cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated osteoprotegerin in COPD is potentially regulated by oxidative stress dependent glycogen synthase kinase-3β and β-catenin signalling

We recently reported that sputum osteoprotegerin (OPG) in COPD is higher than that in controls and is a potential biomarker in COPD (To M et.al . CHEST 2010 Dec 2 [Epub ahead of print]). However, the molecular mechanism involved in OPG elevation in COPD was not clarified yet. Here we investigated the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin in OPG transcription, especially under oxidative stress. A549 cells, an alveolar epithelial cell line, were treated with cigarette smoke conditioned media (CSM), and β-catenin protein was determined by westernblot. CSM induced OPG release (measured by ELISA) with a maximum induction of 147% and also increased β-catenin protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum induction of 161%. A549 cells were transfected with β-catenin siRNA using lipofectamine for specific knockdown (KD) of β-catenin, and IL-1β stimulated OPG production by the A549 cells was measured by ELISA. β-catenin KD showed significantly lower OPG production at baseline and after IL-1β stimulation compared to non- transfected controls (466±13 pg/ml in β-catenin KD and 1712±35pg/ml in wild type without IL-1β, and 1213±37 pg/ml in β-catenin KD and 2669±16pg/ml in wild type under IL-1β stimulation). The inhibitor of GSK-3β, which controls β-catenin stabilisation, significantly increased OPG production with a maximum induction of 161% and with EC 50 of 1.2 mM. Thus, defect of GSK-3β causes β-catenin expression, leading upregulation of OPG. This will be a new insight on molecular mechanism of COPD pathogenesis.
The Home School: Why Students with Severe Intellectual Disabilities Must Attend the Schools of Their Brothers, Sisters, Friends, and Neighbors

A home school is the one a student with severe intellectual disabilities would attend if he or she were not disabled. A clustered school is a regular school attended by an unnaturally large proportion of students with intellectual disabilities, but it is not the one any or most would attend if they were not labeled disabled. Students who have severe intellectual disabilities should attend home schools so that (a) all children can be prepared to function in a pluralistic society; (b) the most meaningful and individually appropriate instructional environments and activities can be used; (c) parents, guardians, brothers, and sisters can have reasonable access to schools and services; and (d) a wide range of social relationships with students and others who are not disabled can be developed, maintained, and enhanced over long periods of time. The individualized educational program (IEP) of each student should include individually determined kinds and amounts of instruction in chronological age-appropriate reg...
ν1 and ν1+ν5 of DCCN: Determination of the ν5 energy and the quasilinearity of DCCN

The high resolution infrared spectrum of DCCN in the region of 2385–2530 cm−1 has been investigated using infrared kinetic spectroscopy. The CD stretching fundamental, ν1,together with the closely related hot bands, ν1+ν5−ν5,ν1+2ν5±2−2ν5±2, and ν1+2ν50−2ν50 have been observed and assigned. In addition the combination band, ν1+ν5, was observed. When the information provided by this perpendicular band is combined with that provided by ν1+ν5−ν5, the vibrational energy of ν5 is accurately determined to be 74.845(2) cm−1. This measurement, when combined with the ab initio and semirigid bender calculations of Malmquist et al., gives a barrier to linearity of 280 cm−1. Generally, fine structure splittings are not resolved for any levels except those belonging to the upper l- or K-type doubling components of ν1+ν5. This fine structure splitting is most strongly exhibited in the Q-branch of the ν1+ν5 band where it is 0.039 cm−1.
Retirement Patterns and Their Relationship to Volunteering

This study examines the relationships of volunteering behaviors with work–retirement patterns and transition among middle-aged and older Americans using the Health and Retirement Study data (1998-2008). Latent class analysis was used to identify retirement status and cluster respondents into five latent classes: the not-retired, partial retiree, full retiree, non-worker (e.g., homemakers), and the transitioned (i.e., the newly retired from paid work). Generalized linear mixed models showed those experiencing work–retirement transitions were significantly more involved in volunteering than the not-retired. Partial retirees and full retirees were more likely to start volunteering, and full retirees were also more likely to end volunteering than the not-retired over the 10-year observation period. Volunteer organizations are advised to recruit older adults who have time available and social connections with the workforce and to target the newly retired who are likely to increase their volunteer time during t...
Metabolism of D-[3H]threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis, and the synergistic action of an inhibitor of microsomal monooxygenase.

D-Threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP) is an effective inhibitor of the glucosyltransferase that makes glucosylceramide. Virtually all of the hundreds of naturally occurring glycolipids are formed from this primary glycolipid, so the inhibitor acts to lower their concentrations by the process of attrition (hydrolytic catabolism). Trials with mice carrying ascites carcinoma cells showed that PDMP could produce a permanent cure in some of the animals and marked prolongation of life in the others (Inokuchi, J., I. Mason, and N.S. Radin. 1987. Cancer Lett. 38: 23-30). In order to maximize the effect, we studied the metabolism of PDMP by labeling it with [3H] on carbon one, using a labeling method that discriminated against the unwanted erythro-isomer. The active enantiomer of the inhibitor (D-) was isolated by chromatography of the camphanate esters, followed by methanolytic cleavage. Examination of the fate of the labeled drug after a single injection showed that it was very rapidly converted to several polar products that were rapidly excreted. The drug penetrated all of the organs readily and a small portion was oxidized at the C-1 position to yield 3H2O. From these findings it appeared likely that the amine is attacked by a mixed function oxidase based on cytochrome P450. This conclusion was confirmed by showing that the tissue levels of PDMP could be greatly elevated, for a much longer time, when the mice were pretreated with piperonyl butoxide or cimetidine. The amount of conversion to polar metabolites was substantially reduced and tissue levels of PDMP were maintained much longer. Analysis of mice injected with one or both drugs showed that piperonyl butoxide augmented the effects of PDMP on ceramide, glucosylceramide, and dihexosylceramide levels, as well as on the activity of glucosylceramide synthase. It is suggested that piperonyl butoxide be used as an adjuvant for the many useful drugs that are inactivated by the P450 system.
Influence of local strains of chemical bonds on the movement of solitons in trans-polyacetylene

Abstract Local binding or compression of chemical bonds in trans-polyacetylene chain are considered with respect to their influence on movement of a soliton along the chain. Compression of double and single bond by an equal length (bending by an angle) results in different ground state energies of the system. Therefore while passing along the chain with a strained double or single bond the soliton can be reflected, decelerated or accelerated. Being placed between strained double bonds, the soliton appears to be in potential well.
Intensity of geomagnetic storms depends on the X‐line location in the plasma sheet

[1] Magnetic reconnection in the plasma sheet, known as the near-Earth X-line (NEXL), is observed within ∼30 RE from Earth during substorms. In the absence of substorms, the reconnection X-line is observed beyond ∼30 RE, denoted as mid-distant-tail X-line (MDXL). During quasi-periodic substorms, convection is enhanced by the NEXL to intensify the ring current of major storms with Dst ∼ −100 nT. Motivated by observations, we propose a ring current injection conjecture to order the storm intensity: Ring current intensity increases if the X-line forms closer to Earth. We carry out a rough entropy analysis as a first step toward theoretical investigation of the ring current injection conjecture. We show that substorm-associated near-Earth reconnection of closed plasma sheet field lines cannot provide the ring current particles for a major magnetic storm. However, we find that near-Earth reconnection of tail lobe field lines in a few strong substorm events could provide the particles for the storm-time ring current, if the X-line is located earthward of ∼15 RE with an uncertainty up to ∼25 RE.
Field theory: why have some physicists abandoned it?

Our present-day theory for fundamental processes in Nature—and by this I mean our descriptions of elementary particles and forces—is phenomenally successful. Experimental data confirms theoretical prediction; where accurate calculations and experiments are attainable, agreement is achieved to many—six or seven—significant figures. Table 1 shows two examples. Of course mostly such precision cannot be achieved, neither theoretically nor experimentally. Yet no experiment has thus far contradicted our understanding of the gravitational interactions as described by Einstein’s general relativity, nor of the strong nuclear interactions, nor of the electromagnetic and radioactivity-producing weak interactions that are now collected into the Glashow–Weinberg–Salam “standard model.” (A hint of physical phenomena beyond the standard model has recently been provided by experimentalists announcing the discovery of a neutrino mass, which is not predicted by the standard model. But if this much-anticipated result is independently confirmed, it can then be fitted very easily into a straightforward extension of the present-day model.) The strong and electro-weak theories make use of a quantum mechanical description, whereas classical physics suffices to account for all known gravitational phenomena. View this table: Table 1 Comparison between particle physics theory and experiment in two very favorable cases The theoretical structure within which this success has been achieved is local field theory, which offers physicists a tremendously wide variety of applications; it is a language with which physical processes are discussed and it provides a model for fundamental physical reality, as described by our theories of strong, electro-weak, and gravitational processes. No other framework exists in which one can calculate “so many phenomena with such ease and accuracy” (L. P. Williams, personal communication). Arising from a mathematical account of the propagation of fluids (both “ponderable” and “imponderable”), field theory emerged over 100 years ago in the discussion within classical physics of Faraday–Maxwell electromagnetism and soon thereafter …
Yaccscript: a platform for intersecting high-level languages

Programming paradigms are often skewed towards a particular domain of problems, thus one effective way to utilize them is through a multiparadigm approach to software development. One way to achieve this goal is to compile multiple languages to a single platform that can support a variety of processing models. This paper describes Yaccscript, an extensible platform for compiling languages to a common framework, and demonstrates its effectiveness at providing interoperability between object-oriented, functional, and logic programming through implementations of Python, Haskell, and Prolog.
Norms and Games

There are three centrally important ways in which norms have been elaborated and explained: in terms of religious or natural law strictures on behavior, in terms of constraints imposed by rationality, and, recently, in terms of agents' behavior in well‐defined games. The principal difficulty of a gaming account of norms is to show how the account explains motivations of individuals to follow the norms. This issue is examined in the context of small‐number norms and large‐number norms.
Stem cell therapies for spinal cord injury

Stem cell therapy is a potential treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI), and a variety of different stem cell types have been evaluated in animal models and humans with SCI. No consensus exists regarding the type of stem cell, if any, that will prove to be effective therapeutically. Most data suggest that no single therapy will be sufficient to overcome all the biological complications caused by SCI. Rationales for therapeutic use of stem cells for SCI include replacement of damaged neurons and glial cells, secretion of trophic factors, regulation of gliosis and scar formation, prevention of cyst formation, and enhancement of axon elongation. Most therapeutic approaches that use stem cells involve implantation of these cells into the spinal cord. The attendant risks of stem cell therapy for SCI--including tumor formation, or abnormal circuit formation leading to dysfunction--must be weighed against the potential benefits of this approach. This Review will examine the biological effects of SCI, the opportunities for stem cell treatment, and the types of stem cells that might be used therapeutically. The limited information available on the possible benefits of stem cell therapy to humans will also be discussed.
Structural and microstructural transitions during phase separation and crystallization of Al2O3-SiO2-P2O5-Y2O3 glass

A highly refractory glass in the system Al2O3-SiO2-P2O5-Y2O3 has been designed and produced such that, upon heating, an essentially fully crystalline glass—ceramic evolves containing mullite (nominally 3Al2O3·2SiO2) and xenotime (YPO4) as the final principal phases. Phase separation in this glass occurred during cooling from the melt and continued during annealing. XPS of the Al 2p, P 2p and the Y 3d electrons revealed that the average chemical environment of each of these elements is measurably different in the annealed glass and in the completely crystallized material. This indicates that the compositions of the separated glass phases are very different from those of the crystal phases which form from them. Additional rearrangement of the glass structure was observed at 1173 K. Extensive formation of mullite was initially detected at 1223 K and was followed by the crystallization of xenotime and the transient compounds of Y4Al2O9, Y2Si2O7, AlPO4 and YP5O14. The optimum crystal nucleation and crystallization temperatures of 1173 and 1473 K, respectively, were determined from DTA, XRD, SEM and TEM studies.
Spectrophotometric properties of materials observed by Pancam on the Mars Exploration Rovers: 3. Sols 500-1525

Abstract The Panoramic Camera (Pancam) on the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity acquired visible/near-infrared (432–1009 nm) multispectral observations of soils and rocks under varying viewing and illumination geometries. Data retrieved from these images were modeled using radiative transfer theory to study the microphysical and surface scattering nature of materials at both sites. Nearly 57,000 individual measurements from 1900 images were collected of rock and soil units identified by their color and morphologic properties over a wide range of phase angles (0–150°). Images were acquired between Sols 500 and 1525 in the Columbia Hills and regions around Home Plate in Gusev Crater and in the plains and craters between Erebus and Victoria Craters in Meridiani Planum. Corrections for diffuse skylight incorporated sky models based on observations of atmospheric opacity throughout the mission. Disparity maps created from Pancam stereo images allowed estimates of local facet orientations. For Spirit, soils at lower elevations near Home Plate were modeled with lower single scattering albedo (w) values than those on the summit of Husband Hill, but otherwise soils exhibited similar scattering properties to previous Gusev soils. Dark ripple sands at the El Dorado dunes were among the most forward-scattering materials modeled. Silica-rich soils and nodules near Home Plate were analyzed for the first time, and exhibited increased forward scattering behavior with increasing wavelength, consistent with microporosity inferred from previous high resolution images and thermal infrared spectroscopy. For Opportunity, the opposition effect width parameter for sandstone outcrop rocks was modeled for the first time, and demonstrated average values consistent with surfaces of intermediate porosity and/or grain size distribution between those modeled for spherule-rich soils and darker, clast-poor soils. Soils outside a wind streak emanating from the northern rim of Victoria Crater exhibited w values ∼16% higher than soils inside the streak. Overall, w values and scattering properties for outcrop rocks, spherule-rich soils, and rover tracks were similar to previous Meridiani Planum analyses, emphasizing the homogeneity of these materials across nearly 12 km of rover odometry.
Conduction trees with spacings at the tips

Abstract This paper documents two methods of improving the performance of volume-to-point tree networks for two-dimensional heat conduction. These improvements are offered relative to the design produced by the constructal method, in which optimized volume elements (building blocks) are presented and grouped into larger constructs, which are also optimized. The first improvement is that each construct is optimized with respect to all its degrees of freedom: unlike in the constructal method, the optimized features of the smaller building blocks are not preserved during the optimization of the construct. The second improvement opportunity is that spacings are allowed between the facing tips of neighboring high-conductivity inserts. All such spacings are optimized. Another new direction pursued in this paper is the optimization of tree networks that must fill a volume with prescribed external shape (e.g., square, or disk). The designs optimized numerically in this paper lower the volume-to-point resistance beyond the levels achieved based on the constructal method, and bring the shape of the conduction tree closer to the shapes seen in nature.
Plaque morphology and embolic protection strategies in carotid artery stenting.

ach year, approximately 800,000 strokes occur in the United States, 80% of which are ischemic. Of that 80%, E 15%e20% are caused by extracranial carotid artery disease (3). The risk of stroke due to both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis, as well as the benefit of repair by carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), has been well documented in clinical trials. Both the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) and the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST) demonstrated a significant benefit to CEA for those with severe (70%e80%) symptomatic stenosis. In NASCET, the risk of stroke with medical therapy was 26% over 2 years compared to 9% with CEA (16). The ECST documented stroke risks over 3 years formedical therapy andCEA to be 26.5% and 14.9%, respectively (6, 7). CEA has also been shown to be of benefit in those with asymptomatic disease, although the effect was not as profound. The Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study (ACAS) reported an 11% risk of stroke over 5 yearswithmedical therapy versus 5.1%with CEA for those with greater than 60% stenosis (8), and the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial (ACST) demonstrated an 11.8% risk with medical
Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of chicken type I deiodinase cDNA: expression in normal and dwarf broiler chickens.

Abstract A cDNA encoding the chicken type I iodothyronine deiodinase (cDI-1) was isolated and sequenced from a cDNA library prepared from ConA-activated chicken splenic T-lymphocytes. The coding region of cDI-1 cDNA is composed of 738 basepairs (bp) which encodes a 246 amino acid protein. The predicted amino acid sequence of cDI-1 indicates only 60% identity to several mammalian type I deiodinases. The cDI-1 cDNA contains a codon for a highly conserved selenocysteine residue (Cys124). Northern blot analysis of total RNA prepared from different tissues of a 3-week-old broiler chicken shows a single transcript (2 kb) in liver and kidney. The abundance of hepatic cDI-1 transcripts in growth hormone receptor (GHR)-deficient dwarf chicken was similar to normal chickens despite lower levels of plasma T3(37% lower) and elevated levels of T4(21% higher) in dwarf chickens. This finding suggests that regulation of hepatic cDI-1 mRNA is GH-independent in the post-hatch chicken.
The Structure of an Infectious P22 Virion Shows the Signal for Headful DNA Packaging

Bacteriophages, herpesviruses, and other large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses contain molecular machines that pump DNA into preassembled procapsids, generating internal capsid pressures exceeding, by 10-fold, that of bottled champagne. A 17 angstrom resolution asymmetric reconstruction of the infectious P22 virion reveals that tightly spooled DNA about the portal dodecamer forces a conformation that is significantly different from that observed in isolated portals assembled from ectopically expressed protein. We propose that the tight dsDNA spooling activates the switch that signals the headful chromosome packing density to the particle exterior.
Recovery of Hearing in Meniere's Disease after Antiviral Treatment.

Abstract Objective Determine the outcome of hearing in Meniere’s Disease (MD) after antiviral treatment. Study design Prospective study. Setting University Hospital. Methods Thirty one new patients with a diagnosis of MD were treated with antiviral drugs during 2012. Acyclovir or valacyclovir was used depending on insurance coverage and cost. A standard dose of 800 mg (acyclovir) or 1 g (valacyclovir) 3 times a day for 3 weeks was used. The dose was decreased to twice daily for three weeks, and finally once daily for a year or longer. Hearing test including pure tone average (PTA) and speech discrimination (SD) was performed prior to treatment and 1–2 months, 6 months and 1 year after the initiation of treatment. Effect on dizziness was recorded at each evaluation, hearing was judged to be improved if PTA was lowered by at least 15 db and/or an increase in SD of 20% or greater. Results Hearing was improved in twelve and not improved in nineteen patients. Complete control of vertigo was achieved in those patients with improved hearing. The nineteen patients with no improvement in hearing were divided into 2 groups based on the level of hearing at diagnosis. Nine patients presenting with a PTA of 50 db and SD of 50% or better experienced good control of vertigo (6 out of 7; 2 with no follow-up). Ten patients with PTA of 60 db or more and SD below 50% exhibited poor control of vertigo with antivirals (3 out of 10). The duration of MD in the group with hearing improvement was shorter (2.4 years) than the group with no improvement (5.5 years). Conclusion Significant hearing and balance control in patients with MD can be achieved with orally administered antiviral drugs.
Mechanisms of inflammation in spinal cord injury

The inflammatory response initiated after spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by an increase in cytokines, notably IL-1β. Among its effects are the transcriptional control of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). While they may ameliorate inflammation, they may also cause cellular damage via production of reactive oxygen species (O2 − ., OH·, NO·). The transcription factor NF-κB is a key intermediary in the signalling pathways leading from IL-1β expression to COX-2 and iNOS stimulation. Binding of NF-κB can be abrogated by the use of oligonucleotide ‘decoys’ that compete for the cognate endogenous NF-κB proteins. Using injections of fluorescent ‘decoy’ oligonucleotides into two-month-old-male rats after SCI into the site of injury, we found prompt, robust and transient uptake of labelled ‘decoys’ into both cytoplasm and nuclei of resident cells. Injection of ‘decoys’ containing the NF-κB binding sequences present in the COX-2 promoter region, together with a ‘nonsense’ sequence, showed selective effects on iNOS expression at the site of injury. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that NF-κB transcriptional regulation of COX-2 and iNOS are linked and may be an element in the pathophysiology and recovery of mammalian spinal cord after contusion injury. Acknowledgements: Supported in part by NINDS Grant NS-39161 and Shriners Hospital Grant 8710.
Sparse Texture Active Contour

In image segmentation, we are often interested in using certain quantities to characterize the object, and perform the classification based on criteria such as mean intensity, gradient magnitude, and responses to certain predefined filters. Unfortunately, in many cases such quantities are not adequate to model complex textured objects. Along a different line of research, the sparse characteristic of natural signals has been recognized and studied in recent years. Therefore, how such sparsity can be utilized, in a non-parametric way, to model the object texture and assist the textural image segmentation process is studied in this paper, and a segmentation scheme based on the sparse representation of the texture information is proposed. More explicitly, the texture is encoded by the dictionaries constructed from the user initialization. Then, an active contour is evolved to optimize the fidelity of the representation provided by the dictionary of the target. In doing so, not only a non-parametric texture modeling technique is provided, but also the sparsity of the representation guarantees the computation efficiency. The experiments are carried out on the publicly available image data sets which contain a large variety of texture images, to analyze the user interaction, performance statistics, and to highlight the algorithm's capability of robustly extracting textured regions from an image.
Viscoelastic Contact of Nominally Flat Rough Surfaces

Approximate closed-form equations are derived for normal and tangential contact forces of rough surfaces in dry friction. Using an extension of the Greenwood and Tripp model, in which the derivations permit asperity shoulder-to-shoulder contact and viscoelastic asperity behavior. Mathematical formulae are derived for normal and tangential components of the contact force that depend not only on the proximity of the two surfaces but also the rate of approach and relative sliding. A statistical approach is forwarded in which dependence of the asperity tangential contact force on relative tangential velocity of two asperities can be cast as a corrective factor in the mathematical description of tangential force. In this regard two corrective coefficients are derived: force directionality corrective coefficient and force-velocity directionality corrective coefficient. The results show that for a moderate to high load ranges the contact force can be analytically described to within 20 percent accuracy, well below the uncertainties due to surface profile measurement.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
On the extraction of an exhaustible resource by a monopoly

Hotelling's r-percent rule does not hold for monopoly extractors of durable exhaustible resources. An example with a nondurable resource in which the rule also fails to hold is presented. An economy with a fixed average propensity to save is modelled. The monopoly extractor recognizes that resource extraction, by affecting output and hence capital accumulation, affects future demand. The firm exploits this effect by causing the marginal profitability of extraction to grow faster or slower than the rate of interest, depending upon initial conditions. Conditions are developed under which the growth rate will be less than the interest rate.
Hyperacute injury marker (HARM) in primary hemorrhage A distinct form of CNS barrier disruption

Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize a previously unreported form of CNS barrier disruption in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH): hyperacute injury marker (HARM). Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis of patients presenting with primary ICH, precontrast and postcontrast MRI scans obtained within 5 days of symptom onset were analyzed. The presence of CNS barrier disruption was defined by 1) perihematomal or intrahematomal enhancement visualized on postcontrast T1-weighted MRI or 2) HARM: sulcal or ventricular hyperintensity visualized on postcontrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences (graded on a 5-point scale). Results: Forty-six patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 65 years, median NIH Stroke Scale score was 7, and mean ICH volume was 12.2 mL (range 0.3–46.9 mL). HARM was visualized in 85% of patients, and this was moderate to severe in 50%. In all cases, the sulcal enhancement was noncontiguous with the hematoma. Of those patients with postcontrast T1-weighted imaging, perihematomal or intrahematomal contrast enhancement was visualized in 75% of patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HARM occurs in intracerebral hemorrhage and that it likely represents a second type of CNS barrier disruption distinct from parenchymal postcontrast T1-weighted enhancement. Similar to T1 enhancement, this phenomenon may serve as a clinically useful biomarker to test therapies aimed at stabilizing acute ICH and CNS barrier disruption. Future studies are needed to further define the time course and prognostic implications of this finding.
Prenatal alcohol and cocaine exposure: Influences on cognition, speech, language, and hearing

Abstract This paper reviews research on the consequences of prenatal exposure to alcohol and cocaine on children's speech, language, hearing, and cognitive development. The review shows that cognitive impairment, learning disabilities, and behavioral disorders are the central nervous system manifestations of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and cranio-facial abnormalities are also present. Delays in language acquisition, as well as receptive and expressive language deficits, are commonly reported. The cranio-facial abnormalities of FAS, which sometimes include cleft palate, make the child prone to otitis media with effusion and conductive hearing loss. The family environment in which one or both parents is a heavy alcohol user presents challenges to a child with normal intelligence, but may be especially deleterious to the child with mental retardation. Prenatal exposure to cocaine results in subtle cognitive disabilities when measured at 4 years of age. The cognitive effects may be ameliorated by a stimulating and sensitive care-giving environment. A small, deleterious “cocaine-effect” is also seen in speech and language development. The child with prenatal exposure to cocaine may be considered at increased risk for language delay or disorder. There is no evidence that prenatal cocaine exposure by itself is a risk factor for sensorineural hearing impairment, although auditory evoked potentials from the brainstem and cortex suggest some abnormalities in central auditory processing, at least during the newborn period. The strong effect of the home environment for ameliorating the effects of prenatal cocaine-exposure suggests that a family-focused approach for cognitive, language, and social-emotional habilitation would be beneficial to all. Learning outcomes: The learner will be able to describe the major features of fetal alcohol syndrome and how they relate to speech, language, hearing, and cognitive disorders. The learner will review the literature and determine research needs with respect to language, speech, and hearing among infants and children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Similarly, the learner will distinguish the outcomes of prenatal alcohol-exposure from those of prenatal cocaine-exposure. The learner will summarize the controversy regarding the possible stigmatization of cocaine-exposed infants. The learner will summarize the speech, language, and hearing effects of prenatal cocaine-exposure.
A Microfluidic Filter Chip for Highly Sensitive Chemiluminescence Detection of E. Coli O157:H7

This paper describes a rapid and highly sensitive chemiluminescence detection scheme for E. coli O157:H7 bacteria by using a microfluidic filter chip. The stepped configuration design of the filter chip enables the formation of a monolayer of beads-bacteria-peroxidase labeled antibodies sandwich complex inside the microchamber. The addition of Luminol to the sandwich complex produces a chemiluminescence signal proportional to the concentration of E. coli. The chemiluminescence signal is captured by a fiber optic light guide connected to a luminometer. The monolayer maximizes the optical accessibility of the E. coli cells to the detecting light guide and high chemiluminescence signal strength is achieved. A multi-sampling technique is used to enhance the E. coli capture efficiency by 180%. Due to the combination of the filter chip and the sampling technique, no enrichment scheme is used for detecting extremely low cell concentrations, which is difficult to accomplish with other rapid detection methods.© 2005 ASME
Characterization of the curing process from high-solids anaerobic digestion.

Abstract A laboratory-scale study was completed to simulate aerobic curing of solid-phase residue (digestate) from an anaerobic reactor fed a mixture of food and landscape wastes. The degree of organic stabilization was determined through routine analysis of oxygen uptake rates, percent O 2 , temperature, volatile solids, and Solvita Maturity Index; measurements of ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations served as indicators of phytotoxicity. Results suggest that stabilization of organics and elimination of phytotoxic compounds from anaerobic digestate preceded significant reduction of each volatile sulfur compound (VSC) detected (hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and dimethyl sulfide). Within 10–15 days of curing, stabilization of organics was achieved and phytotoxic compounds were eliminated, whereas reduction of VSCs to low levels required 15–20 days of curing. Based on these results, incomplete curing and anaerobic microenvironments within a curing facility may increase odor potential via formation of VSCs, whereas sufficiently cured digestate will resist VSC formation, despite the onset of anaerobic conditions.
Infrared Spectroscopy in Supersonic Molecular Beams: ν3 Band of SF6 at 10.6 µm

A band contour analysis is shown for the v3 absorption of the flow-cooled SF6. Temperature dependence of the absorption feature is simulated. The possible utility of this technique as a temperature probe of flow-cooled gas mixtures is discussed.
Automated field detection of rock fracturing, microclimate, and diurnal rock temperature and strain fields

Abstract. The rates and processes that lead to non-tectonic rock fracture on Earth's surface are widely debated but poorly understood. Few, if any, studies have made the direct observations of rock fracturing under natural conditions that are necessary to directly address this problem. An instrumentation design that enables concurrent high spatial and temporal monitoring resolution of (1) diurnal environmental conditions of a natural boulder and its surroundings in addition to (2) the fracturing of that boulder under natural full-sun exposure is described herein. The surface of a fluvially transported granite boulder was instrumented with (1) six acoustic emission (AE) sensors that record micro-crack associated, elastic wave-generated activity within the three-dimensional space of the boulder, (2) eight rectangular rosette foil strain gages to measure surface strain, (3) eight thermocouples to measure surface temperature, and (4) one surface moisture sensor. Additionally, a soil moisture probe and a full weather station that measures ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, insolation, and precipitation were installed adjacent to the test boulder. AE activity was continuously monitored by one logger while all other variables were acquired by a separate logger every 60 s. The protocols associated with the instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis are discussed in detail. During the first four months, the deployed boulder experienced almost 12 000 AE events, the majority of which occur in the afternoon when temperatures are decreasing. This paper presents preliminary data that illustrates data validity and typical patterns and behaviors observed. This system offers the potential to (1) obtain an unprecedented record of the natural conditions under which rocks fracture and (2) decipher the mechanical processes that lead to rock fracture at a variety of temporal scales under a range of natural conditions.
The solution structure of Abl SH3, and its relationship to SH2 in the SH(32) construct.

Abstract Background: The Src homology domains, SH3 and SH2, of Abl protein tyrosine kinase regulate enzymatic activity in vivo. Abl SH3 suppresses kinase activity, whereas Abl SH2 is required for the transforming activity of the activated form of Abl. We expect that the solution structures of Abl SH3, Abl SH2 and Abl SH(32) (a dual domain comprising SH3 and SH2 subdomains) will contribute to a structural basis for understanding the mechanism of the Abl ‘regulatory apparatus'. Results We present the solution structure of the free Abl SH3 domain and a structural characterization of the Abl regulatory apparatus, the SH(32) dual domain. The solution structure of Abl SH3 was determined using multidimensional double resonance NMR spectroscopy. It consists of two antiparallel β sheets packed orthogonally, an arrangement first shown in spectrin SH3. Compared with the crystal structure of the Abl SH3 complexed with a natural ligand, there is no significant difference in overall folding pattern. The structure of the Abl SH(32) dual domain was characterized by NMR spectroscopy using the 1 H and 15 N resonance assignment of Abl SH3 and Abl SH2. On the basis of the high degree of similarity in chemical shifts and hydrogen/deuterium exchange pattern for the individual domains of SH3 and SH2 compared with those of the SH(32) dual domain, a structural model of the Abl SH(32) regulatory apparatus is suggested. This model is in good agreement with the ligand-binding characteristics of Abl SH3, SH2 and SH(32). The binding constants for isolated SH3 and SH2 domains when binding to natural ligands, measured by intrinsic fluorescence quenching, do not differ significantly from the constants of these domains within SH(32). Conclusion The solution structures of free Abl SH3 and Abl SH2, and the structural model of Abl SH(32), provide information about the overall topology of these modular domains. The structural model of Abl SH(32), a monomer, consists of the SH3 and SH2 domains connected by a flexible linker. Sites of ligand binding for the two subdomains are independent.
Transcriptome profile of barley aleurone differs between total and polysomal RNAs: implications for proteome modeling

Microarray analysis of mRNA populations is routinely conducted with total RNA. However, such analyses would probably represent the translated genome (proteome) more accurately if conducted with polysomal RNA. An accurate assessment of the proteome is essential where microarray analysis is used to produce molecular markers for breeding programs. In order to determine whether significant variation occurs between these two RNA populations, the relative abundance of transcripts was analyzed in barley aleurones of intact 3.5 day old germinated seedlings, comparing total and polysomal RNAs. A total of 13,744 transcripts was detected among both populations. Of these, 714 were detected only in total RNA, and 1,541 were detected only in polysomal RNA. A surprising number of transcripts detected in both populations (6,312 gene calls or 46% of the compared transcripts) differed significantly between populations. Almost half of these (2,987) were more abundant by at least two-fold, depending on the RNA source, and expression was often biased toward specific functional classes of genes. Transcripts encoding hydrolytic enzymes for the mobilization of stored seed macromolecules were more highly represented in total RNA, rather than polysomal RNA. These included proteinases, nucleases and carbohydrases. Genes for ribonucleoprotein complexes, nucleic acid binding and components of ribosomes were more abundant in polysomal RNA. Among genes with signal intensities of 1,000 or more, hydrolases were greatly over-represented in total RNA, whereas ubiquitin, histone and kinase related genes were mainly represented in polysomal RNA.
The Immunosuppressive Effects of Phthalocyanine Photodynamic Therapy in Mice Are Mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells and Can Be Adoptively Transferred to Naive Recipients†

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment modality for malignant tumors but it is also immunosuppressive which may reduce its therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in PDT immunosuppression. Using silicon phthalocyanine 4 (Pc4) as photosensitizer, nontumor-bearing CD4 knockout (CD4-/-) mice and their wild type (WT) counterparts were subjected to Pc4-PDT in a manner identical to that used for tumor regression (1 cm spot size, 0.5 mg kg(-1) Pc4, 110 J cm(-2) light) to assess the effect of Pc4-PDT on cell-mediated immunity. There was a decrease in immunosuppression in CD4-/- mice compared with WT mice. We next examined the role of CD8+ T cells in Pc4-PDT-induced immunosuppression using CD8-/- mice following the same treatment regimen used for CD4-/- mice. Similar to CD4-/- mice, CD8-/- mice exhibited less immunosuppression than WT mice. Pc4-PDT-induced immunosuppression could be adoptively transferred with spleen cells from Pc4-PDT treated donor mice to syngenic naive recipients (P < 0.05) and was mediated primarily by T cells, although macrophages were also found to play a role. Procedures that limit PDT-induced immunosuppression but do not affect PDT-induced regression of tumors may prove superior to PDT alone in promoting long-term antitumor responses.
DOES CESAREAN SECTION DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF BIRTH TRAUMA? † 1422

The objective of this study is to determine if the increase in frequency of cesarean section (C/S) is associated with a decreased incidence of major birth trauma. A retrospective cohort study was performed looking at all neonatal cases of major birth trauma occurring from 1/89 to 12/94. Major birth trauma was defined as peripheral plexus or nerve injuries, fractures, and inadvertent surgical as well as traumatic lacerations. Neonates with minor birth trauma such as scalp clip injuries, cephalohematomas, bruises, and forceps marks were excluded. Charts of newborns and mothers were reviewed. Data was grouped into two mutually exclusive time periods (1/89 to 12/90 vs. 1/91 to 12/94) in which a significant difference in the C/S rate was suspected. The incidence of overall major birth trauma as well as the relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI) of specific subtypes of birth trauma were calculated and compared between the time periods using the Chi-square test. To evaluate the role of changing delivery patterns on overall birth trauma, a stratified analysis and Mantel-Haenszel test were performed. The results showed that of 17,957 deliveries during the study period, 141 cases of birth trauma occurred. 137 of the 141 records were available for review, and 116 were classified as major trauma and are included in this analysis. The overall incidence of major birth trauma was 6.5 cases/1000 deliveries. During the two year time period(1/89 to 12/90), 18.3% of deliveries were by C/S, and the major birth trauma rate was 8.4 cases/1000 deliveries. During the following 4 year period, the C/S rate was 22.3% with the major birth trauma rate of 5.3 cases/1000 deliveries. A statistically significant difference in the birth trauma(χ2=6.12, p=.013) and C/S (χ2=40.80, p<.001) rate was observed. Controlling for the mode of delivery between the time periods lessened the association between time period and birth trauma incidence(χ2MH=3.28, p=.07) suggesting that this change in C/S rate is responsible for part of the observed difference in birth trauma between the time periods. To further evaluate this finding, we compared the rates of major birth trauma between the time periods stratified by type of delivery. A significant decrease in the risk of major birth trauma in patients delivered by C/S in the later time period was discovered (RR=.46, 95%CI, 0.22-0.97), but there was no difference in those delivered vaginally. This decrease in C/S related birth trauma appeared to be mediated by a decrease in total lacerations between the time periods (χ2=11.76, p<.001) as there was no difference in the rates of other types of major birth trauma(fractures, palsies) in neonates of C/S or vaginally delivered patients. The conclusion of this study is that with a four percent increase in rate of C/S at our institution, a significant decrease in the occurrence of major birth trauma was noted. This finding cannot be explained by a decreased risk of trauma in patients delivering vaginally, but rather by a decreased risk of trauma at C/S in the latter time period.
Inability of gestational hormones to account for the inhibitory effects of pregnancy plasmas on lymphocyte responses in vitro.

Abstract Plasma from pregnant women has a marked inhibitory effect on lymphocyte responses in vitro. While much evidence suggests that this is due to an immunologic mechanism, an apparent lack of specificity and the known suppressive effects of several hormones on immune function has led to speculation that the inhibitory effects could be due to increased concentrations of gestational hormones. We have investigated the effects of a wide range of concentrations of estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and hydrocortisone on lymphocyte responses to mitogens and allogeneic cells. None of these hormones were capable of inhibiting lymphocyte DNA synthesis even at concentrations several times the maximum physiologic plasma levels occurring during pregnancy. Very high, supraphysiologic concentrations were found to be inhibitory. In investigating the mechanism of the hormonal inhibition we found that if they were removed from the media at various times after initiation of culture, the estradiol, HCG, and to a lesser extent the hydrocortisone effects were all reversible. Estradiol and HCG differed from hydrocortisone in that the former were inhibitory only when added at the initiation of culture, whereas hydrocortisone was inhibitory even when added 24 hr later. In summary, while extremely high concentrations of gestational hormones are inhibitory, the quantities which occur physiologically in gestational plasmas are not able to suppress lymphocyte responses and thus cannot account for their inhibitory effects.