cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enteric viruses evoke broad host immune responses resembling bacterial microbiome

SUMMARY Contributions of the viral component of the microbiome, the virome, to the development of innate and adaptive immunity are largely unknown. Here, we systematically defined the host response in mice to a panel of eukaryotic enteric viruses representing six different families. Most of these viruses asymptomatically infected the mice, the magnitude and duration of which was dependent on the microbiota. Flow cytometric and transcriptional profiling of mice mono-associated with these viruses unveiled general adaptations by the host, such as lymphocyte differentiation and IL-22 signatures in the intestine as well as numerous viral strain-specific responses that persist. Comparison with a dataset derived from analogous bacterial mono-association mice identified bacterial species that evoke an immune response comparable to the viruses we examined. These results expand an understanding of the immune space occupied by the enteric virome and underscore the importance of viral exposure events.
Radar target classification using fusion of compressively sensed backscatter

The focus in this paper is on fusing compressively sensed radar data to accomplish non-cooperative radar target identification. The primary motivation is to assess the benefit of fusing compressively sensed radar signals in target identification compared to systems that do not use compressive sensing, and systems that fuse individual sensor decisions instead of sensor data. The paper will use fusion techniques developed in the past decade to combine compressively sensed radar returns and then render a target classification decision. The paper shows the difference between fusing the radar data and making a decision and fusing target identification decisions made at individual compressively sensed radar systems. Reconstructing the radar target down range profile from a fusion of compressively sensed data is also examined. Alternatively, scattering centers are extracted at each separate radar system and fused as features for a radar target recognition system. The radar used in this study is a stepped frequency radar. The radar returns examined represent the backscatter from four commercial aircraft models at various azimuth positions. The data may be corrupted by additive noise. The compressive sensing techniques rely on using a random Gaussian measuring matrix, and the signal recovery techniques use the well-known OMB methods.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology department emergency ultrasound utilization.

To analyze the change in utilization of healthcare resources through a review of ultrasound examinations performed in the emergency department of an urban healthcare system in NYC during the time of peak COVID-19 outbreak. This is a retrospective review analyzing ED ultrasound exams performed by the radiology department of an urban healthcare system during the 8-week time period of the peak COVID-19 outbreak in NYC, compared to a time-matched period one year prior. Data regarding the examination type and indication were obtained in addition to patient demographics and indicators of outcomes including admission, length of stay, and mortality. There was a 58% decrease in ED ultrasounds performed by the radiology department during the COVID-19 time period. Exams performed during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period were more likely to be performed on men (28.3 vs 18.0%, p < 0.01), older patients (36 vs. 35 years, p = 0.02), and patients subsequently admitted (17.8 vs. 13.4%, p = 0.03). There was also a difference in the distribution of exam type (p = 0.01). There was no difference in death, rate of surgery/intervention performed, or distribution of clinical indication. When correcting for gender, there was only an increase in studies leading to hospital admission in the female-only group (14.9 vs. 10.7%, p = 0.05). COVID-19 had a drastic impact on the utilization of emergency department ultrasounds performed by the radiology department, with a decrease in total exams performed and changes in patient demographics, including a higher proportion of male patients and increases in some markers of disease severity, including rate of hospital admission.
Panchromatic HST/WFC3 Imaging Studies of Young, Rapidly Evolving Planetary Nebulae. I. NGC 6302

We present the results of a comprehensive, near-UV-to-near-IR Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 imaging study of the young planetary nebula (PN) NGC 6302, the archetype of the class of extreme bi-lobed, pinched-waist PNe that are rich in dust and molecular gas. The new WFC3 emission-line image suite clearly defines the dusty toroidal equatorial structure that bisects NGC 6302's polar lobes, and the fine structures (clumps, knots, and filaments) within the lobes. The most striking aspect of the new WFC3 image suite is the bright, S-shaped 1.64 micron [Fe II] emission that traces the southern interior of the east lobe rim and the northern interior of the west lobe rim, in point-symmetric fashion. We interpret this [Fe II] emitting region as a zone of shocks caused by ongoing, fast (~100 km/s), collimated, off-axis winds from NGC 6302's central star(s). The [Fe II] emission and a zone of dusty, N- and S-rich clumps near the nebular symmetry axis form wedge-shaped structures on opposite sides of the core, with boundaries marked by sharp azimuthal ionization gradients. Comparison of our new images with earlier HST/WFC3 imaging reveals that the object previously identified as NGC 6302's central star is a foreground field star. Shell-like inner lobe features may instead pinpoint the obscured central star's actual position within the nebula's dusty central torus. The juxtaposition of structures revealed in this HST/WFC3 imaging study of NGC 6302 presents a daunting challenge for models of the origin and evolution of bipolar PNe.
Min-max approach for comparison of univariate normality tests

Comparison of normality tests based on absolute or average powers are bound to give ambiguous results, since these statistics critically depend upon the alternative distribution which cannot be specified. A test which is optimal against a certain type of alternatives may perform poorly against other alternative distributions. Thus, an invariant benchmark is proposed in the recent normality literature by computing Neyman-Pearson tests against each alternative distribution. However, the computational cost of this benchmark is significantly high, therefore, this study proposes an alternative approach for computing the benchmark. The proposed min-max approach reduces the calculation cost in terms of computing and estimating the Neyman-Pearson tests against each alternative distribution. An extensive simulation study is conducted to evaluate the selected normality tests using the proposed methodology. The proposed min-max method produces similar results in comparison with the benchmark based on Neyman-Pearson tests but at a low computational cost.
Frederick Delius: A Research and Information Guide

Preface Acknowledgments I Biography Biographical Sketch Chronology List of Works I Dramatic Works II Works for Voices and Orchestra III Works for Solo Voice and Orchestra IV Works for Unaccompanied Voice V Songs with Pianoforte Accompaniment VI Works for Orchestra VII Works for Solo Instrument(s) and Orchestra VIII Chamber Music IX Piano Solo X Appendix "The Essential Delius" II Bibliography Source Materials Writings and Correspondence Collected Edition of the Works of Frederick Delius Catalogs Collections and Archives Articles and Essays Images Sound and Video Miscellaneous Special Publications Exhibitions and Exhibition Catalogs Festival Program Booklets Unpublished Materials Organizations Delius Society Publications Delius Society Newsletter Delius Society Journal The Delian Secondary Sources Reference Works Life and Works Topical Studies Dissertations and Theses Book Reviews Genre Studies and Studies of Multiple Works Individual Compositions (Alphabetical by Composition Title) Audiovisual Resources III Related Materials: A Selective List of Works Dedicated to, Inspired by, or Created in Memory of Delius Architecture Art Dance Drama Fiction Films Utilizing the Music of Delius Music Poetry Miscellaneous IV Discography Index of Compositions Index by Keyword Index by Name
Changing White Attitudes toward Black Political Leadership

Despite the hopes of the civil rights movement, researchers have found that the election of African Americans to office has not greatly improved the well-being of the black community. By shifting the focus to the white community, this book shows that black representation can have a profound impact. Utilizing national public opinion surveys, data on voting patterns in large American cities, and in-depth studies of Los Angeles and Chicago, Zoltan Hajnal demonstrates that under most black mayors there is real, positive change in the white vote and in the racial attitudes of white residents. This change occurs because black incumbency provides concrete information that disproves the fears and expectations of many white residents. These findings not only highlight the importance of black representation; they also demonstrate the critical role that information can play in racial politics to the point where black representation can profoundly alter white views and white votes.
Platelet secretion paves the way.

In this issue of Blood , [Sakurai et al][1][1][2] examine the response of single platelets to fibrinogen- and collagen-coated microdots and show that platelets can orient their release of α-granule cargo to promote spreading beyond the dot’s boundary. Advances in imaging and microfabrication are
Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT): Science-Base for Future Integrated Systems

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), first announced in 2000 has grown into a major U. S. investment involving twenty federal agencies. As a lead federal agency, the Department of Energy (DOE) is developing a network of Nanoscale Science and Research Centers (NSRC). NSRCs will be highly collaborative national user facilities associated with DOE National Laboratories where university, laboratory and industrial researchers can work together to advance nanoscience and technology. The Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), which is operated jointly by Sandia National Laboratories and Alamos National Laboratory, has a unique technical vision focused on integrating scientific disciplines and expertise across multiple length scales going all the way from the nano world to the world around us. It is often said that nanotechnology has the potential to change almost everything we do. However, this prophecy will only come to pass when we learn to couple nanoscale functions into the macroscale world. Obviously coupling the nano-and micro-length scales is an important piece of this challenge and one can site many examples where the performance of existing microdevices has been improved by adding nanotechnology. Examples include low friction coatings for MEMS and compact light sources for liChemLab spectrometers. While this approach has produced significant benefit, we believe that the true potential will be realized only when device architectures are designed “from the nanoscale up”, allowing nanoscale function to drive microscale performance.
Pharmacogenetic selection of transplanted human hepatocytes in immunocompetent rats

Objective To introduce a genetic survival advantage for transplanted human hepatocytes over host cells in rats. Methods Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was introduced into Huh-7 human hepatoma cells to create fluorescent GFP-Huh-7 cells. mRNA of CYP2E1, the enzyme that converts acetaminophen (APA) into hepatotoxic intermediates, was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The effects of APA on GFP-Huh-7 and control Huh-7 cells were determined in a cell culture. Immunological tolerance was induced by the injection of GFP-Huh-7 cells into fetal rats in utero. The GFP-Huh-7 cells were transplanted after birth of the rats into tolerant rats followed by APA treatment. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and liver histological data were obtained. GFP-Huh-7 cells were detected by quantitive PCR and microscopy. Results CYP2E1 mRNA levels in the GFP-Huh-7 cells were 2.7% of parental Huh-7 cells. In 1 mmol/L APA, parental Huh-7 cells decreased by 60% while GFP-Huh-7 cells increased to within 95% of untreated controls after 5 days. In rats in which GFP-Huh-7 cells were transplanted and treated with APA, serum ALT increased to a peak of 200 U/L on day 1 and returned to normal levels by day 3. Fluorescence microscopy of liver specimens from rats transplanted with GFP-Huh-7 cells showed substantial increases in GFP-Huh-7, but not Huh-7 cells by day 7 after APA treatment. Real-time PCR confirmed a 10-fold increase of GFP mRNA in APA-treated rats, but not in those without APA treatment. Conclusions The difference in CYP2E1 gene expression between GFP-Huh-7 and rat hepatocytes provides a convenient means for the enrichment of transplanted human cells in rat liver.
Intracranial Hemorrhage: Trials and Tribulations.

ntracranial hemorrhage (ICH) continues to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with up to 50% I patient mortality within 48 hours; of the survivors, one third require long-term care after discharge (1, 2). ICH accounts for 10% to 15% of all strokes and has a higher incidence than subarachnoid hemorrhage (3). Volume of clot, initial Glasgow Coma Scale, intraventricular extension, and age are known factors that influence overall survival (4, 5). Aside from the direct mass effect from the hemorrhage, perihematoma edema and the associated inflammatory cascade it provokes are hypothesized to be additional factors effecting neuronal destruction and worsening outcomes (3, 6-8). Despite this, trials for open surgery for clot evacuation in ICH have not shown it to definitely improve patient outcomes (2, 9-11).
Adaptive correlator receiver performance in fading multipath channels

The behavior of a least mean square (LMS) adaptive correlator operating on a fading multipath channel is studied. The channel is modeled as a time-varying tapped delay line transversal filter. The adaptive correlator is seen to be effective for slowly varying channels. Its performance degrades in fast fading channels.
Improving Cyclist and Pedestrian Environment While Maintaining Vehicle Throughput

Reallocating road space to enhance bicycle and pedestrian access is frequently a contentious issue in many American cities. This resistance to the redesign was characteristic in Eugene, Oregon, where a key street segment adjacent to a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly university was retrofitted to accommodate nonmotorized vehicles better. The intention was to expand pedestrian and bicycle access, so a bicycle lane was actually removed in one direction in favor of implementing a shared lane, and physical barriers between an existing contraflow bicycle lane and a one-way automobile traffic lane were also removed. In addition, two-sided parallel parking stalls were replaced with single-sided, back-in angle parking stalls (a first for Eugene), and sidewalks were widened to better accommodate high pedestrian volumes. Video footage to record behavior along this block before and after the redesign was used to study traffic volume changes by mode and changes in behavior. The results demonstrated that bicycle volum...
Dampening insulin signaling by an NLRP3 'meta-flammasome'.

The inflammasome has been linked to metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Data now suggest that the crosstalk between the inflammasome and autophagy critically mediates cytoplasmic receptor NLRP3–dependent activation of the inflammasome by the saturated fatty acids contained in a high-fat diet.
PGC-1α induces dynamic protein interactions on the ERRα gene multi-hormone response element nucleosome in kidney cells

ERR (oestrogen-related receptor)-alpha modulates the oestrogen signalling pathway and regulates genes participating in the physiological energy balance programme. Oestrogen and PGC-1alpha (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha), the master regulator of the energy homoeostasis programme, both regulate the expression of ERRalpha through the MHRE (multi-hormone response element) of the ERRalpha gene. Although the molecular mechanism of oestrogen action on ERRalpha regulation is well characterized, the mechanism of PGC-1alpha induction is unclear. In this study, we examine chromatin structural changes and protein interactions at the MHRE nucleosome in response to PGC-1alpha expression in HK2 human kidney cells. We mapped the nucleosome positions of the ERRalpha gene promoter and examined the changes of histone acetylation in response to PGC-1alpha expression. The interactions of DNA-binding proteins, ERRalpha and ERRgamma, co-activators {CBP [CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein], p300, PCAF (p300/CBP-associated factor)}, co-repressor [RIP140 (receptor-interacting protein of 140 kDa)] and RNA polymerase II at the MHRE nucleosome region were investigated over time before and after PGC-1alpha expression in the HK2 cells. We found a dynamic cyclic interaction of these proteins shortly after PGC-1alpha expression and a slower cycling interaction, with fewer proteins involved, 20 h later. By using the siRNA (small interfering RNA) knockdown approach, we discovered that ERRgamma was involved in the initial phase, but not in the later phase, of PGC-1alpha-induced ERRalpha expression.
Rhythmic motor activity responses of the California fiddler crab Uca crenulata to artificial light conditions

Uca crenulata, the California species of fiddler crab, was exposed to artificial light conditions to separate the influence of the light cycle from that of the tidal input on its rhythmic motor activity. Under both constant light and light-dark cycles, rhythmic activity was demonstrated in only 50% of the experimental crabs; the activity of the remaining 50% was random. Individuals exposed to constant light conditions after having been subjected to 24 h light-dark cycles demonstrated no significant difference in period length of their rhythmic activity from crabs investigated in constant light immediately after field collection. The mean period did not differ significantly from the tidal period of 24.8 h, but the variation was considerable. In artificial light-dark cycles, the activity rhythms were usually masked but, in some cases, synchronized. The results indicate that U. crenulata has an endogenous rhythm with a period close to the tidal cycle which may be synchronized by light as well as by tidal cues. The display of this endogenous rhythm, however, is poor.
Lex Mercatoria, International Arbitration and Independent Guarantees: Transnational Law and How Nation States Lost the Monopoly of Legitimate Enforcement

This article examines the relationship among the new lex mercatoria, international commercial arbitration, and independent contract guarantees. It will try to show that, from a substantive viewpoin...
Specific activity measurements to determine phosphorus turnover in bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

The biological turnover constant for phosphorus was determined in muscle and five other sections of bluegill. Bluegill of average weight 121 g were maintained in a large flowthrough system at 22°–16°C and fed worms, Eisenia foetida, at two feeding levels, ad lib. (which averaged 2.6 g/d per 100-g fish, wet weight), and 1.5 g/d per 100-g fish. The daily phosphorus intakes at the two levels per 100-g fish were 3.1 and 1.8 mg. The average phosphorus concentration was 2.4 mg/g in muscle and 15.4 mg/g in the whole fish. Worm food was spiked with P-32 at increasing daily increments to balance radioactive decay. The radioactive worms were fed daily to the bluegill during the P-32 accumulation period of 51 days. For the next 28 days of depuration, nonradioactive worms were fed. Sets of three bluegill were collected at approximately weekly intervals, sectioned and analyzed for P-32 and phosphorus. All data were reported as specific activity in tissue relative to specific activity in feed, with P-32 count rates corrected for its 14.3-day half life. Phosphorus turnover constants were obtained by three approaches: (1) from the relative specific activity measured near steady state; (2) by fitting an equation for a 1-compartment model to the accumulation and depuration data; and (3) by fitting an equation for a simplified 2-compartment model to the depuration data. The biological turnover constant calculated with all three approaches was 0.004 d−1 for phosphorus in muscle of bluegill fed ad lib.
Detecting Object Boundaries Using Low-, Mid-, and High-level Information

Object boundary detection and segmentation is a central problem in computer vision. The importance of combining low-level, mid-level, and high-level cues has been realized in recent literature. However, it is unclear how to efficiently and effectively engage and fuse different levels of information. In this paper, we emphasize a learning based approach to explore different levels of information, both implicitly and explicitly. First, we learn low-level cues for object boundaries and interior regions using a probabilistic boosting tree (PBT). Second, we learn short and long range context information based on the results from the first stage. Both stages implicitly contain object-specific information such as texture and local geometry, and it is shown that this implicit knowledge is extremely powerful. Third, we use high-level shape information explicitly to further refine the object segmentation and to parse the object into components. The algorithm is trained and tested on a challenging dataset of horses [2], and the results obtained are very encouraging compared with other approaches. In detailed experiments we show significantly better performance (e.g. F-values of 0.75 compared to 0.66) than the best comparable reported performance on this dataset. Furthermore, the system only needs 1.5 minutes for a typical image. Although our system is illustrated on horse images, the approach can be directly applied to detecting/segmenting other types of objects.
Implantable Ultrasonic Sensor For Postoperative Monitoring Of Blood Flow In Man

ABSTRACT We have developed and built a miniature implantable 10 or 20 MHz pulsed ultrasonic Doppler sensor to provide continuous monitoring of blood flow in patients. The sensor is made from silicone rubber material and during surgery can be wrapped around a blood vessel and secured in place with a releasable tie. No tissue puncturing techniques are required. The wire leads and a release cable are sheathed in 2 mm diameter tubing and are exteriorized through the skin. Two to six days postoperatively when monitoring is no longer needed, the release cable is activated to release the tie, and the sensor is extracted from the patient by pulling on the tubing. We have tested 38 sensors on 6 carotid and 17 coronary arteries (2.5-4.5 mm diameter) and 15 ascending aortas (15-19 mm diameter) in 20 chronically instrumented dogs for up to 16 days. At the end of the implantation period, the sensors were extracted from the awake dogs with no visible behavioral reaction. Postmortem exams showed that none of the vessels were thrombosed or damaged, and the sensors were free of tissue. Doppler audio signals acquired with 20 MHz crystals from vessels 2.5-4.5 mm diameter had signal-to-noise ratios greater than 32 db, and the velocity signals had excellent linear correlations (r=0.99) with EMF sensors and timed blood collections. It has been found that the implantable sensor is a simple, reliable, and safe method of providing continuous monitoring of blood flow during and after surgery. The sensor has been granted F.D.A. Investigational Device Exemption (I.D.E.) approval, and we have begun clinical intraoperative evaluations on coronary artery bypass grafts (3-5 mm in diameter).
Protein kinase A-regulated Cl- channel in ML-1 human hematopoietic myeloblasts.

Using the inside-out patch clamp technique, we identified a Cl− channel in patches from the membrane of cultured human hematopoietic myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. The Cl− channel was not seen at negative membrane potentials in excised patches until the membrane potential was depolarized to greater than +40 mV. The channel was also activated by addition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic subunit at physiological membrane potential (−40 mV). Biophysical studies of the Cl− channel revealed that the current-voltage (I-V) relationship of the Cl− channel was outwardly rectifying in symmetrical 142 mm Cl− solutions. Single channel conductances were 48 pS for the outward current measured at +60 mV and 27 pS for the inward current at −60 mV. The open time constant of the channel was dependent on the membrane potential and was significantly prolonged at positive membrane potentials. Channels activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase spent a significantly longer time in the open state compared to those channels activated by depolarization pulses. Pharmacological properties of the Cl− channel were also studied. Two anion transport inhibitors, anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (9-AC) and 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS) caused a flickering block of the channel. Half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for 9-AC and DIDS were 174 ± 20 and 70±16 μm, respectively. Blockade of the Cl− channel by 9-AC or DIDS was completely reversible. Our findings suggest that outwardly rectifying Cl− channels (ORCC) are present in human hematopoietic myeloblasts. The function of ORCC may be involved in hormone-regulated cell growth, cell volume regulation and immune responses.
MLD in children: effects of signal and masker bandwidths.

The first aim of this study was to obtain a more detailed picture of the effect of masker bandwidth (20 Hz to 1000 Hz bandwidth) on the masking level difference (MLD) for a 500-Hz signal as a funct...
Multiuse extrinsic sensor for materials evaluation

A fiberoptic sensor, based on the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) design, was developed for intelligent processing of epoxy matrix composite materials. The EFPI sensor is modified so that, when embedded in a composite material during fabrication, it will output a signal that is proportional to the degree of polymerization (cure state) of the epoxy. After cure of the epoxy, the sensor may be used to measure initial strains.
Histopathologic Analysis of Chronic Sinusitis

Histology of sinusitis has been well described in qualitative terms. However, to date no attempts have been made to provide criteria to judge the severity of inflammation in sinusitis. In this stud...
The Inter-American Development Bank's Assessment of Structural Adjustment: Questionable Theory and Pre-ordained Policy

AbstractIn recent annual reports, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has analyzed the impact of the era of structural adjustment on the economy and society in Latin America. The reports are at odds in their analyses of the reform era's successes, as seen in reduced inflation and modest economic growth, as compared to its failures, as seen in rising poverty and income inequality, falling real wages and lower educational attainment. In spite of the conflicting evidence, the IDB concludes that neoliberal reforms need to be deepened. Such a stance, it will be shown, leads the IDB into frequent contradiction and tautology.
PILOT SCALE ULTRAFILTRATION OF CLARIFIED ALFALFA JUICE

Pilot scale ultrafilter units were tested for use in concentrating and Purifying soluble alfalfa leaf protein solutions. Tubular and hollow fiber type units with noncellulosic membranes were employed. Operating temperature was generally maintained at 10° C because of microbial growth and precipitation of the heat labile protein at higher temperatures. Higher permeation rates and lower protein losses were obtained with the tubular unit. Concentrating the clarified alfalfa juice to 1/10 of the original volume produced protein concentrates containing about 50% crude protein and 10% ash. Diafiltration of the clarified alfalfa juice until the permeate volume was 10 times the original sample volume resulted in products containing 70–76% protein. Although diafiltration removed more than 86% of the orthodihydroxy phenolic compounds, the dried protein products were tan colored.
American Academy of Clinical Toxicology: "question of the day".

The following is a list of 68 questions formulated as a ember benefit for the American Academy of Clinical oxicology (AACT). One question/answer is e-mailed daily o members under the title “AACT Tox Question of the ay.” Each answer is appropriately referenced. As the eader can see from the scope of these questions, the field of linical Toxicology is extremely diverse and encompasses irtually every medical specialty. Other AACT member benefits include discounts to the nnual scientific meeting, journal/abstracts subscription, pecialty section membership, and enhanced networking apabilities. Interested prospective members are encouraged o contact AACT via phone at (717) 558-7847 or through ur Web site at http://www.clintox.org.
Effects of Changes in Chemistry and Testing Temperature on Mechanical Behavior of Al-Based Amorphous Alloy Ribbons

The effects of changes in composition, testing temperature, strain rate, and thermal exposure on the flow behavior of a series of Al-Gd-Ni-X amorphous alloy ribbons have been determined via hot microhardness and tension testing. It is shown that the addition of Fe, Co, and Fe/Co combination into these materials increases the strength, Tg, and Tx1 in addition to the activation energy for crystallization, whereas the window between Tg and Tx1 remains similar. The uniaxial tensile tests show these ribbons exhibit a high strength, around 1 GPa, at room temperature (RT), and the results also show that these ribbons maintain their strength, nearly 45 pct of their RT value, at temperatures near Tg. Scanning electron microscopy images of fracture surfaces obtained from tests conducted near Tg illustrate ductile rupture and homogeneous flow behavior near the fracture tip.
Discovery and SAR studies of novel GlyT1 inhibitors.

Abstract Inhibition of the glycine transporter GlyT1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of schizophrenia. A novel series of GlyT1 inhibitors and their structure–activity relationships (SAR) are described. Members of this series are highly potent and selective transport inhibitors which are shown to elevate glycine levels in cerebrospinal fluid.
Cost of lost work and bed days for us workers in private industry- : National health interview survey, 2003

Data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey (n = 12,943) of US workers aged 18 to 64 years were used to estimate the annual cost of lost work (ACLW) and lost productivity (ACLP) due to bed days. The average lost workdays (LWDs) was estimated to be 8.39 for US workers compared with 5.62 bed days (BDs). The prevalence of high LWDs (>or=30 days) was 2.9% for US workers compared with 1.3% for BDs (>or=30 days). Regression analyses showed that female workers had higher adjusted mean LWDs and BDs than did male workers. Workers in the mining industry had the highest mean of 26.71 LWDs compared with 5.58 LWDs for workers in the wholesale industry. The total ACLW and ACLP was estimated to be $62.8 billion ($US 2003; 95% CI = $57.53-$67.52 billion).
Social Learning, Reinforcement and Crime: Evidence from Three European Cities

This study reports a cross-cultural test of Social Learning Theory using direct measures of social learning constructs and focusing on the causal structure implied by the theory. Overall, the results strongly confirm the main thrust of the theory. Prior criminal reinforcement and current crime-favorable definitions are highly related in all three contexts and both strongly predict self-projections of criminal behavior. In addition, effects of prior reinforcement on projected misconduct appear to be both direct and indirect (through crime-favorable definitions). Yet, the findings also indicate that the processes underlying direct effects of reinforcement on criminal probabilities may need to be explicated further. Moreover, some types of definitions may be more influential than other types. Finally, parts of the reinforcement process may be affected by socio-cultural contexts.
Ion Access Pathway to the Transmembrane Pore in P2X Receptors

P2X receptors are ATP-gated channels that mediate cation influx to evoke action potentials or trigger intracellular signaling, important in sensory signal transmission and inflammatory responses. However, the molecular mechanism of how cations penetrate the extracellular region of the receptor and access the transmembrane pore is unknown. Examination of the closed state crystal structure predicts two potential pathways: i) three fenestrations located above the membrane (lateral pathways) and ii) the central void along the molecular three-fold axis of symmetry (central pathway). By solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, we analyzed the electrostatics of cations along these pathways in the closed state, and found that relatively small widening (∼1 A) seemed sufficient to allow cations to penetrate the lateral pathways, while even a large displacement (> 5 A) along the central pathway remained unfavorable for cations to go through. To probe the accessibility in the open state, we systematically introduced cysteine residues into the rat P2X2 receptor along these potential access pathways and measured reaction rates with Cys-reactive reagents using patch-clamp recording techniques. Among 47 mutants examined, only I328C along the lateral pathway was modified by MTSET and MTS-TPAE, suggesting that cations do not utilize the central pathway. To further investigate the motion during activation, we cross-linked neighboring subunits by introducing disulfide-bridges at 5 different positions along the central pathway. While the disulfide-bridges at the three middle positions did not affect currents, the top pair exhibited reduction and the bottom pair showed potentiation when treated with reducing agents. These indicate that the central pathway seems unlikely to become wider, except the bottom part that is directly connected to the lateral pathways. Altogether, these results suggest that the lateral pathways seem to “breathe” during activation, allowing extracellular cations to penetrate and access the transmembrane pore.
The contribution of individual correlated parameters to the uncertainty of integral quantities

Modern libraries of multigroup cross-sections often include covariances of the multigroup data. Data covariances are especially useful in calculating the variance of an important applied quantity z that can be calculated as a function of the data. Frequently, it is also of interest to know the magnitude of the contributions to this variance arising from various subsets of the data. This knowledge can be used, for example, in judging the benefits of performing specific new measurements, calculations, or evaluations on a given data subset. Here we describe a method for determining the contribution of an identified set of parameters to the variance of z that can be applied without difficulty even when the data have general correlations.
Studies on the interaction of neocarzinostatin with rat liver DNA in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract Administration of neocarzinostatin (NCS) (10 μg/g) intravenously through the tail vein caused strand breaks in DNA of both resting and regenerating liver as measured by sedimentation in an alkaline sucrose gradient. However, such fragmentation could be largely prevented by perfusing before squashing the liver ; the inhibition appears to be more in the resting compared to regenerating liver. Furthermore, when NCS was given intraperitoneally (10 μg/g) either at 1 or 4 hr before killing, it did not cause strand breaks in liver DNA. Rat liver nuclear suspensions, which consist of intact nuclei with little cytoplasm, when incubated with NCS (2 μg/ml of incubation mixture), resulted in extensive strand breakage in liver DNA. These results suggest that NCS may not penetrate the resting liver cell, at least not rapidly, and that the observed DNA strand breaks may be largely due to the interaction of the circulating drug in the portal blood with DNA in vitro at one or more steps during the preparation and analysis of the liver cell DNA. Heat denaturation of NCS abolished the property of fragmentation of DNA.
Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Shunt or Transplant?

Background: Budd-Chiari syndrome is an uncommon disorder caused by obstruction to hepatic venous outflow, causing varying degrees of hepatic injury depending on the extent, severity, and acuity of the obstruction. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the indications for operative intervention and the results of treating 32 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome seen at Toronto Hospital between 1968 and 1995. Results: Twenty-one patients underwent porto-systemic shunt (PSS) and 7 patients underwent liver transplantation (LT) as their initial operative management. Three patients who initially had PSS subsequently required LT. Patients with cirrhosis found on biopsy and preservation of hepatocellular function were treated with PSS and showed no difference in outcome when compared with patients without cirrhosis (P=0.35). Patients who were treated by PSS with retrohepatic vena caval compression, as shown by high caval gradients had outcomes similar to those for patients with low gradients (P=0.31). Using the Kaplan- Meier method, 5-year survival of PSS patients was 57%. Liver transplantation was used to manage patients with hepatic decompensation, as well as patients with vena caval occlusion or failed PSS. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival for LT was 67%. Conclusions: Both PSS and LT are effective options in the management of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Portosystemic shunt is the preferred initial approach even with cirrhosis or retrohepatic caval compression as long as there is preservation of liver function and a patent vena cava. Liver transplantation should be used as primary therapy for patients with irreversible hepatic decompensation or vena caval occlusion, and it can be an effective salvage procedure following failed PSS.
Using local adaptations to reconfigure a spanning tree of a network

Abstract We define the notion of a local adaptation of a spanning tree in a biconnected graph, and consider the number of local adaptations required to reconfigure the spanning tree. We show that ⌈ n 2 ⌉ ⌈ n 2 − 1⌉/2 local adaptations are sufficient, and may be necessary, to make a node a leaf in the spanning tree, that n 2 8 + o(n 2 ) local adaptations are sufficient, and may be necessary, to add or delete an edge from the spanning tree, and that 3n 2 4 + o(n 2 ) local adaptations are sufficient to transform one spanning tree to another spanning tree.
Fibrinogen alters mouse brain endothelial cell layer integrity affecting vascular endothelial cadherin.

Abstract Many inflammatory diseases are associated with elevated blood concentration of fibrinogen (Fg) leading to vascular dysfunction. We showed that pathologically high (4 mg/ml) content of Fg disrupts integrity of endothelial cell (EC) layer and causes macromolecular leakage affecting tight junction proteins. However, role of adherence junction proteins, particularly vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in this process is not clear. We tested the hypothesis that at high levels Fg affects integrity of mouse brain endothelial cell (MBEC) monolayer through activation of MMP-9 and downregulation of VE-cadherin expression and in part its translocation to the cytosol. The effect of Fg on cultured MBEC layer integrity was assessed by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance. Cellular expression and translocation of VE-cadherin were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses, (respectively). Our results suggest that high content of Fg decreased VE-cadherin expression at protein and mRNA levels. Fg induced translocation of VE-cadherin to cytosol, which led to disruption of cell-to-cell interaction and cell to subendothelial matrix attachment. Fg-induced alterations in cell layer integrity and their attachment were diminished during inhibition of MMP-9 activity. Thus Fg compromises EC layer integrity causing downregulation and translocation of VE-cadherin and through MMP-9 activation. These results suggest that increased level of Fg could play a significant role in vascular dysfunction and remodeling.
Parallel algorithms for the solution of a sparse system

Abstract This paper explores the effectiveness of the author's decomposition in a parallel environment. The author's decomposition is a new class of direct method, which factorizes a nonsingular matrix into triangular matrices such that the product of the obtained triangular matrices is the inverse of the original matrix. This new technique provides an efficient procedure and a new feature in structural analysis. Both vectorization and parallelization are considered in this work. Performances in solving large-scaled sparse systems and comparisons with the well-known type of direct method, Gaussian elimination, are reported. Examples in application to domain decomposition are also included.
Mechanism of lipid bilayer disruption by the human antimicrobial peptide, LL-37.

LL-37 is an amphipathic, α-helical, antimicrobial peptide. 15N chemical shift and 15N dipolar−shift spectroscopy of site-specifically labeled LL-37 in oriented lipid bilayers indicate that the amphipathic helix is oriented parallel to the surface of the bilayer. This surface orientation is maintained in both anionic and zwitterionic bilayers and at different temperatures and peptide concentrations, ruling out a barrel-stave mechanism for bilayer disruption by LL-37. In contrast, electrostatic factors, the type of lipid, and the presence of cholesterol do affect the extent to which LL-37 perturbs the lipids in the bilayer as observed with 31P NMR. The 31P spectra also show that micelles or other small, rapidly tumbling membrane fragments are not formed in the presence of LL-37, excluding a detergent-like mechanism. LL-37 does increase the lamellar to inverted hexagonal phase transition temperature of both PE model lipid systems and Escherichia coli lipids, demonstrating that it induces positive curvature s...
On the rate of convergence of the maximum likelihood estimator of a k-monotone density

Bounds for the bracketing entropy of the classes of bounded k-monotone functions on [0, A] are obtained under both the Hellinger distance and the Lp(Q) distance, where 1 ⩽ p < ∞ and Q is a probability measure on [0,A]. The result is then applied to obtain the rate of convergence of the maximum likelihood estimator of a k-monotone density.
Dark-adaptation: A new hypothesis

Abstract Bright lights cause an elevation of the visual threshold which persists after the light is turned off. It is suggested that this is caused by the receptors becoming noisy, rather than by weakening of their responses. Apparently the presence of bleached photopigment causes the receptors to show effects similar to those induced by light, even when they are in total darkness. The action of bleached pigment adds to that of light, so that the separate contributions from each cannot be distinguished at the receptor's output. The “spurious light”, or noise, may arise by spontaneous change of the photosensitive pigment, thus providing a possible unifying explanation at a molecular level.
Follicle-stimulating Hormone Inhibits All-trans-retinoic Acid-induced Retinoic Acid Receptor α Nuclear Localization and Transcriptional Activation in Mouse Sertoli Cell Lines

The regulation of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) signal transduction has not been well characterized. In this study, we determined whether all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) modulate RARα receptor subcellular localization, leading to changes in its transcriptional activity and protein expression in mouse Sertoli cell lines. We found that tRA induced the nuclear localization of RARα within 30 min and that longer term exposure increased the receptor transcriptional activity and RARα protein expression. Conversely, FSH suppressed the tRA-induced nuclear localization, transcriptional transactivation, and protein expression of RARα. Treatment with two different protein kinase A-selective antagonists reversed the inhibitory actions of FSH on tRA-dependent RARα nuclear localization and transcriptional activity. These results are consistent with the involvement of protein kinase A in mediating the inhibitory effects of FSH. For the first time, we demonstrate a unique signaling convergence between the RARα and the FSH-mediated signaling pathways, which may have significant implications in the testis because both are critical regulators of testis physiology.
An Update on the Role of Nitrofurans in the Management of Urinary Tract Infections

There have been few recent reviews of the nitrofurans in the literature, and none include recently available data on the use of nitrofurazone (nitrofural) in the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Nitrofurazone and nitrofurantoin are the only nitrofurans that have become established in clinical use in the 20th century. These 2 nitrofurans have remained clinically useful against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including many strains of common urinary tract pathogens. Today, the primary use of nitrofurantoin is as an oral antibacterial treatment for genitourinary infections. Nitrofurazone is primarily used as a topical antibacterial agent in burns and skin grafts and recently was approved for the prophylaxis of CAUTI. The recent development of a nitrofurazone-impregnated catheter as a novel modality in the prevention of CAUTI reflects a renewed interest in the effectiveness of nitrofurans. In an era when concern about bacterial resistance to many anti-infective agents is growing, the nitrofurans have continued to be active against organisms that have developed resistance to antibacterials. The presence of multiple mechanisms of action for the nitrofurans might be expected to reduce the ability of bacteria to develop resistance. Considering that an emergence of resistance to the nitrofurans has not appreciably occurred after several decades of clinical use, the nitrofurans may be unique among common antibacterial agents in this regard.
The γ-phase of high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene. II: The morphology of the γ-form crystallized at 200 MPa

Abstract The γ-form of isotactic polypropylene, crystallized at elevated pressures, exhibits three distinct classes of spherulites, categorized according to the sign of the birefringence. The results show that at 200 MPa positively birefringent spherulites are observed for crystallization temperatures below 184°C and above 199°C, negatively birefringent spherulites are observed for crystallization in the range 187–198°C and mixed birefringence in the ranges 182–188°C and 196–200°C. In addition, the complex arrangement of the lamellae within these spherulites has been studied using optical and electron microscopy. The results indicate the presence of a hitherto-unreported form of lamellar aggregation, which is best described as feather-like. The birefringence results indicate that the feather-like structure is solely developed by self-epitaxial growth of the γ-lamellae. Melting studies of ‘mixed birefringent’ spherulites show that the epitaxially grown featherlike structures have higher melting points than radial lamellae grown concurrently in the same spherulite, leading to the inference that it is possible to grow substantial amounts of two different types of lamellae concurrently, that are not distinguishable using conventional wide and small angle X-ray analyses.