cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A community-based sleep educational intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Abstract Background Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep education, effective in improving sleep in ASD, may be difficult to access. We determined if community-based pediatric therapists could successfully deliver sleep educational interventions to caregivers of children with ASD. Methods A seven-week feasibility study was conducted consisting of 10 children and caregivers. This feasibility study informed the development of a 16-week preliminary effectiveness study, which consisted of 33 children and caregivers. Children, ages 2–12 years, with a clinical diagnosis of autism and caregiver-reported sleep onset delay of 30 min were included. Community therapists underwent comprehensive training in sleep education and then met with caregiver participants to provide sleep education to each family. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with all families who completed study procedures. In the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness studies, child participants wore an actigraphy watch (at baseline and after sleep education) and caregivers completed the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Family Inventory of Sleep Habits at baseline and after sleep education; the Child Behavior Checklist was also completed by caregivers in the preliminary effectiveness study. Results Educator fidelity to the manualized curriculum was maintained. Caregivers showed appropriate understanding, comfort, and implementation of the curriculum. Qualitative and quantitative measures, including caregiver surveys and actigraphy, showed improvements in child sleep and behavior. Conclusions Community-based therapists can successfully deliver sleep education to families of children with ASD, which has favorable implications for improving access to care in this population.
Recent Evidence for Multifactorial Biofilm Regulation by Heme Sensor Proteins NosP and H-NOX

Heme is involved in signal transduction by either acting as a cofactor of heme-based gas/redox sensors or binding reversely to heme-responsive proteins. Bacteria respond to low concentrations of ni...
When Hospitals Give Until it Hurts

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in part, intended to create opportunities to purchase affordable health insurance by those previously priced out of the market. Through subsidies, rebates, mandates and tax credits, at best the Affordable Care Act was charged with reducing the number of individuals for whom hospital fair pricing policies applied, although health care reform was not intended to replace or modify the ways in which hospitals interact with those patients qualifying for a discount. Indeed, the federal and state laws are somewhat symbiotic, and state laws even contemplate a discount and/or payment plan for the $12,700 out-of-pocket obligation an underinsured hospital patient may have under a so-called Bronze Plan obtained through a health insurance exchange. Rightfully so, hospital fair pricing policies establish a safety-net for the totality of patients who may qualify, but there is no obligation under these same laws that a hospital provide an aggregate financial benefit in the form of a discount. Such an obligation would force hospitals to increase the obligatory discount amount for each patient whenever a previously uninsured patient obtains coverage in the modern era of health care reform. At the same time, there is no limitation on the charity care obligations a hospital must expend for those qualifying individuals, much like there is no limit on the number of patients a hospital must treat under EMTALA. A patient presenting at a hospital emergency department, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, must be stabilized, and the expansion or elimination of a state charity care policy will not compromise these obligations under EMTALA. In fact, 32 years after Congress passed EMTALA the requirements thereunder remain sacrosanct to most hospitals without any obligation to patrol the local communities searching for patients without health care insurance who are in need of emergency medical treatment.
New requirements for information professionals in librarianship

De serieuses lacunes dans les programmes d'enseignement superieur en sciences de l'information laissent actuellement le bibliothecaire ou le documentaliste demuni devant les nouvelles technologies. Pour entrer dans «l'Age de l'information» il doit, d'une part, etre familier aux differents systemes automatises (fichiers, bases, banques de donnees) et d'autre part pouvoir acquerir et gerer son fonds avec les moyens que donne aujourd'hui la microinformatique
Methods of Isolating Trophozoites and Cysts

The culturing techniques discussed in Chapter 6 have facilitated the study of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. However, only G. duodenalis from relatively few host species have been cultured. G. muris, G. agilis, and G. duodenalis from other hosts have not been cultured successfully. The study of the trophozoites of these species requires their isolation directly from the host. Mucosal smears, intestinal washings, and fecal smears are suitable for some morphological studies but are highly contaminated with debris.
Absolute polaron yield of donor-acceptor P3HT:fullerene bulk heterojunction composites

Broadband pump-probe spectroscopy over the entire time range (200 fs to 500 ns) relevant to monitor the polaron generation and recombination dynamics were performed on the bulk heterojunction composites of poly (3- hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole) (P3HTT-DPP-10%) with [6,6]- phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the acceptor. The modeling of the polaron dynamics with the Debye- Smoluchowski diffusion model provides the charge separation length at the polymer:fullerene interface. Furthermore, the computed polaron yield using the polaron cross-section over the entire time range reveals the amount of photo-generated charges in P3HT:PCBM and P3HTT-DPP-10%:PCBM bulk-heterojunction thin films.
Effect of cohort differences in smoking prevalence on models of lung cancer susceptibility.

Data on 337 lung cancer families were analyzed to determine if known cohort differences in parental cigarette consumption influence parameters from a segregation analysis. Previous results suggested that, after allowing for an individual's pack-years of tobacco exposure, Mendelian codominant inheritance of an allele that produced an earlier age of onset provided a good fit to the data. In the present study, the data were split into two groups of families: probands age 60 and over (born before WWI) and probands younger than age 60. This partition of the data by age of the proband was done to separate families in which there were parents who were less likely to smoke from those with parents more likely to smoke—predicated on the known increase of smoking prevalence after World War I. For the younger proband families (those with parents more likely to smoke), only Mendelian codominant inheritance adequately fit the data. The hypotheses of no major type, environmental transmission, and Mendelian dominant or recessive inheritance were rejected. In contrast to our earlier findings, the estimate of population susceptibility increased from 28% in the total data to 60% in this subset. In the older proband families (those with parents less likely to smoke), the no major type and environmental hypotheses were rejected; further, none of the Mendelian models could be distinguished. Our results demonstrate that cohort differences, probably in exposure to tobacco, can confound parameters of a segregation analysis, and suggest that the genetic component of lung cancer may be greater than previously estimated. It further suggests that susceptibility to lung cancer occurs as a function of susceptibility to the effects of tobacco smoking. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reversals of Least-Squares Estimates and Model-Invariant Estimation for Directions of Unique Effects

AbstractWhen a linear model is adjusted to control for additional explanatory variables the sign of a fitted coefficient may reverse. Here these reversals are studied using coefficients of determination. The resulting theory can be used to determine directions of unique effects in the presence of model uncertainty. This process is called model-invariant estimation when the estimates are invariant across changes to the model structure. When a single covariate is added, the reversal region can be understood geometrically as an elliptical cone of two nappes with an axis of symmetry relating to a best-possible condition for a reversal using a single coefficient of determination. When a set of covariates are added to a model with a single explanatory variable, model-invariant estimation can be implemented using subject matter knowledge. More general theory with partial coefficients is applicable to analysis of large data sets. Applications are demonstrated with dietary health data from the United Nations.
CD21/CD19 coreceptor signaling promotes B cell survival during primary immune responses

The adaptive immune response is tightly regulated to limit responding cells in an Ag-specific manner. On B cells, coreceptors CD21/CD19 modulate the strength of BCR signals, potentially influencing cell fate. The importance of the CD95 pathway was examined in response of B cells to moderate affinity Ag using an adoptive transfer model of lysozyme-specific Ig transgenic (HEL immunoglobulin transgene (MD4) strain) B cells. Although adoptively transferred Cr2+/+ MD4 B cells are activated and persist within splenic follicles of duck egg lysozyme-immunized mice, Cr2-/- MD4 B cells do not. In contrast, Cr2-/- MD4 lpr B cells persist after transfer, suggesting that lack of CD21/CD35 signaling results in CD95-mediated elimination. Cr2 deficiency did not affect CD95 levels, but cellular FLIP (c-FLIP) protein and mRNA levels were reduced 2-fold compared with levels in Cr2+/+ MD4 B cells. In vitro culture with Cr2+/+ MD4 B cells demonstrated that equimolar amounts of rHEL-C3d3 were more effective than hen egg lysozyme alone in up-regulating c-FLIP levels and for protection against CD95-mediated apoptosis. Collectively, this study implies a mechanism for regulating B cell survival in vivo whereby the strength of BCR signaling (including coreceptor) determines c-FLIP levels and protection from CD95-induced death.
The Fourier Transform

We will eventually show that a Fourier transform is a spectrum. Hence it is necessary to know what a spectrum is.
Relationship of cervical and abdominal vagal activity to lower esophageal sphincter function.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of electrical stimulation of the abdominal and cervical portions of the vagus on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in the anesthetized opossum. Unilateral or bilateral abdominal vagotomy gave no significant change in basal LES pressure or in the sphincteric response to swallowing. Electrical stimulation of the peripheral end of the sectioned cervical vagus gave a frequency-related decrease in LES pressure with a maximum reduction of 93.5 ± 2.5%. at 10 Hz, 10 v. Stimulation of the central end of the cervical vagus increased LES pressure, with a maximum response of 34.0 ± 1.9 mm Hg. Neither peripheral nor central stimulation of the sectioned abdominal vagus had significant effect on LES pressure (P > 0.05). Additionally, LES relaxation in response to swallowing or cervical vagal stimulation was intact after bilateral abdominal vagotomy. These studies suggest that whereas the cervical portion of the vagus mediates inhibitory and excitatory changes in LES pressure, the abdominal vagus has no demonstrable role in the control of LES function.
Intra-abdominal Lymphadenopathy

Lymph node enlargement (lymphadenopathy) may be found in many conditions, both benign and malignant. Benign lymph node enlargement can occur in response to different infections such as tuberculosis and fungal disease. Malignant lymphadenopathy can occur in primary lymphatic diseases such as Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as other malignancies that metastasize to regional lymph nodes.
School bus safety: Issues and controversy

The first school bus was a horse-drawn wagon. In 1869 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts led the nation when it passed legislation to utilize public funds to transport school children. Throughout the twentieth century, federal and state efforts have been directed at updating school buses and bus transportation policies and programs. Safety issues have been at the heart of such efforts since school bus transportation began. However, controversies and dilemmas have evolved concerning minimal standards for bus equipment and procedures for having children board the bus. School bus safety is both an economic and a public health issue. States, most often, make individual decisions about issues of school bus transportation and bus safety because few federal mandates exist. Unfortu- nately, there is a lack of reliable school bus accident data (Transportation Research Board, 1989). As a result of these state variations and a dearth of research findings, states and individual school districts are left to make important safety decisions based on financial resources or constraints and on incomplete information about the effectiveness of school bus safety features and practices.
Of Being an Arab Woman Before and After September 11: The Enactment of Communal Identities in Talk

This article examines the impact of September 11, 2001 on the communal identity enactment of 5 Arab women. The Communication Theory of Identity is used to explore which identity labels and associated core symbols the women use before and after September 11. Before September 11, the women referred to themselves mainly with their communal identities as Arab, Palestinian, Egyptian, and sometimes Arab American. The main core symbols related to these labels are family, public person, and respect. After September 11, the women emphasized their national identities. Furthermore, the core symbol family expands in meaning to include social relationships in a community organization. Overall, the study contributes to the existing literature on identity and communication in that it demonstrates how identity is enacted in talk and how a combined analysis of cultural core symbols and identity labels can provide insights into what it means to affiliate with a particular communal identity. The study might encourage more c...
How calmodulin binds its targets: sequence independent recognition of amphiphilic α-helices

Calmodulin (CaM) is a protein capable of recognizing positively charged, amphiphilic alpha-helical peptides independent of their precise amino acid sequences; this structural feature has also been found in many CaM-binding proteins. Recent work involving crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis of CaM along with studies of photoreactive and fluorescent CaM-binding peptides have helped define how calmodulin interacts with amphiphilic helices.
A five year study of floristic succession in a restored urban wetland

The Stream and Wetland Assessment Management Park (SWAMP) project created a wetland–stream complex that encompasses a wide array of micro-environments and hydrology. These diverse habitats were designed to facilitate ecosystem diversity via enhanced pathways for ecological succession during restoration. We took an empirical approach to examine floral succession under natural processes following wetland restoration of floodplain and marsh habitats. Survey plots were set up in four forest gaps in palustrine wetlands, each containing a Low Marsh and a High Marsh. During five years of recovery from the soil disturbance and upland vegetation removal, wetland species richness gradually increased from 24 to 38 species in the Low Marshes, where waterlogged conditions precluded upland species invasions. Conversely, upland species richness quickly declined from 69 to 29 species over time in the High Marsh, now subjected to increase flooding. The species successional patterns suggest a slower turnover in the wet Low Marsh, but faster turnover in the moist High Marsh. Following the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, we observed that High Marsh species richness reached its maximum in the first year of the vegetation survey, whereas even after five years the plant diversity in the Low Marsh has yet to peak. The once widespread Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet) was decimated following the SWAMP restoration. However, the exotic invasive species, Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stilt grass) dominated the floodplain except in the wettest Low Marsh sites. Given the successional patterns of increased wetland species following restoration, we recommend removal of woody invasive species such as L. sinense to prevent their re-establishment followed by long-term monitoring and continued removal (5–7 years) of invasive species to allow native species establishment. Our study shows that the creation of wetter floodplain habitats with increased flooding suppresses the establishment of the highly invasive M. vimineum.
Practical absolute optical surface metrology and novel applications in adaptive optics

A new absolute surface metrology scheme based on comparison of transversely-shifted frames from a commercial phase-shifting interferometer (PSI) will work well even when shifts are incommensurate with pixel size. When shifts span multiple pixels, interleaved data sets can, somewhat counterintuitively, still preserve the spatial resolution of component PSI frames, and furthermore non-integer-pixel shifts are easily handled with little loss of fidelity. While obviously useful in characterizing laboratory optics, where the new approach appears simpler and more sensitive than the classical three-flat technique, there are also interesting applications in adaptive optics systems, such as diagnosing non-common-path errors. This and other illustrative applications are briefly described.
Black-White variations in the lagged reciprocal relationship between religiosity and perceived control.

This national longitudinal data-based multi-population LISREL study, the most comprehensive assessment to date of racial variations in the (in)congruity between religiosity and perceived control, gauges variation among Black and White Americans in the lagged reciprocal relationship between religiosity dimensions and mastery. Racial variation in the reciprocal religiosity-perceived control relationship has hitherto gone un-addressed. Prior investigations have also typically utilised cross-sectional samples – often from regional or age-specific populations. The observed public religiosity-mastery relationship over time exhibits signs of mutual reinforcement among Blacks: public religiosity enhances Blacks’ subsequent mastery, while prior mastery borderline-significantly enhances their public religiosity. The subjective religiosity-mastery relationship among Whites evinces a marginally countervailing pattern: Subjective religiosity diminishes Whites’ mastery, while mastery borderline-significantly enhances t...
Morphine-induced activation of A10 dopamine neurons in the rat.

Abstract The effects of intravenous administration of morphine (MOR) on the spontaneous discharge rate of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA or A10) and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC or A9) were compared. MOR (0.5–3.5 mg/kg) produced a marked increase in the spontaneous firing of both A10 and A9 DA neurons. Naloxone (NAL) reversed the MOR effects. Acute transection of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) did not interfere with the observed MOR effects on either A10 or A9 DA neurons. However, following chronic lesions of the MFB (6 days), A9 DA neurons were no longer responsive to MOR whereas A10 DA cells were still activated by MOR. Neither radiofrequency lesions of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DNR) nor administration of the 5-HT 2 antagonist ketanserin affected the stimulatory effect of MOR on either A10 or A9 DA cells. Thus, it is confirmed that the effects of MOR on A9 DA cells depend on striatonigral feedback pathways. In contrast, it appears that the MOR-induced activation of A10 DA cells does not depend on afferents from the forebrain or on projections from the DRN, suggesting a more direct action of MOR on A10 DA cells. Microiontophoretic application of MOR or enkephalin analogues significantly increased the spontaneous activity of both A9 and A10 DA cells. However, these effects were not reversed by either iontophoretic or intravenous NAL. On the other hand, both intravenously (0.5–1.5 mg/kg) and iontophoretically administered MOR markedly suppressed the electrical activity of non-DA cells found in the vicinity of A10 DA neurons, and this effect was completely reversed by NAL. It is proposed that the MOR-induced activation of A10 DA cells could be mediated indirectly by non-DA cells.
α-Ketobutyrate metabolism in perfused rat liver: Regulation of α-ketobutyrate decarboxylation and effects of α-ketobutyrate on pyruvate dehydrogenase

Abstract The oxidative decarboxylation and subsequent production of glucose from α-ketobutyrate were studied using perfused livers from fasted rats. The production of 14 CO 2 from α-keto-[1- 14 C]butyrate increased monotonically while the production of glucose from α-ketobutyrate was biphasic as the perfusate concentration of α-ketobutyrate was increased. The biphasic gluconeogenic response using α-ketobutyrate as the gluconeogenic precursor was similar to that observed with propionate. The decarboxylation of α-ketobutyrate was found to be exquisitely sensitive to the effects of the monocarboxylate transport inhibitor, α-cyanocinnamate. Infusion of β-hydroxybutyrate caused a substantial inhibition of α-ketobutyrate decarboxylation while dichloroacetate, a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor, did not stimulate the metabolism of α-ketobutyrate but was inhibitory. The effects of α-ketobutyrate infusion on pyruvate decarboxylation were tested and it was found that at low perfusate pyruvate concentrations (ca. 0.25 m m ) increasing α-ketobutyrate led to increasing inhibition of pyruvate decarboxylation, while at high perfusate pyruvate concentrations (ca. 2.5 m m ) an initial inhibition was apparent which did not increase substantially with increasing α-ketobutyrate concentrations. The results obtained indicate that the regulation of α-ketobutyrate metabolism by oxidative decarboxylation differs significantly from that of pyruvate. In addition, while the rate of gluconeogenesis using α-ketobutyrate as a precursor was remarkably similar to that using propionate as a gluconeogenic precursor, the effects of α-ketobutyrate on the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate were qualitatively different from the effects of propionate on pyruvate metabolism.
ACRP30/adiponectin: an adipokine regulating glucose and lipid metabolism

In recent years, we have learned that adipocytes are not merely inert storage depots for triglycerides but rather highly active cells with potent autocrine, paracrine and endocrine functions. Adipose tissue secretes a large number of physiologically active polypeptides. Although leptin remains one of the best-studied examples of an adipocyte-specific secretory factor, recent reports describe potent physiological activities for another adipocyte-specific secreted protein, adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa (Acrp30). Full-length versions of Acrp30 or its proteolytic fragments decrease the postprandial rise of plasma free fatty acids and improve postabsorptive insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose output. A strong correlation between plasma Acrp30 levels and systemic insulin sensitivity is well established and the protein has putative anti-atherogenic properties that are relevant for the prevention of formation of atherosclerotic plaques. The current challenge is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the protein exerts its multiple functions.
Liquid injection molding II. Mechanical design and characterization of a RIM machine

A unique liquid injection molding machine for polyurethane was designed and built to process a large quantity of polyurethane in a short period of time. This machine has a continuously variable flow rate. Using inexpensive, low capacity gear pumps, 5 gallon hydraulic accumulators were charged with fluid components. The fluid can be pumped into the accumulators at low pressure followed by nitrogen gas addition to the bladders to raise the fluid pressure, or the charging pumps can pump up the accumulators against an existing pressure. The two components were then discharged under pressure through linkage activated ball valves and mixed together in a mixing chamber. The system provided for a very low pressure loss during discharge, resulting in high fluid velocity. Extremely high flow rates were possible: approximately 1440 lb/min at 2500 psi, a pressure less than the maximum possible system pressure. This system delivers large flow rates of high quality urethane while still maintaining its simplicity, light weight, and relative low cost.
Reading Legal Doctrine Historically: Three 14th‐Century Jurists on Dowries and Social Standing

(1989). Reading Legal Doctrine Historically: Three 14th‐Century Jurists on Dowries and Social Standing. The Historian: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 283-310.
Plato and the Theatre of the Occult Revival: Edouard Schuré, Katherine Tingley, and Rudolph Steiner

This article illuminates a modern shift in the relationship between theatre and religion that became apparent during the Occult Revival that thrived in Europe and the United States between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It does this by exploring how Edouard Schure, Katherine Tingley, and Rudolf Steiner combined theatre with an early-modern legend concerning Plato’s involvement in a primordial religion to the end of constructing and disseminating new esoteric religions and spiritual systems. Unlike previous artists who drew inspiration from religion as they created new works of art, Schure, Tingley, and Steiner used theatre and esoteric lore to consciously construct religious and spiritual worldviews. The work of Schure, Tingley, and Steiner shows that the relationship between theatre and modern occultism contributed to the proliferation of new modes of faith during the Occult Revival, and it also suggests that the types of interactions that were established between theatre and religion at that time continue to occur in the present.
INVESTIGATIONS OF ANGIOSPERMS FROM THE MIDDLE EOCENE OF NORTH AMERICA: FLOWERS OF THE CELTIDOIDEAE'

Flowers from the Middle Eocene Claiborne Formation of western Tennessee have both floral and palynological features suggestive of affinities with the subfamily Celtidoideae of the Ulmaceae. Floral size, pollen size, and exine structure suggest that these flowers are intermediate between insect-pollinated ancestors and the modern wind-pollinated Celtidoideae. Thus, they represent the first direct fossil evidence supporting the widespread notion that at least some of the Amentiferae have been derived from insect-pollinated ancestors.
The lipids of slugs and snails: evolution, diet and biosynthesis.

There is a considerable gap in current knowledge of the lipid composition of snails and slugs, both of which belong to the phylum Mollusca. We have therefore analyzed the sterol and fatty acid compositions of three species of slugs and three species of snails. The sterols of slugs included eight different sterols: cholesterol contributed 76–85% of the total sterols, brassicasterol accounted for 4–13%; other sterols we identified were lathosterol, 24-methylene cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol and sitostanol. In contrast, snails contained two additional sterols, desmosterol and cholestanol. Of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in slugs, linoleic (18∶2n−6) and arachidonic acids (20∶4n−6) were the major n−6 fatty acids, while linolenic (18∶3n−3) and eicosapentaenoic acids (20∶5n−3) were the predominant n−3 fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3), the end product in the n−3 fatty acid synthetic pathway and an important membrane fatty acid of mammals, fish and birds, was absent in both slugs and snails. However, the analogous product of n−6 fatty acid synthesis, 22∶5n−6, was found in both snails and slugs. This raises speculation about preference for n−6 fatty acid synthesis in these species. Our data show the unique sterol and fatty acid compositions of slugs and snails, as well as similarities and differences in sterol composition between the two. The results between the two land mollusks are contrasted with those of marine mollusks, such as oysters, clams and scallops.
Rhesus lymphocryptovirus latent membrane protein 2A activates β-catenin signaling and inhibits differentiation in epithelial cells

Abstract Rhesus lymphocryptovirus (LCV) is a γ-herpesvirus closely related to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). The rhesus latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) is highly homologous to EBV LMP2A. EBV LMP2A activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and β-catenin signaling pathways in epithelial cells and affects differentiation. In the present study, the biochemical and biological properties of rhesus LMP2A in epithelial cells were investigated. The expression of rhesus LMP2A in epithelial cells induced Akt activation, GSK3β inactivation and accumulation of β-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The nuclear translocation, but not accumulation of β-catenin was dependent on Akt activation. Rhesus LMP2A also impaired epithelial cell differentiation; however, this process was not dependent upon Akt activation. A mutant rhesus LMP2A lacking six transmembrane domains functioned similarly to wild-type rhesus LMP2A indicating that the full number of transmembrane domains is not required for effects on β-catenin or cell differentiation. These results underscore the similarity of LCV to EBV and the suitability of the macaque as an animal model for studying EBV pathogenesis.
Only one of two closely related yeast suppressor tRNA genes contains an intervening sequence

The yeast genes that code for the serine-inserting SUP-RL1 amber and SUQ5 ochre suppressors have been cloned and sequenced. These two unlinked genes differ by only three base pairs in their coding regions yet they encode tRNAs of different translational specificities, and while the SUP-RL1 gene has a 19-base pair intervening sequence, the SUQ5 gene has none.
Antibody-based bacterial toxin detection

Fiber optic evanescent fluorosensors are under investigation in our laboratory for the study of drug-receptor interactions for detection of threat agents and antibody-antigen interactions for detection of biological toxins. In a one step assay, antibodies against Cholera toxin or Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B were noncovalently immobilized on quartz fibers and probed with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled toxins. In the two-step assay, Cholera toxin or Botulinum toxoid A was immobilized onto the fiber, followed by incubation in an antiserum or partially purified antitoxin IgG. These were then probed with FITC-anti-IgG antibodies. Unlabeled toxins competed with labeled toxins or antitoxin IgG in a dose-dependent manner and the detection of the toxins was in the nanomolar range.
Pathology and hematology of the Caribbean spiny lobster experimentally infected with Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1)

We examined the histopathological and hematological response of the Caribbean spiny lobster to experimentally induced infections with Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1). The fixed phagocytes in the hepatopancreas were the primary sites of PaV1 infection in spiny lobsters. Fixed phagocytes were activated in early infections. However, as the disease progressed, the fixed phagocytes became infected and eventually lysed. Infected cells were subsequently observed in the hepatopancreas, gill, heart, hindgut, glial cells around the ventral nerves, and in the cuticular epidermis and foregut. In advanced infections, spongy connective tissues were heavily infected, as were glial cells around the optic nerves. The structure of the hepatopancreas was significantly altered as the disease progressed. The hemal sinuses among the hepatopancreatic tubules filled with massive amounts of cellular aggregates, including infected circulating hemocytes and spongy connective tissues. Atrophy of the hepatopancreatic tubules occurred in the late stage of viral infection. The virus caused significant decreases in total hemocyte counts and significantly altered several constituents in the hemolymph lysates of diseased lobsters, including: glucose, phosphorus, and triglycerides.
Electrophysiological evidence of alcohol-related attentional bias in social drinkers low in alcohol sensitivity.

Low sensitivity to the acute effects of alcohol is a known risk factor for alcoholism. However, little is known concerning potential information-processing routes by which this risk factor might contribute to increased drinking. We tested the hypothesis that low-sensitivity (LS) participants would show biased attention to alcohol cues, compared with their high-sensitivity (HS) counterparts. Participants performed a task in which alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverage cues were presented bilaterally followed by a target that required categorization by color. Response times were faster for targets appearing in alcohol-cued than non-alcohol-cued locations for LS but not for HS participants. Event-related potential markers of early attention orienting (P1 amplitude) and subsequent attention reorienting (ipsilateral invalid negativity amplitude) indicated preferential selective attention to alcohol-cued locations among LS individuals. Controlling for recent drinking and family history of alcoholism did not affect these patterns, except that among HS participants, relatively heavy recent drinking was associated with difficulty reorienting attention away from alcohol-cued locations. These findings suggest a potential information-processing bias through which low sensitivity could lead to heavy alcohol involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
From Pathogen Recognition to Plant Immunity: BIK1 cROSses the Divide

A rapid production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) represents a hallmark of plant immune responses to infection. However, how pathogen perception induces ROS production remains unclear. Li et al. (2014) fill a missing link by showing that a pattern recognition receptor complex directly associates with and activates a ROS-producing enzyme.
Some Dimensions of Auditory Language Comprehension in Aphasia.

Four aspects of auditory comprehension were compared in 44 normal children ages 4 to 9, in 12 normal adults, and in 52 aphasics of 5 diagnostic classes: Broca’s, Wernicke’s, conduction, anomic, and...
On computing average cost optimal policies with application to routing to parallel queues

The Approximating Sequence Method for computation of average cost optimal stationary policies in denumerahle state Markov decision chains, introduced in Sennott (1994), is reviewed. New methods for verifying the assumptions are given. These are useful for models with multidimensional state spaces that satisfy certain mild structural properties. The results are applied to four problems in the optimal routing of packets to parallel queues. Numerical results are given for one of the models.
Genetic and developmental factors in spontaneous selective attention: a study of normal twins

Abstract The Spontaneous Selective Attention Task (SSAT) is a visual word identification task designed to measure the type of selective attention that occurs spontaneously when there are multiple stimuli, all potentially relevant, and insufficient time to process each of them fully. These are conditions which are common in everyday life. SSAT performance is measured by word identification accuracy, first under a baseline divided attention condition with no predictability, then under a selective attention condition with partial predictability introduced via word repetition. Accuracy to identify novel words in the upper location which becomes partially predictable (P words) vs. the lower location which remains non-predictable (N words) can be used to calculate a baseline performance index and a P/N ratio measure of selective attention. The SSAT has been shown to identify an attentional abnormality that may be useful in the development of an attentional endophenotype for family–genetic studies of schizophrenia. This study examined age and genetic effects on SSAT performance in normal children in order to evaluate whether the SSAT has the potential to qualify as a candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia in studies of at-risk children. A total of 59 monozygotic twin pairs and 33 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs ranging from 10 to 18 years of age were tested on the SSAT, a Continuous Performance Test (CPT), a Span of Apprehension Test (SPAN) and a full-scale IQ test. Baseline performance on the SSAT, which was correlated with verbal IQ and SPAN performance, improved with age but showed no significant heritability. The P/N selectivity ratio was stable over the 10–18-year age range, was not significantly correlated with IQ, CPT, or SPAN performance, and its heritability was estimated to be 0.41. These findings suggest that the P/N selectivity ratio measured by the SSAT may be useful as a vulnerability marker in studies of children born into families segregating schizophrenia.© 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Equilibrium shoreline response: Observations and modeling

[1] Shoreline location and incident wave energy, observed for almost 5 years at Torrey Pines beach, show seasonal fluctuations characteristic of southern California beaches. The shoreline location, defined as the cross-shore position of the mean sea level contour, retreats by almost 40 m in response to energetic winter waves and gradually recovers during low-energy summer waves. Hourly estimates of incident wave energy and weekly to monthly surveys of the shoreline location are used to develop and calibrate an equilibrium-type shoreline change model. By hypothesis, the shoreline change rate depends on both the wave energy and the wave energy disequilibrium with the shoreline location. Using calibrated values of four model free parameters, observed and modeled shoreline location are well correlated at Torrey Pines and two additional survey sites. Model free parameters can be estimated with as little as 2 years of monthly observations or with about 5 years of ideally timed, biannual observations. Wave energy time series used to calibrate and test the model must resolve individual storms, and model performance is substantially degraded by using weekly to monthly averaged wave energy. Variations of free parameter values between sites may be associated with variations in sand grain size, sediment availability, and other factors. The model successfully reproduces shoreline location for time periods not used in tuning and can be used to predict beach response to past or hypothetical future wave climates. However, the model will fail when neglected geologic factors are important (e.g., underlying bedrock limits erosion or sand availability limits accretion).
XAFS Debye-Waller factors for Zn metalloproteins

An accurate and practical method for the calculation and use of thermal x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) Debye-Waller factors (DWFs) in active sites of metalloproteins is presented. These factors are calculated on model clusters within the local density functional approximation with nonlocal corrections. The DWFs are mapped out and parametrized as a function of the first shell distance and an angle (where applicable), for all significant single and multiple scattering paths, as well as the sample temperature. This approach is applied to the biologically essential but spectroscopically silent ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{+2}$ active sites composed of histidines, cysteines, and carboxylate ligands in homogeneous and heterogeneous environments. Detailed analysis of the relative scattering paths for Zn metalloproteins using projected vibrational density of states further explain why these paths are not detectable by XAFS for first shell metal-ligand distances above a ``cutoff'' value.
Abstract 2595: Vesicular stomatitis virus as a treatment for colorectal cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite progress in many aspects of combating colorectal cancer, the cause of death in nearly a third of all patients is metastatic disease. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an attractive candidate as an oncolytic virus for the treatment of CRC due to its potent ability to induce apoptosis. Our group has generated a genetically engineered recombinant VSV containing an M protein mutation (rM51R) to enhance its tumor selectivity while preserving its oncolytic effects. As an extension of these findings, we hypothesized that oncolytic VSV can effectively treat CRC cells and therefore serve as an oncolytic therapy for the treatment of metastatic CRC. Methods: We compared the cytolytic effects of wild type (rwt) and M51R VSV in RKO, HCT116 and Lovo CRC cell lines via MTS assays. We initially sought to determine if CRC cells were susceptible to the oncolytic effects of VSV in single-cycle and multiple-cycle infection conditions. Viral protein synthesis and the production of viral progeny by CRC cell lines was quantified by S35 methionine labeling and viral plaque assays respectively. RKO tumor xenografts were established in athymic nude mice and injected with 108 pfu of M51R VSV. Results: We found that CRC cells display differential sensitivity to oncolytic VSV. RKO and HCT116 CRC cells were very sensitive to the oncolytic effects of both rwt and M51R viruses at 48 hours after both single and multiple-cycle infections. On the other hand, Lovo cells were somewhat resistant to VSV-induced cell killing under identical treatment conditions. All CRC cell lines supported the production of viral progeny with the peak viral production occurring at 36 hours after single and multiple-cycle infections with rwt and M51R VSV. Treatment of RKO xenografts with M51R VSV resulted in stabilization of tumor size relative to untreated controls after 21 days. Conclusions: These findings suggest that M51R VSV is a good candidate oncolytic virus for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Our future work will focus on defining the proportion of colorectal cancers that are susceptible to the oncolytic effects of VSV. In addition, we will identify molecular targets that may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of M51R VSV. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2595.
Comparison of the codon recognition properties and of the utilization of normal and tumor specific Phe-tRNAs in protein synthesis

Phe-tRNA from normal rat liver (designated Phe-tRNAN) and the under-modified, tumor specific, Phe-tRNAs from mouse neuroblastoma (designated Phe-tRNANB) and rat lymphoma (designated Phe-tRNARL) recognize the phenylalanine codons, UUU and UUC in a ribosome binding assay, but not other codons that differ from UUU and UUC in a single base at either the 5' or 3' position. Phe-tRNANB was incorporated into protein more extensively than either Phe-tRNARL or Phe-tRNAN in wheat germ extracts programmed with globin mRNA. The utilization level of each Phe-tRNA was correlated with its rate of deacylation in wheat germ extracts, i.e., Phe-tRNANB deacylated less rapidly than Phe-tRNARL or Phe-tRNAN. Phe-tRNA, from which the Y base was chemically excised (designated Phe-tRNA-Y), did not respond to UUU or UUC in the ribosomal binding assay, nor did it transfer its phenylalanine to protein in wheat germ extracts programmed with globin mRNA.
Kinematic and EMG reactions to imposed interlimb phase alterations during bipedal cycling

Abstract Strong ‘neural constraints’ synchronizing the step cycles of bilaterally paired limbs in decerebrate cats have been revealed by forcing those limbs to step at different speeds 13 . To determine if human operate under similar restrictions, we studied subjects pedaling a bicycle ergometer whose coupled cranks imposed continuous change upon interlimb phasing. Unlike the cat, the EMG timing patterns of each leg proved to vary little as a function of phase. Phase change did induce fluctuations in average EMG signal energy, but these were highly idiosyncratic to each muscle. Nevertheless, leg kinematic trajectories remained confined to narrow bounds well within biomechanical limitations. We thus suggest that the trajectory of each leg is actively regulated during pedaling, although the interlimb neural constraints apparent in decerebrate stepping are absent.
Magnification radiography in osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis often eludes early diagnosis because plain film radiography is too insensitive and radionuclide bone scanning is nonspecific. In this study, 90 diabetic patients were studied with plain film and magnification radiographs of their feet. Among the 24 patients with osteomyelitis, plain radiographs suggested the diagnosis in 14 patients and magnification radiography was diagnostic in 18 of these patients. Thus, magnification radiography offers some diagnostic advantage in patients suspected of having osteomyelitis.
Scalable and fully distributed localization with mere connectivity

This work proposes a novel connectivity-based localization algorithm, well suitable for large-scale sensor networks with complex shapes and non-uniform nodal distribution. In contrast to current state-of-art connectivity-based localization methods, the proposed algorithm is fully distributed, where each node only needs the information of its neighbors, without cumbersome partitioning and merging process. The algorithm is highly scalable, with limited error propagation and linear computation and communication cost with respect to the size of the network. Moreover, the algorithm is theoretically guaranteed and numerically stable. Extensive simulations and comparison with other methods under various representative network settings are carried out, showing superior performance of the proposed algorithm.
Semantic need: an approach for guiding users contributing metadata to the Semantic Web

In its core, the Semantic Web is about the creation, collection and interlinking of metadata on which agents can perform tasks for human users. While many tools and approaches support either the creation or usage of semantic metadata, there is neither a proper notion of metadata need, nor a related theory of guidance which metadata should be created. In this paper, we address the issue of why and how metadata is provided for the public Semantic Web. In particular, we introduce a mechanism called semantic need which targets to support knowledge providers. It is based on the principle of aggregating unsatisfied information needs in order to recommend the sharing or capturing of semantic metadata. We describe the abstract architecture, algorithms and an empirical analysis of information gaps in public Semantic Web applications.
Neutron irradiation strengthening in copper single crystals

Abstract The temperature and strain rate dependence of the flow stress have been measured from 4·2°K to 373°K in neutron-irradiated copper single crystals as a function of neutron dose and solute additions. Between 77°K and 373°K solutes have very little effect on the flow stress and its temperature dependence. At 4·2°K a large amount of solute, 7–14 at. %, lowers the flow stress of pure copper crystals. From these measurements an activation energy and activation volume have been calculated. Both are solute independent and are analysed on the basis of a stress dependence, rather than a temperature dependence. It is thus shown that the results can be explained by assuming a single-valued energy for the thermally activated deformation process, rather than by assuming an obstacle size spectrum. The experimental results are shown to be in rather good agreement with Fleischer's strengthening theory based upon tetragonal distortions.