cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of the innate epithelial antimicrobial response is cell-type specific and dependent on relevant microenvironmental stimuli.

Summary Immune defence against microbes depends in part on the production of antimicrobial peptides, a process that occurs in a variety of cell types but is incompletely understood. In this study, the mechanisms responsible for the induction of cathelicidin and β-defensin antimicrobial peptides were found to be independent and specific to the cell type and stimulus. Vitamin D3 induced cathelicidin expression in keratinocytes and monocytes but not in colonic epithelial cells. Conversely, butyrate induced cathelicidin in colonic epithelia but not in keratinocytes or monocytes. Distinct factors induced β-defensin expression. In all cell types, vitamin D3 activated the cathelicidin promoter and was dependent on a functional vitamin D responsive element. However, in colonic epithelia butyrate induced cathelicidin expression without increasing promoter activity and vitamin D3 activated the cathelicidin promoter without a subsequent increase in transcript accumulation. Induction of cathelicidin transcript correlated with increased processed mature peptide and enhanced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. However, induction of β-defensin-2 expression did not alter the innate antimicrobial capacity of cells in culture. These data suggest that antimicrobial peptide expression is regulated in a tissue-specific manner at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. Furthermore, these data show for the first time that innate antimicrobial activity can be triggered independently of the release of other pro-inflammatory molecules, and suggest strategies for augmenting innate immune defence without increasing inflammation.
Risk factors associated with alcohol abuse in college students.

AbstractA survey of 989 college students was conducted to investigate risk factors—gender, family history of alcohol abuse, family history of depression and mental illness, childhood hyperac-tivity, and antisocial personality—associated with alcohol abuse. Two hundred ninety-four subjects (29%) completing the alcohol subscale of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule met lifetime DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse. Utilizing a loglinear model, expression of childhood and early adolescent deviant behavior, family history of depression, and gender were shown to be significantly associated with alcohol abuse among students.
Ecological Uses of Vertebrate Indicator Species: A Critique

Plant and animal species have been used for de- cades as indicators of air and water quality and agricultural and range conditions. Increasingly, vertebrates are used to assess population trends and habitat quality for other spe- cies. In this paper we review the conceptual bases, assump- tions, and published guidelines for selection and use of ver- tebrates as ecological indicators. We conclude that an absence of precise definitions and procedures, confounded
Effects of machine stiffness on the loading–displacement curve during spherical nano-indentation

By taking the machine stiffness into the classic Hertzian solution rather than assuming a constant machine stiffness, we developed an approach to simultaneously derive the spherical indenter tip radius and machine stiffness in arbitrary ranges of loads and indenter radii. In contrast, the direct Hertzian fitting method tends to underestimate the radius, especially for larger indenter tips. The success is based on indention tests on two materials with known material stiffness, and the displacement difference under the same load is not affected by the machine stiffness. A total of eight spherical indenter tips with the radii ranging from a few microns to hundreds of microns have been indented on fused silica and single crystal sapphire. Our method gives correct indenter radii for all indenters. The machine stiffness is found to indeed vary with the indentation load and indenter radius. This method has many potential applications in the area of nano-indentation with spherical indenters, such as indentation size effect, modulus and hardness measurement, and micropillar testing.
Use of tissue expanders in final reconstruction of infrapubic midline scar, mons pubis, and vulva after bladder exstrophy repair

Abstract Two patients following bladder exstrophy repair presented for final cosmetic reconstruction with the characteristic lower abdominal midline scar, bisected mons pubis, and laterally displaced labia majora. Tissue expanders were used to obtain additional skin and subcutaneous tissue. After adequate serial expansion, the expanders were removed, scar tissue excised, and primary approximation of healthy tissues performed. A tension free closure and esthetically pleasing midline incision, mops pubis, and vulva were obtained.
Automatic wavelet base selection and its application to contrast enhancement

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to automatic selecting wavelet bases and parameters which is an important and essential issue for implementing wavelet algorithms. The proposed approach is applied to contrast enhancement which is one of the fundamental topics in image processing, pattern recognition and computer vision. Our method utilizes wavelet transform to decompose the image, and then modifies the coefficients by employing the proposed method to perform contrast enhancement. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is very efficient in contrast enhancement without under-enhancement and over-enhancement, and it is superior to some other existing methods.
An Evaluation of D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Using a Solomon Four-Group Design With Latent Variables

The authors examine the effectiveness of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), con trolling for maturation and pretest sensitization by using a Solomon Four-Group design with latent variables...
Septal unit activity in response to alterations in blood volume and osmotic pressure

Abstract Activity of single septal units was recorded in rats anesthetized with Dial-urethane. Under ad lib food and water conditions, medial septal units discharged faster and had faster rise times than lateral septal cells. Hydration states were manipulated such that blood volume and osmotic pressure were changed both separately and together. Septal cells often responded both to volemic and to osmotic stimuli. Firing rates were usually faster during and after dehydrating stimuli than hydrating stimuli. Cells in ad lib rats discharged faster than cells in rats anesthetized either immediately before or immediately after the 0.5 hr drink period of a 23.5 hr water deprivation schedule.
Age-Related Differences in Technology Usage among Community College Faculty.

This study focused on technology usage among community college faculty. Overall technology use among older faculty was slightly less than younger faculty; older faculty were no less likely than younger respondents to use technology. Both age groups used similar technologies and reported equivalent degrees of perceived skill with those technologies. Despite similarities in perceived technology use, older faculty considered technology a minor source of stress. A 120-item questionnaire was mailed to full-time faculty at five Florida community colleges. Respondents included 246 full-time faculty members; older faculty (age 55 and over) comprised 40.7% of the population sample. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were employed for data analysis.
Durability of kraft pulp fiber–cement composites to wet/dry cycling

Abstract If pulp fiber–cement composites are to be used for exterior applications, the effect of cyclical wet/dry exposure must be known. In this research program the effects of three fiber treatments—beating, bleaching, and drying—were investigated to identify those that may minimize effects of environmental aging and degradation during wet/dry cycling. After 25 wet/dry cycles, all composites showed significant losses in first crack strength, peak strength, and post-cracking toughness. The majority of losses in mechanical properties occurred within the first 5 wet/dry cycles, though ductile fiber failure was still observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A three-part progressive degradation mechanism during wet/dry cycling is proposed: (1) initial fiber–cement debonding, (2) reprecipitation of hydration products within the void space at the former fiber–cement interface, and (3) fiber embrittlement due to fiber cell wall mineralization. Unbeaten fiber–cement composites exhibited greater peak strength and post-cracking toughness, prior to cycling, while no significant differences were seen after 25 cycles. The effects of fiber beating varied prior to and after cycling. Unbleached fiber–cement composites exhibited the slowest progression of degradation during cycling. The initial drying state appeared to have no effect on composite performance after 25 wet/dry cycles.
Ballot Question Readability and Roll-Off: The Impact of Language Complexity

Ballot questions often feature obscure and legalistic language that is difficult to comprehend. Because the language of ballot questions is often unclear, the authors hypothesize that questions wit...
Inexpensive teletype terminal modification for automated off-line analysis of radioassay data.

Abstract An ASR-33 Teletype ® has been modified to operate as a calculator input/output as well as continue its original function as a gamma counter read-out device. This modification has economized equipment necessary for automated off-line analysis of radioassay data.
Oxyhemoglobin-Induced Expression of R-Type Ca2+ Channels in Cerebral Arteries

Background and Purpose— Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity after aneurysm rupture. Recently, R-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) expression has been associated with increased cerebral artery constriction in a rabbit model of SAH. The goal of the present study was to examine whether the blood component oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) can mimic the ability of SAH to cause R-type VDCC expression in the cerebral vasculature. Methods— Rabbit cerebral arteries were organ cultured in serum-free media for up to 5 days in the presence or absence of purified oxyHb (10 μmol/L). Diameter changes in response to diltiazem, (L-type VDCC antagonist) and SNX-482 (R-type VDCC antagonist) were recorded at day 1, 3, or 5 in arteries constricted by elevated extracellular potassium. RT-PCR was performed on RNA extracted from arteries cultured for 5 days (±oxyHb) to assess VDCC expression. Results— After 5 days, oxyHb-treated arteries were less sensitive and p...
Evaluating the effect of slot size and environmental variables on the passage of estuarine nekton through a water control structure

Abstract Water control structures (WCSs) installed to regulate water levels can alter both the hydrology and ecology of salt marshes. WCSs are thought to limit nekton ingress into, and egress from, managed marshes. Slots (vertical openings that span most of the water column) incorporated into WCSs are thought to facilitate nekton passage through structures, but little research has directly examined how slot size affects passage rates. We used dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) acoustic imaging to examine the effect of slot width (10, 15, 30, or 60 cm), tidal cycle, diel period, and season on nekton passage at a WCS located in a tidal salt marsh canal. Few individuals (total numbers and relative percentages) used the slots for passage through the structure during any stage of the tidal cycle, day or night, or seasonally. The number and size of migrants were similar for all four slot sizes examined. Nekton used the slots most often on flood tides to access the managed marsh (i.e., swim inside), primarily at night. Individuals entering the managed marsh were larger than those observed leaving the managed marsh. Whereas the majority of migrants were observed during winter months, season did not affect nekton passage in our study. Acoustic imaging allowed a unique and comprehensive evaluation of nekton passage by permitting an examination of factors such as swimming direction and proportion of migrants that are unobservable with other sampling techniques.
Comparative pick-up ion distributions at Mars and Venus: Consequences for atmospheric deposition and escape

Abstract Without the shielding of a substantial intrinsic dipole magnetic field, the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are particularly susceptible to similar atmospheric ion energization and scavenging processes. However, each planet has different attributes and external conditions controlling its high altitude planetary ion spatial and energy distributions. This paper describes analogous test particle simulations in background MHD fields that allow us to compare the properties and fates, precipitation or escape, of the mainly O+ atmospheric pick-up ions at Mars and Venus. The goal is to illustrate how atmospheric and planetary scales affect the upper atmospheres and space environments of our terrestrial planet neighbors. The results show the expected convection electric field-related hemispheric asymmetries in both precipitation and escape, where the degree of asymmetry at each planet is determined by the planetary scale and local interplanetary field strength. At Venus, the kinetic treatment of O+ reveals a strong nightside source of precipitation while Mars' crustal fields complicate the simple asymmetry in ion precipitation and drive a dayside source of precipitation. The pickup O+ escape pattern at both Venus and Mars exhibits low energy tailward escape, but Mars exhibits a prominent, high energy ‘polar plume’ feature in the hemisphere of the upward convection electric field while the Venus ion wake shows only a modest poleward concentration. The overall escape is larger at Venus than Mars ( 2.1 × 10 25 and 4.3 × 10 24 at solar maximum, respectively), but the efficiency (likelihood) of O+ escaping is 2–3 times higher at Mars. The consequences of these comparisons for pickup ion related atmospheric energy deposition, loss rates, and detection on spacecraft including PVO, VEX, MEX and MAVEN are considered. In particular, both O+ precipitation and escape show electric field controlled asymmetries that grow with energy, while the O+ fluxes and energy spectra at selected spatial locations show characteristic signatures of the pickup related acceleration and precipitation.
Abstract 4371: PI3K/Akt/JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway is a mediator for arsenite-induced cyclin D1 expression and cell growth in human bronchial epithelial cells

Arsenite exposure is associated with an increased risk of lung cancers. Although efforts have been made, the precise mechanisms of the arsenite-induced lung carcinogenesis remain enigmatic. Aberrant cyclin D1 expression is an early event in carcinogenesis often accompanies human malignancies in the lung. Our previous study has shown that arsenite was able to induce cyclin D1 expression in human keratinocyte HaCat and mouse epidermal Cl41 cells to promote cell cycle transition, cell proliferation and transformation, which accounts for its ability to induce skin carcinogenesis. However, the role of Cyclin D1 underlying the arsenite-induced human lung carcinogenesis remain elusive. In the present study, arsenite exposure induced the cell cycle transition, resulting in growth promotion of human bronchial epithelial cells. The promoter activity and the expression of cyclin D1 were augmented in response to arsenite treatment. To further evaluate the effect of cyclin D1 in arsenite-induced cell proliferation, a cyclin D1 siRNA construct was stably introduced into Beas-2B cells. The siRNA blocked the induction/expression of cyclin D1. It has been reported that JNKs mediate the cyclin D1 expression in hematopoietic cells. Therefore, we investigated the potential contribution of JNKs to cyclin D1 expression induced by arsenite. Our results strongly suggest that JNK1 is a major kinase responsible for maintaining the basal level of C-Jun phosphorylation, and both JNK1 and JNK2 are critical for arsenite-induced C-Jun phosphorylation. Moreover, using a loss of function mutant Dp85 or DN-Akt, we demonstrated that the PI-3K/Akt pathway was involved in arsenite-induced upregulation of cyclin D1 and cell proliferation. The introduction of Dp85 or DN-Akt into the cells also inhibited JNKs activation as well as c-Jun phosphorylation, while the growth promotion induced by arsenite was significantly inhibited by the PI3K inhibitor Ly294002 and JNK inhibitor, or by over expression of DN-Akt. Overall, our data suggest a signaling pathway of PI-3K/Akt/JNK/c-Jun/cylin D1 signaling in response to arsenite in human bronchial epithelial cells, which leading to the growth promotion. 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 4371.
Molecular Mechanisms and Pathological Consequences of Endotoxin Tolerance and Priming

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Gram-negative bacteria, is a potent inflammatory stimulant, with high doses due to disseminated bacterial infection resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and death. Lower doses can induce a state of tolerance to subsequent toxic doses of LPS, but extremely low doses have an opposite effect, priming the immune system for an even more violent response to subsequent challenge. A substantial body of research exists on the phenomenon of endotoxin tolerance, which appears to be a state of generalized dampening of inflammatory pathways. Comparatively little is known about the mechanisms or indeed the phenomenon of priming, particularly regarding the shift from a priming to a tolerizing response. Our aim is to review recent findings in the field of the inflammatory response to endotoxin, with a focus on highlighting the gaps in current understanding and attempting to reconcile the competing tolerance and priming phenomena.
Computerized process control in behavioral science research

A general approach to the design and development of real-time operating systems is discussed. Operating system design for small to medium scale laboratory computers is described at a moderately elementary level. Analysis of system design as a supervisory control hierarchy is presented in an attempt to bridge the gap between an elementary general understanding of computer operation and the more sophisticated understanding assumed by the writers of most computer systems operator’s manuals. PROSS, a programming language developed at Indiana University, is presented as an example of the highest level of supervisory control.
Solar gamma rays.

The theory of gamma ray production in solar flares is treated in detail. Both lines and continuum are produced. Results show that the strongest line predicted at 2.225 MeV with a width of less than 100 eV and detected at 2.24 + or - 2.02 MeV, is due to neutron capture by protons in the photosphere. Its intensity is dependent on the photospheric He-3 abundance. The neutrons are produced in nuclear reactions of flare accelerated particles which also produce positrons and prompt nuclear deexcitation lines. The strongest prompt lines are at 4.43 MeV from c-12 and at approximately 6.2 from 0-16 and N-15. The gamma ray continuum, produced by electron bremsstrahlung, allows the determination of the spectrum and number of accelerated electrons in the MeV region. From the comparison of the line and continuum intensities a proton-to-electron ratio of about 10 to 100 at the same energy for the 1972, August 4 flare. For the same flare the protons above 2.5 MeV which are responsible for the gamma ray emission produce a few percent of the heat generated by the electrons which make the hard X rays above 20 keV.
Absence of population subdivision in the common shiner, Notropis cornutus (Cyprinidae)

Starch gel electrophoresis of the common shiner, Notropis cornutus, was used to determine if this species exhibits genotypic structuring. Specimens were collected from seven widespread localities representing three branches of a single river drainage. χ2 tests revealed no significant heterogeneity of Est-A electromorphs within or between localities except where physical barriers prevent contact. Therefore, schooling behavior of N. cornutus is not associated with significant genotypic structuring of this species.
Improving the Anelastic Approximation

Abstract A new diagnostic equation is presented which exhibits many advantages over the conventional forms of the anelastic continuity equation. Scale analysis suggests that use of this “pseudo-incompressible equation” is justified if the Lagrangian time scale of the disturbance is large compared with the time scale for sound wave propagation and the perturbation pressure is small compared to the vertically varying mean-state pressure. No assumption about the magnitude of the perturbation potential temperature or the strength of the mean-state stratification is required. In the various anelastic approximations, the influence of the perturbation density field on the mass balance is entirely neglected. In contrast, the mass-balance in the “pseudo-incompressible approximation” accounts for those density perturbations associated (through the equation of state) with perturbations in the temperature field. Density fluctuations associated with perturbations in the pressure field are neglected. The pseudo-incompr...
A moving cast shadow diminishes the Pulfrich phenomenon.

It is demonstrated that the presence of a moving cast shadow diminishes the Pulfrich phenomenon. This complements previous work by Kersten, Knill, Mamassian, and Bulthoff [1996 Nature (London) 379 31] indicating that visible cast shadows can override monocularly based cues to the perceived trajectory of a moving object. The present finding with the Pulfrich phenomenon indicates the effectiveness of shadows for overriding binocularly based cues to the perceived trajectory of a moving object.
Antigenic and deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of a Mycoplasma and associated diphtheroids.

Three diphtheroids isolated from cultures ofMycoplasma arthritidis (Campo strain) were shown to cross-react serologically with theMycoplasma. Stable L-forms prepared from these bacteria were shown to have still greater antigenic similarity to theMycoplasma. But the three diphtheroids isolated on three separate occasions were shown not to be identical antigenically. The buoyant densities of the DNA's of the L-forms were similar to those of the diphtheroids from which they were derived. The caesium chloride gradient method indicated a significant difference in nucleotide base composition between the purified deoxyribonucleic acid of the diphtheroids and of theMycoplasma.
Verbal aggression in the college classroom: Perceived instructor use and student affective learning

The purpose of this investigation was threefold: (1) to examine the extent to which instructors were perceived to use verbally aggressive messages; (2) to explore whether perceived instructor use of verbally aggressive messages was negatively correlated with student affect toward the instructor, student affect toward course content, and student affect toward recommended course behaviors; and (3) to determine whether male and female instructors differed in their perceived use of verbally aggressive messages. Results indicated that (a) instructors are perceived to use verbally aggressive messages infrequently; (b) perceived instructor use of verbally aggressive messages is negatively correlated with student affect toward the instructor, student affect toward course content, and student affect toward recommended course behaviors; and (c) male instructors are perceived to use only the “swearing,”; “teasing,”; and “ridicule”; verbally aggressive messages at a higher rate than female instructors. Future researc...
Some determinants of intake of glucose+saccharin solutions

Abstract In the present three experiments, tests were run to see if postingestional factors played a role in the excessive drinking elicited by the combination of 3% glucose and 0.125% saccharin solutions. The first experiment showed a marked increase in the total daily caloric intake and a decrease in the proportion of calories taken from the food when the glucose+saccharin (G+S) solution was presented to rats. In spite of this alteration of diet induced by G+S drinking, Experiment 2, which compared the drinking of various concentrations of glucose solutions and G+S solutions, demonstrated that the rat drinks these large quantities of the G+S solution for taste, not calories. The final experiment compared preference tests on various concentrations of saccharin, glucose or G+S solutions and showed that preference data across concentrations of G+S were qualitatively similar to the saccharin preference data, and different from the glucose data, even though it was the amount of glucose in the concentrations that was manipulated.
Perception of Maximum Reaching Height When the Means of Reaching Are No Longer in View

Previous research has shown that perception of maximum reaching height is relative to reaching ability even when the means of performing this behavior would bring about (future) changes in reaching ability. Two experiments investigate whether this continues to be the case even when the means of reaching are no longer in view. The results show perception of maximum reaching height reflects impending changes to reaching ability both when the means of performing the reaching task (and changing reaching ability) are present and when they are no longer in view. The results are discussed in the context of prospectivity, retrospectivity, and flexibility—3 fundamental hallmarks of goal-directed behavior.
How Do School-Based Drug Prevention Programs Work and for Whom?

School-based drug prevention programs focused on counteracting social influences to use cigarettes are the most effective to date. However, the exact process by which effective programs work remains unclear. This is due to the failure of program evaluations to include measures of mediating variables and to test for meditaional processes. Available evidence suggests that a change in the social environment to one that is less tolerant of drug use is a likely mediator of program effects. There is inconsistent evidence that program effects differ by moderating variables such as gender, ethnicity, grade, socioeconomic status, and urbanization. Results from the few available studies suggest that both high-risk groups and more typical groups benefit from prevention programs. Analysis of mediation and moderation generate detailed information about how and for whom prevention programs work. As the field of school-based drug prevention research matures, mediating and moderating variables should receive increased at...
Exploring adverse drug events at the class level

Background: While the association between a drug and an adverse event (ADE) is generally detected at the level of individual drugs, ADEs are often discussed at the class level, i.e., at the level of pharmacologic classes (e.g., in drug labels). We propose two approaches, one visual and one computational, to exploring the contribution of individual drugs to the class signal. Methods: Having established a dataset of ADEs from MEDLINE, we aggregate drugs into ATC classes and ADEs into high-level MeSH terms. We compute statistical associations between drugs and ADEs at the drug level and at the class level. Finally, we visualize the signals at increasing levels of resolution using heat maps. We also automate the exploration of drug-ADE associations at the class level using clustering techniques. Results: Using our visual approach, we were able to uncover known associations, e.g., between fluoroquinolones and tendon injuries, and between statins and rhabdomyolysis. Using our computational approach, we systematically analyzed 488 associations between a drug class and an ADE. Conclusions: The findings gained from our exploratory techniques should be of interest to the curators of ADE repositories and drug safety professionals. Our approach can be applied to different drug-ADE datasets, using different drug classification systems and different signal detection algorithms.
Bacterial collective motion near the contact line of an evaporating sessile drop

The near-contact-line dynamics of evaporating sessile drops containing live E. coli cells is studied experimentally. The evaporation of the drop together with its pinned contact-line drives a radially outward fluid flow inside the drop concentrating the suspended cells near the contact-line. Our experiments reveal a collective behavior of the concentrated bacterial population near the contact-line appearing in the form of spatially periodic “bacterial jets” along the circumference of the drop. Based on a physical analysis of the continuum equations of bacterial suspensions, we hypothesize that the patterns result from a concentration instability driven by the active stress of swimming bacteria.
Simulations of Half and Third Integer Resonant Extraction from a One-GeV Pulse Stretcher Ring

In the past few years, the pulse stretcher ring (PSR) concept has emerged as a viable method for extending the duty factor of pulsed linacs. The viability is a result of considerations such as cost and expected extracted beam quality. A few of the projects emphasize high average extracted beam intensity. This is accomplished through a high injection frequency (1 kHz) and relatively high injected peak currents (greater than or equal to80mA). To enhance the injection efficiency, the number of turns of injection are minimized so the ring is long and there are fewer turns for extraction. There is considerable experience with beam extraction over large numbers of turns from synchrotrons, but time uniform extraction over fewer turns has not been treated as thoroughly. In this paper, some of the extraction calculations made for the proposed MIT-Bates One-GeV Pulse Stretcher Ring are discussed. The theory used for the simulation procedure will be reviewed, the results summarized, and some points of operational interest mentioned.
Coherence in nervous system design: the visual system of Pantodon buchholzi.

One of the more unusual visual systems of the Actinopterygii is that of Pantodon buchholzi (Osteoglossomorpha: Osteoglossidae). Its adaptations associate neuroanatomy at different levels of the visual system with ecological and behavioural correlates and demonstrate that the visual system of this fish has adapted for simultaneous vision in air and water. The visual field is divided into three distinct areas: for viewing into the water column, into air, and for viewing the aquatic reflection from the underside of the water surface. Cone diameters in different retinal areas correlate with the differing physical constraints in the respective visual field. Retinal differentiation between the aquatic and aerial views is paralleled at different levels of the central nervous system. A diencephalic nucleus receives both direct and indirect (tectal) afferent input from only the aerial visual system and a specific type of cell in the optic tectum is preferentially distributed in the tectum processing aerial inputs. Distinctions within a single sensory system suggest that some behaviours may be organized according to visual field. For Pantodon , feeding is initiated by stimuli seen by the ventral hemiretina so the anatomical specializations may well play an important role as elements in a feeding circuit.
Structural, Biochemical, and Expression Analysis of Two Distinct Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptors and Their Ligands in Zebrafish*

We have cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding the zebrafish IGF ligands and receptors. Sequence comparison showed that the primary structures of zebrafish IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF-I receptors (IGF-IRs) have been highly conserved in vertebrates. In contrast to the presence of a single IGF-IR gene in mammals, two distinct IGF-IR genes, termed igf-1ra and igf-1rb, were found in zebrafish. Structural and phylogenetic analyses indicated that both genes are orthologous to the human igf-1r gene. Immunoprecipitation studies with specific antibodies showed that both IGF-IR genes are expressed and both receptors bind to IGFs and des(1–3)IGF-I, but not to insulin. The spatio-temporal expression patterns of the two IGFIRs and their ligands were determined using a combination of RT-PCR, whole mount in situ hybridization, and immunocytochemistry. Transcripts for both IGF-I and -II mRNAs were found throughout embryogenesis in a ubiquitous manner. In adult tissues, IGF-I mRNA was more abundant in liver and testis, and its level was increased after GH treatment, whereas IGF-II mRNA was not regulated by GH. IGF-IRa and IGF-IRb mRNAs and proteins were expressed in overlapping spatial domains, but exhibited distinct temporal expression patterns. In particular, the relative level of IGF-IRa mRNA was low during early embryogenesis and increased in the hatched larva, whereas the situation was reversed for IGF-IRb mRNA. In adult zebrafish, the overall tissue distribution patterns of the two IGF-IRs were similar, but there were differences in their cellular localization and relative abundance in defined cells/regions. The differential expression pattern of IGF-IRa and IGF-IRb suggest that they may play distinct roles in regulating the growth and development of zebrafish. (Endocrinology 143: 1858 –1871, 2002)
Critical effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the effectiveness of omeprazole for prevention of gastric or duodenal ulcers among chronic NSAID users.

Background. The recently reported OMNIUM and ASTRONAUT NSAID ulcer prevention trials using omeprazole to prevent endoscopic ulcer recurrence among chronic NSAID users suggested superiority over misoprostol or ranitidine. Aim. To test the hypothesis the results from the OMNIUM and ASTRONAUT studies would not be generalizible as ulcer healing and ulcer recurrence would differ in relation to Helicobacter pylori status. Methods. The data regarding H. pylori status were made available by AstraZenca allowing separate analysis of the outcome of those with NASID ulcers (i.e. without H. pylori infection) and those NSAID use was complicated with the presence of an active H. pylori infection. Results. Reanalysis confirmed that omeprazole was superior to placebo for the prevention of ulcer recurrence in chronic NSAID users. However, overall omeprazole was not significantly better than the subtherapeutic dose (400 µg/day) of misoprostol (14.5% vs. 19.6%, respectively, p = .93); 400 µg of misoprostol was actually superior to omeprazole for the prevention of gastric ulcers among those NSAID ulcers (8.2% vs. 16.6% for misoprostol and omeprazole, respectively; p < .05). Omeprazole was also not statistically different from misoprostol for gastric ulcer prevention in those whose NSAID use was complicated by an active H. pylori infection. Omeprazole was not significantly different from 300 mg of ranitidine for the prevention of NSAID gastric ulcers (14.6% vs. 11.6%, respectively, p = .56). Duodenal ulcers were over represented among H. pylori infected NSAID users and duodenal ulcer prevention was more sensitive to acid suppression than gastric ulcer. Conclusion. The OMNIUM and ASTRONAUT trials may have provided an unrealistic sense of security regarding the effectiveness of omeprazole for protection against ulcer recurrence in chronic NSAID users.
Resilience of super users’ mental models of enterprise-wide systems

Research on information system training has focused primarily on methods, while neglecting the effects of interruption intervals between training and system implementation. This empirical study examines the resilience of accurate mental models of an enterprise-wide system in a large health care facility. Accurate mental models were shown to withstand the passage of time and resulted in superior field performance following a crash conversion. Consistent with prior experimental research, certain types of learners were more likely to acquire these sounder mental models. In large organisations where the simultaneous training of users on a complex system is virtually impossible, scheduling is an important facet of the training paradigm. The main practical implications of this study involve the development of: (1) training programmes emphasising performance on far-transfer tasks, (2) training schedules designed to minimise knowledge erosion, and (3) criteria for selecting highly capable super users.
The Quality of Life of Young Adults With Histories of Specific Language Impairment

When a child is diagnosed as having a language disorder, parents may ask the speech-language pathologist questions such as "How might this language disorder affect my child’s life?" Unfortunately, ...
Mesenteric varices : evaluation with color flow Doppler and magnetic resonance angiography

Varix formation is a well recognized complication of portal hypertension. Rarely, varices may form in the distribution of the mesenteric veins. We present a case of mesenteric varices evaluated by color flow Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography.
Automated Quality Monitoring for Call Centers using Speech and NLP Technologies

This paper describes an automated system for assigning quality scores to recorded call center conversations. The system combines speech recognition, pattern matching, and maximum entropy classification to rank calls according to their measured quality. Calls at both ends of the spectrum are flagged as "interesting" and made available for further human monitoring. In this process, the ASR transcript is used to answer a set of standard quality control questions such as "did the agent use courteous words and phrases," and to generate a question-based score. This is interpolated with the probability of a call being "bad," as determined by maximum entropy operating on a set of ASR-derived features such as "maximum silence length" and the occurrence of selected n-gram word sequences. The system is trained on a set of calls with associated manual evaluation forms. We present precision and recall results from IBM's North American Help Desk indicating that for a given amount of listening effort, this system triples the number of bad calls that are identified, over the current policy of randomly sampling calls. The application that will be demonstrated is a research prototype that was built in conjunction with IBM's North American call centers.
Growth development and yield of maize under three tillage systems in the northeastern U.S.A.

Abstract Cool spring temperatures are a major constraint to maize ( Zea mays L.) production in northern regions of the U.S.A., and a no-till (NT) system intensifies the problem because residue on the surface further decreases soil temperature. Ridge tillage (RT), because of the configuration of the ridge and the removal of most of the residue from the seed zone during the planting operation, may alleviate this problem. Field experiments were established in New York on a drained and undrained silt loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic Aeric Haplaquept) to examine the influence of a fall-plowed, or conventional tillage, system (CT), NT, and RT on soil temperature growing degree days (GDD) and subsequent growth, development, and yield of maize in continuous production. Soil GDD averaged about 35–40 GDD less under NT during the first 35 days after emergence, which resulted in a consistent three-day delay in silking and a lower maximum leaf area index (LAI) and crop growth rate (CGR). Under drained conditions, grain yields under NT averaged 10% lower than CT (8.68 and 9.60 Mg ha −1 , respectively). In two of the three years, however, higher CGR under NT duringv the grain-filling period resulted in the same total phytomass and grain yields as under CT. Soil GDD averaged about 10 GDD more under RT than under CT and the development of maize under RT and CT was essentially the same. Nevertheless, under drained conditions, the growth of maize under RT was slightly slower than under CT and grain yields (9.05 Mg ha −1 ) averaged 5% lower. In the undrained experiment, where some flooding occurred in two of the three years, grain yields were significantly higher under RT than under CT and NT (7.92, 7.09, and 7.19 Mg ha −1 , respectively). In 1988, when a two-day flooding period occured shortly after emergence, the configuration of the ridge reduced the duration of surface flooding from two days to one day, which resulted in increased plant survival, faster growth and development, and higher grain yields (7.36, 5.79, and 5.60 under RT, CT, and NT, respectively). In conclusion, RT appears to be a well adapted conservation tillage system for continuous maize production in northern regions, especially on soils that flood periodically.
Trouble ahead for scientific research: “Research excellence through the year 2000—An analysis

Job openings for new faculty in science and engineering are declining, and the outlook is expected to get worse before it gets better. The National Science Foundation asked the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of this trend and its consequences, which resulted in the report, Research Excellence Through the Year 2000: The Importance of Maintaining a Flow of New Faculty into Academic Research (1979). This 136-page report (with 100 pages of appendices) builds a case for a new kind of support for university science. In so doing, it inadvertently raises more questions than it answers about the fundamental changes likely to take place in the ways American science will develop in the future.
The Na/K pump, Cl ion, and osmotic stabilization of cells.

An equation for membrane voltage is derived that takes into account the electrogenicity of the Na/K pump and is valid dynamically, as well as in the steady state. This equation is incorporated into a model for the osmotic stabilization of cells. The results emphasize the role of the pump and membrane voltage in lowering internal Cl− concentration, thus making osmotic room for vital substances that must be sequestered in the cell.
3.5 Histochemical and stereological analysis of putative preneoplastic hepatic lesions

Histochemistry is a valuable tool in the analysis of altered hepatic foci. These lesions contain alterations in the activities of certain enzymes, including gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), placental glutathione-S-transferase (PGST), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and ATPase, or in certain cellular functions, such as the ability to store iron. The appearance of altered hepatic foci has been found to correlate with the later appearance of hepatocellular carcinomas in rodents. The markers PGST and GGT are the most sensitive at detecting altered hepatic foci induced by most chemicals, but are unable to detect altered hepatic foci induced by some agents, such as peroxisome proliferators. Other markers, such as ATPase or G6Pase, should therefore be used in combination with PGST or GGT in identifying altered hepatic foci. The strain of rat used and the type of diet fed also influence the number of altered hepatic foci induced and the enzyme markers seen. The number of foci per cm2 and the diameters of altered hepatic foci in histochemically-stained tissue sections can easily be quantified. The number of foci per cm2, however, does not give a reliable estimate of the number of altered hepatic foci induced because larger altered hepatic foci are more likely to be transected. The equations of quantitative stereology therefore should be used to transform the data to obtain the number of foci induced per cm3 or per liver, the average volume of individual foci, and the percent of the liver volume occupied by altered hepatic foci. In conclusion, the use of histochemistry to identify preneoplastic lesions and the use of quantitative stereology to estimate their number and volume allow accurate and sensitive quantitation of altered hepatic foci.
Fermentation of soybean meal and its inclusion in diets for newly weaned pigs reduced diarrhea and measures of immunoreactivity in the plasma

Abstract A 2-week experiment was conducted to detect antigenic soy proteins in plasma of pigs fed soybean meal (SBM) and fermented soybean meal (FSBM). The suitability of a commercial FSBM to replace SBM in diets for newly weaned pig was also evaluated. A total of 160 pigs were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments (n = 8): 400 g/kg soybean meal (FSBM-0), its replacement by protein from fermented soybean meal as 1/3 (FSBM-1), 2/3 (FSBM-2), 3/3 (FSBM-3), and no soy protein in diet (PCON). Diets were fed at weaning, but feed intake (ADFI) and weight gain (ADG) record began after 3 days. Overall, pigs fed PCON had greater (P
Systolic blood pressure does not reliably identify vasoactive status in chronic heart failure

Background In chronic heart failure (CHF), titration of vasodilating medications is often guided by monitoring of systolic blood pressure (BP). However, systolic BP may not indicate the patient’s true vasoactive status—best approximated by systemic vascular resistance—because cardiac output is also a contributing factor. Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a validated noninvasive method of measuring cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance. Methods To evaluate the relationship between systolic BP and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) in patients with CHF, we retrospectively evaluated the systolic BP and SVRI from 71 consecutive patients during 615 CHF clinic visits. Measurement of systolic BP was through the oscillometric method and SVRI through ICG (BioZ ICG Monitor, CardioDynamics, San Diego, CA). Absolute values and relative changes in systolic BP and SVRI were compared and characterized by systolic BP grouping. Results The 71 patients were an average of 69.3 ± 12.2 years, New York Heart Association functional class 2.52 ± 0.6, 46.5% men, and 47.8% ischemic etiology. Frequency by systolic BP grouping was: Conclusions Measurement of systolic BP alone does not reliably indicate the degree of vasoconstriction or vasodilation that exists in patients with CHF. Measurement of SVRI by ICG may help guide determination of need and tolerance for vasodilating medications in CHF.
Fast Power Transient Management for OC-192 WDM Add/Drop Networks

This paper describes a fast power transient management functionality incorporated into a 12.5 Gb/s maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) receiver for optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM)-based WDM networks. The receiver has a VGA with a fast automatic gain control and a high-bandwidth offset cancellation loop. Measured results indicate that the receiver IC tolerates a 10 dB/10 mus optical power transient with 72 consecutive identical digits with no BER impact, and offers a 100 X improvement over a standard CDR in tracking an 8 dB sinusoidal power transient at a BER of 10-4 .