poisson density probability. The results show that the yield of the enable and disable operation must be greater than 0.9 to achieve fabrication costs which are equal to or less than the nonredundant simple serial shift register.
Pharmacokinetics of extracellular melatonin in Siberian hamster forebrain.

Abstract In vivo brain microdialysis was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously injected melatonin in the anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area (AH-POA) of the male Siberian hamster. Animals with a microdialysis probe implanted in the AH-POA were treated with a subcutaneous melatonin injection at 0900 h (3 h after lights-on) or 2000 h (2 h prior to lights-off). Treatment with 2.5 or 0.25 mg/kg dosages of melatonin in saline vehicle induced peak concentrations of melatonin in AH-POA microdialysates within 20 min of injection (165 ± 34 and 18 ± 8 pg/20 min, respectively). For the 2.5 and 0.25 mg/kg dosages, the half-life of the absorbed melatonin (t 1 2 elimination) was less than 20 min, and the concentrations fell to baseline within 60 min after injection. There were no significant time of day effects on the kinetic profile of extracellular melatonin associated with either of these dosages. These results confirm the rapid accumulation and clearance of extracellular melatonin in the vicinity of its putative target tissues.
Monitoring health outcomes following cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomitosis (PC) is an aggressive treatment designed to alleviate symptoms and prolong life. It is associated with physical and psychological morbidity. The purpose of this study was to monitor health outcomes related to treatment. Patients completed a questionnaire before and after surgery at 3, 6 and 12 months. The questionnaire consisted of basic demographic items as well as the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Colon Scale (FACT-C), SF-36 Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale (CES-D), Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form, and ECOG Performance Status Rating. Time trends were assessed with mixed models (SAS PROC MIXED) so as to use all data and to account for missing data. Ninety-six patients (49% females, 9% African Americans) of an average age of 52.9 (SD = 12.5) years were assessed before surgery. PC originated in primary lesions of the appendix (n = 36); colon/rectum (n = 24); mesothelium (n = 9); ovary (n = 5); stomach (n = 4); and miscellaneous (n = 18). Quality of life (QOL) and pain scores improved from baseline to 12 months. Physical functioning changed over the 12-month study period with improvement recorded at 6 months. The percentage of patients reporting significant depressive symptom at each time point was; baseline= 32%; 3 months= 19%; 6 & 12 months= 24%. Acceptable QOL, return of functional status, and reduced pain can be attained between 3 and 6 months following treatment although some deficits in general health remain. Depressive symptoms are common and should be monitored.
Phelps' technical progress model generalized.

Abstract We generalize Phelps' technical progress function and make it more realistic, by weakening assumptions and by adding education and income as influences on technical progress. The result retains the simplicity of Phelps' result, and reinforces the heterodox conclusion that higher population growth implies faster economic growth and higher consumption.
Some factors influencing valine and isoleucine transaminase activity in Neurospora crassa

Abstract The specific transaminase activity of Neurospora for the conversion of ketoisoleucine and ketovaline to their respective amino acids has been shown to depend in part upon the age of the mycelium, the temperature of incubation, and the presence of certain amino acids in the medium.
Analogs of MK-499 are differentially affected by a mutation in the S6 domain of the hERG K+ channel

Abstract Drug-induced long QT syndrome has been principally ascribed to block of the cardiac hERG K + channel. Methanesulfonanilides, such as MK-499, E-4031 and dofetilide, are potent hERG antagonists that likely bind along the S6 helix within the inner vestibule of the pore. To further investigate these interactions, we broadly explored the structure–activity relationships of closely related analogs of MK-499 using a high-throughput ion flux assay, and evaluated in greater detail using patch-clamp electrophysiology. We observed that substitutions at the 4-position on the benzopyran ring significantly affected the potency of these analogs with the rank order of unsubstituted ≈ ketone > amine > hydroxyl, implicating an important interaction at this position. We also evaluated the potency of these analogs on an S6 mutant of hERG (F656A) previously shown to significantly reduce the affinity for MK-499 and other known hERG antagonists (e.g. cisapride, terfenadine). In contrast to MK-499 (4-hydroxyl) and either the amine or unsubstituted analogs, the potency of the ketone analog was unaffected by this mutation suggesting that a compensatory interaction may be unveiled with the aromatic to apolar substitution, possibly through hydrogen bonding with Ser624 based on molecular modeling. More significantly, we found that this mutation rendered hERG susceptible to block in the closed-state by the smaller, unsubstituted analog, but not by MK-499 or larger analogs. Together these data suggest that interaction with Phe656 is not an absolute requirement for the binding of all methanesulfonanilide compounds, and that this residue may play a broader role in regulating access to the inner vestibule.
Volumes of critical bubbles from the nucleation theorem.

A corollary of the nucleation theorem due to Kashchiev [Nucleation: Basic Theory with Applications (Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2000)] allows the volume V* of a critical bubble to be determined from nucleation rate measurements. The original derivation was limited to one-component, ideal gas bubbles with a vapor density much smaller than that of the ambient liquid. Here, an exact result is found for multicomponent, nonideal gas bubbles. Provided a weak density inequality holds, this result reduces to Kashchiev’s simple form which thus has a much broader range of applicability than originally expected. Limited applications to droplets are also mentioned, and the utility of the pT,x form of the nucleation theorem as a sum rule is noted.
Polypeptide biosynthesis from thioesters of amino acids

Abstract Each of the two enzyme fractions for gramicidin S (GS) biosynthesis and the three for tyrocidine (Ty) biosynthesis form complexes with the corresponding substrate amino acids. These complexes, isolated by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, contain equivalent amounts of aminoacyl adenylate and amino acid bound as thioester. As shown previously by denaturation through trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation of these enzyme-amino acid complexes also discharges the noncovalently bound aminoacyl adenylate, retaining only the amino acids covalently bound as thioester, but without loss of activity. Combination of the thus prepared GS light enzyme charged with phenylalanine thioester and GS heavy enzyme charged with proline, valine, ornithine, and leucine thioester results in GS biosynthesis in the absence of aminoacyl adenylate. Moreover, the d -phenylalanine thioester of N-acetylcysteine or of thiophenol replaces the natural donor of activated amino acid, aminoacyl-AMP, produced by the reaction of ATP and amino acid, further substantiating the key role of thioester intermediates in antibiotic polypeptide biosynthesis.
Lighting up TCR takes advantage of serial triggering.

The complex interaction with APCs that is required for T cell activation is not well understood. A combination of experimental data and mathematical modeling provides insight into the competition between serial triggering and kinetic proofreading.
How Do Sustainable Schools Integrate Sustainability Education? An Assessment of Certified Sustainable K–12 Schools in the United States

We provide an overview of research in sustainability education. We argue that the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability programs at K–12 schools is one metric by which sustainability education can be conceptualized. We present a new measure of whole-school sustainability, or “interconnectedness,” and then use it to compare U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. In total, we compare 59 different schools, with a total of 289 sustainability projects. Finally, we provide an analysis of differences between schools that are certified as sustainable. Using the results from our cross-school comparison, we provide recommendations and strategies that appear to promote interconnectedness or whole-school sustainability.
Transgenes delivered by lentiviral vector are suppressed in human embryonic stem cells in a promoter-dependent manner

Lentiviruses have been increasingly used for genetic modification of human cells including embryonic stem (ES) cells. Using four ubiquitous promoters--cytomegalovirus (CMV), cytomegalovirus immediate-early enhancer/chicken beta-actin hybrid (CAG), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), and human elongation factor-1alpha (EF1alpha)--in a lentiviral vector to drive the expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene in human ES cells and mouse ES cells, we determined the extent of EGFP suppression by assessing the percentage of cells that were transduced with the EGFP gene but did not fluoresce green. A much higher level of transgene suppression was observed in human ES cells as compared to mouse ES cells. The suppression was also highly promoter dependent, leading to inactivation of more than 95% of the EGFP genes under the CMV or CAG promoter while only 55% under the PGK promoter. No promoter-dependent suppression was observed in transient transfection of human ES cells. Thus, the common phenomenon of poor transgene expression in human ES cells may be caused mainly by suppression of the transgene right after transduction and integration. Cautions should be taken to choose the optimal promoter when lentiviruses are used for genetic modification of human ES cells.
Thermal activation of flow stress transients in mild steel

Abstract A high strain rate evolution through the Luder’s extension can be induced in mild steel wires under dead weight loading using a rapid heating (≈40°C s −1 ) thermal history generated by the direct resistance heating method. Using this experimental technique, the behavior of two different microstructures derived from cold drawn AISI 1018 wire was investigated, a pearlite/ferrite microstructure (ASTM no. 9) produced by a normalizing heat treatment, and a smaller ferrite grain size (ASTM no. 10) produced by recrystallization annealing. With axial and diametral extensometers estimates of the Luders band velocity and the lower bound strain rate attained within the band were obtained. For normalized mild steel at 273 MPa, the maximum Luder’s band velocity measured directly was 1.3 m s −1 . The lower bound strain rate within the band was estimated to be about 8 s −1 . Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of the dislocation structures associated with both materials showed that the strain bursts resulted in a higher dislocation density. Based on the high strain rates measured, the short duration of deformation and the dislocation structures observed, some constraints on possible mechanisms are proposed.
Effects of synergistic reinforcement and absorbable fiber strength on hydroxyapatite bone cement

Approximately a million bone grafts are performed each year in the United States, and this number is expected to increase rapidly as the population ages. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) can intimately adapt to the bone cavity and harden to form resorbable hydroxyapatite with excellent osteoconductivity and bone-replacement capability. The objective of this study was to develop a strong CPC using synergistic reinforcement via suture fibers and chitosan, and to determine the fiber strength–CPC composite strength relationship. Biopolymer chitosan and cut suture filaments were randomly mixed into CPC. Both suture filaments and composite were immersed in a physiological solution. After 1-day immersion, cement flexural strengths (mean ± SD; n = 6) were: (2.7 ± 0.8) MPa for CPC control; (11.2 ± 1.0) MPa for CPC–chitosan; (17.7 ± 4.4) MPa for CPC–fiber composite; and (40.5 ± 5.8) MPa for CPC–chitosan–fiber composite. They are significantly different from each other (Tukey's at 0.95). The strength increase from chitosan and fiber together in CPC was much more than that from either fiber or chitosan alone. The composite strength became (9.8 ± 0.6) MPa at 35-day immersion and (4.2 ± 0.7) MPa at 119 days, comparable to reported strengths for sintered porous hydroxyapatite implants and cancellous bone. After suture fiber dissolution, long macropore channels were formed in CPC suitable for cell migration and tissue ingrowth. A semiempirical relationship between suture fiber strength SF and composite strength SC were obtained: SC = 14.1 + 0.047 SF, with R = 0.92. In summary, this study achieved substantial synergistic effects by combining random suture filaments and chitosan in CPC. This may help extend the use of the moldable, in situ hardening hydroxyapatite to moderate stress-bearing orthopedic applications. The long macropore channels in CPC should be advantageous for cell infiltration and bone ingrowth than conventional random pores and spherical pores. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Embryonic determination of pupal diapause in the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis

Abstract The photoperiod to which embryos of Sarcophaga crassipalpis are exposed during their development within the uterus of the adult female determines whether the pupae will enter diapause. Rearing the fly throughout all of its life stages at 25°C with a 12 : 12 light : dark cycle results in a high incidence of diapause (85 per cent). However, if the females containing the developing embryos are maintained under a 17 : 7 light : dark cycle at 25°C, diapause is not manifested. Reinforcement of the short day photoperiod for the first 2 days of larval life is necessary for a maximum diapause response in the short day flies; however, no amount of short day photoperiod during larval life is sufficient to induce diapause if the signal is not also provided during the sensitive period (1 or 2 days) in late embryonic life. Experiments were designed to determine whether the photoperiodic signals were being transmitted directly through the body of the female to the developing embryo or whether the female was picking up the signal and transmitting the information hormonally to the embryo. Neck ligated flies, isolated abdomens, and fertilized eggs incubated in an artificial uterus were maintained under the two photoperiods; the diapause level of the progeny was identical to that obtained with intact mothers. The results support the view that the developing embryos receive the photoperiodic signal directly through the integument of the female's abdomen.
Analysis of image-based measurements and USDA characteristics as predictors of beef lean yield

This paper describes a comprehensive analysis of the 12th rib image measurements, USDA yield characteristics and USDA yield grade as predictors of beef lean yield. The predictors were used in separate groups to construct three sets of multiple linear regression models for the prediction of lean yield of 241 carcasses. Fat thickness is traditionally considered the most useful predictor. The analysis showed that the percent rib eye area was a more useful single predictor than fat thickness, and that the average fat thickness was insignificant when rib eye area and fat area were used. While marbling is traditionally considered a predictor of quality, the results showed that marbling characteristics were also useful for yield prediction. The usually-observed large differences in accuracy between the predictions of lean weight and lean percentage were shown to result from the variations in carcass weight. Statistical diagnostics confirmed the suitability of the models developed. A neural network model was tested and the results suggested that the inclusion of nonlinearity in the predictive models did not prove beneficial. Important predictors were identified and the advantages of computer vision and image processing techniques were further demonstrated.
Improvement of the resolution of an instrument by numerical solution of an integral equation

Abstract A method of data analysis has been developed which has the same effect as a substantial increase in the resolving power of the instrument which produced the data. The output of a physical instrument is represented by the known function in an integral equation which, if solved, would yield the input which the instrument was intended to measure. But this presents a classic example of an “improperly posed” problem: one for which even small errors in the given data make solution impossible or grossly inaccurate. Earlier investigators concluded noise (including computational error) could be overcome, or a solution could be obtained with detail beyond the Rayleigh limit of resolution of the instrument, but not both at once. Recent approaches require not only statistical information on the background- and instrument-generated noise, but the expected value of the input itself. In many technologically important problems it is the latter which is unavailable. Therefore, a procedure was developed which, from known data only, generates a serviceable starting estimate of the input; iteratively refines the estimate so that, if numerical errors did not accumulate, the sequence would converge to that (computationally inaccessible) estimate which minimizes the rms error; detects the onset of excessive computational error accumulation; and at that point stops with the “best accessible” estimate. Application to computer-simulated experimental data has consistently yielded resolution far beyond the Rayleigh limit, in the presence of substantial noise, with quite modest demands on computer time.
GROUND-WATER DISPERSION CALCULATIONS WITH A PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATOR

. A simple and convenient method for calculating two-dimensional dispersion on a TI 58 or 59 programmable calculator utilizing the normal distribution program available in the Solid State Software Master Library module as a subroutine is presented with an example.
Surface resonances, tunneling and optical response of doped superlattices

We discuss resonances and surface-localized states in tunneling semiconductor superlattices induced by charge depletion. A tight-binding envelope-function formalism is used to describe the system where the depletion potential associated with the inhomogeneous charge distribution is incorporated self-consistently in the calculation of the ground state. The ensuing level structure exhibits localized states near the end layers of the superlattice with eigenvalues lying in the miniband gap, as well as miniband-resonant states with strongly peaked wavefunctions but extended throughout the system. Electric field across the superlattice control the position of midgap states, giving rise to tunable far-infrared absorption via excitations to and from the localized states.
Price Discovery in Strategically Linked Markets: The TED Spread and its Constituents

The TED (Treasury over Eurodollar) spread between T-bill and Eurodollar futures is one relationships among interest rate contracts that is most actively watched by traders. The Eurodollar future is the more liquid market, but as the anchor of the default-free U.S. Treasury yield curve, the T-bill rate is one of the fundamental financial variables in our economy. This article looks at the behavior of the TED spread from minute to minute, to determine whether the two futures markets are cointegrated (they are) and which way information flows. While the liquid Eurodollar contract does make most of the adjustment when the spread becomes unusually wide or narrow, each market is found to transmit information to the other one, with large changes in the spread creating increased short-run correlation between them.
Complications of Arteriovenous Fistulae: Beyond Venous Stenosis

Vascular access is the lifeline of hemodialysis patients. Currently, arteriovenous fistulae and grafts are considered permanent options for vascular access, and they share common access problems. The successful creation of a permanent vascular access depends on patient characteristics, vessel parameters, and possibly genetic factors. Utilization of a dialysis access at least 3 times a week leads to significant wear and tear of the access. The buttonhole technique is associated with a higher incidence of infection, and evidence regarding various perceived advantages remain contradictory. Infiltration and aneurysm formation of an access are common, and the literature on its impact on vascular access outcomes is limited. A patient who undergoes hemodialysis often requires multiple accesses during his or her lifetime, and the maintenance of a persistent vascular access may require creative solutions. Intensified research is crucial to comprehending the pathophysiology and treatment options for some of the common problems of vascular accesses.
Flexible Fitting of Atomic Structures into Electron Microscopy Maps Using Molecular Dynamics

A novel method to flexibly fit atomic structures into electron microscopy (EM) maps using molecular dynamics simulations is presented. The simulations incorporate the EM data as an external potential added to the molecular dynamics force field, allowing all internal features present in the EM map to be used in the fitting process, while the model remains fully flexible and stereochemically correct. The molecular dynamics flexible fitting (MDFF) method is validated for available crystal structures of protein and RNA in different conformations; measures to assess and monitor the fitting process are introduced. The MDFF method is then used to obtain high-resolution structures of the E. coli ribosome in different functional states imaged by cryo-EM.
Divine foreknowledge and human freedom are compatible

L'A. defend la these de la compatibilite entre l'existence et l'omniscience necessaires de Dieu et la liberte humaine. Examinant le cas du fatalisme logique et le cas du fatalisme theologique, l'A. developpe une argumentation proche de celle de Plantinga, qui substitue a la distinction entre faits stricts et faits faibles les notions de consistance et d'implication stricte
HYPERCALCIURIA AND GROWTH FAILURE IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES

Growth failure and hypercalciuria have been noted independently in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We evaluated growth and calcium metabolism in 175 IDDM children and 38 non-diabetic (ND) sibs of similar ages. Height was determined by 2 of the authors using a Stadiometer. Blood and urine were collected in the AM before food and insulin had been taken. Results: (mean ± SEM) urine calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) (ND=0.13±.01, IDDM=0.21±.01 p ND range were shorter 37±3.2 percentile than ND 54±3.8 percentile p<.01. Hypercalciuria was associated with both poor glycemic control and growth failure in IDDM children. When coincident serum glucose, HbA1c and duration of IDDM are factored out of the analysis of variance the Ca/Cr continues to have a negative correlation to height percentile. Hypercalciuria appears to be an important factor in the growth failure associated with IDDM.
Molecular relaxation versus orientational ordering of H 2 in a -Si:H

Recently reported experimental results on a-Si:H have led to suggestions that ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ in the microvoids of a-Si:H undergoes a phase transition to an orientational ordered state at temperatures ranging from 3 to 20 K. The interpretation is based upon the onset of a Pake doublet in NMR experiments that is suggestive of an order parameter and also by peaks in the heat capacity of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ in a-Si:H. We show that orientational ordering of microvoid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ is extremely unlikely at any temperature and certainly not above the critical temperature of bulk single-crystal ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. Instead we shall show that the observed Pake doublet is a manifestation of the slow molecular relaxation regime and that the heat capacity can be explained entirely by a distribution of electric field gradients. Neither phenomenon requires a phase transition driven by the electric quadrupole-quadrupole molecular interactions. However, the sharp onset of the Pake doublet reflects the size and surface conditions of the microvoids.
Photophosphorylation not coupled to DCMU-insensitive photosystem II oxygen evolution

Summary An abbreviated Photosystem II electron transport sequence from water to silicomolybdate plus ferricyanide functions in the presence of DCMU. This electron transfer was not coupled to photophosphorylation, and therefore places phosphorylation associated with Photosystem II (Site II) after the site of DCMU inhibition. Silicomolybdate per se was not inhibitory to phosphorylation in either the cyclic or noncyclic (water to methylviologen) electron transport mode.
Identification of the subunit structure of rat pineal adrenergic receptors by photoaffinity labeling.

Abstract: The adrenergic receptors of rat pineal gland were investigated using radiolabeled ligand binding and photoaffinity labeling techniques. 125I‐2‐[β‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethylaminomethyl]tetralone (125I‐HEAT) and 125I‐cyanopindolol (125I‐CYP) labeled specific sites on rat pineal gland membranes with equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of 48 (±5) pM and 30 (±5) pM, respectively. Binding site maxima were 481 (±63) and 1,020 (±85) fmol/mg protein. The sites labeled by 125I‐HEAT had the pharmacological characteristics of α1‐adrenergic receptors. 125I‐CYP‐labeled β‐adrenergic receptors were characterized as a homogeneous population of β1‐adrenergic receptors. The α1‐ and β1‐adrenergic receptors were covalently labeled with the specific photoaffinity probes 4‐amino‐6,7‐dimethoxy‐2‐{4‐[5‐(4‐azido‐3‐[125I]iodo‐phenyl) pentanoyl]‐1‐piperazinyl}quinazoline (125I‐APDQ) and 125I‐p‐azidobenzylcarazolol (125I‐pABC). 125I‐APDQ labeled an α1‐adrenergic receptor peptide of Mr= 74,000 (±4,000), which was similar to peptides labeled in rat cerebral cortex, liver, and spleen. 125I‐pABC labeled a single β1‐adrenergic receptor peptide with a Mr= 42,000 (±1,500), which differed from the 60–65,000 peptide commonly seen in mammalian tissues. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. (Less)
Socioemotional correlates of self‐reported menstrual cycle irregularity: replication and extension

We previously reported a positive association between the socioemotional trait submissiveness and retrospective reports of menstrual cycle irregularity during the prior 12 months. The aim of the present study was to replicate and extend this finding. Eighty women, 20 to 35 years of age, completed socioemotional trait measures and reported on lifetime cycle irregularity when they were neither pregnant nor using hormonal contraceptives. The socioemotional composite ‘hostile submissiveness’ was positively associated with cycle irregularity; anger‐in, one aspect of this composite, was a particularly robust correlate. Results provide a conceptual replication of our prior research on submissiveness and menstrual cycle irregularity and offer further evidence that menstrual functioning is sensitive to socioemotional processes.
755-5 Risk Factors for Stroke Following Thrombolytic Therapy: Case-Control Study from the GUSTO Trial

In order to determine risk factors for stroke beyond the standard known factors of age, presenting blood pressure, weight, sex, and history of hypertension which were collected on all patients in the GUSTO Trial, additional data were collected for the 592 patients suffering stroke as well as 548 age-matched controls. Odds ratios (95% CI) were as follows: For any strok For hemorrhagic stroke Facial or head trauma within 2 wks 3.9 (1.4–11) 7.6 (29–20) History of stroke 4.0 (2.0–8.1) 2.8 (1.1–6.6) Dementia 2.2 (0.76–6.3) 3.4 (1.2–10) Atrial fibrillation 3.0 (1.8–50) 0.96 (0.41–2.2) Warfarin use 2.7 (0.88–8.3) 1.8 (0.40–7.9) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use 1.5 (0.97–25) 1.6 (0.91–2.9) Calcium blocker use 1.5 (1.1–20) 1.3 (0.86–1.8) Beta blocker use 1.2 (0.86–1.7) 1.6 (1.1–2.4) These findings suggest that recent facial or head trauma is a strong risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke following thrombolytic therapy, and therefore should generally be considered to be a contraindication to thrombolytic therapy. History of stroke predisposes to both any stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, and dementia appears to predispose to hemorrhagic stroke.
V2E: combining hardware virtualization and softwareemulation for transparent and extensible malware analysis

A transparent and extensible malware analysis platform is essential for defeating malware. This platform should be transparent so malware cannot easily detect and bypass it. It should also be extensible to provide strong support for heavyweight instrumentation and analysis efficiency. However, no existing platform can meet both requirements. Leveraging hardware virtualization technology, analysis platforms like Ether can achieve good transparency, but its instrumentation support and analysis efficiency is poor. In contrast, software emulation provides strong support for code instrumentation and good analysis efficiency by using dynamic binary translation. However, analysis platforms based on software emulation can be easily detected by malware and thus is poor in transparency. To achieve both transparency and extensibility, we propose a new analysis platform that combines hardware virtualization and software emulation. The essence is precise heterogeneous replay: the malware execution is recorded via hardware virtualization and then replayed in software. Our design ensures the execution replay is precise. Moreover, with page-level recording granularity, the platform can easily adjust to analyze various forms of malware (a process, a kernel module, or a shared library). We implemented a prototype called V2E and demonstrated its capability and efficiency by conducting an extensive evaluation with both synthetic samples and 14 realworld emulation-resistant malware samples.
Successful intelligence: finding a balance.

Human intelligence has long been on the borderline between a scientific and a quasi-scientific field within the scope of psychological science. This is partially because its study and measurement have been particularly susceptible to socio-political agendas, but also because empirical tests of theories of intelligence have too often ranged from inadequate to nonexistent. In this article it is argued that two extremes have prevailed in the study of intelligence. At one extreme are general-ability (g) theorists, who have collected large amounts of data to test the theory of general intelligence, but often using restricted ranges of participants, materials or situational contexts. They also show a tendency to limit their methods of data analysis (e.g. to exploratory factor analysis). At another extreme are theorists arguing for new, multiple intelligences, whose theories have been subjected to few or no empirical tests. I argue that a middle ground is needed that recognizes the multifarious nature of intelligence and of people's conceptions of it, but that also is subjected to rigorous empirical tests.