cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dachs: an unconventional myosin that functions downstream of Fat to regulate growth, affinity and gene expression in Drosophila

The dachs gene was first identified almost a century ago based on its requirements for appendage growth, but has been relatively little studied. Here, we describe the phenotypes of strong dachs mutations, report the cloning of the dachs gene, characterize the localization of Dachs protein, and investigate the relationship between Dachs and the Fat pathway. Mutation of dachs reduces, but does not abolish, the growth of legs and wings. dachs encodes an unconventional myosin that preferentially localizes to the membrane of imaginal disc cells. dachs mutations suppress the effects of fat mutations on gene expression, cell affinity and growth in imaginal discs. Dachs protein localization is influenced by Fat, Four-jointed and Dachsous, consistent with its genetic placement downstream of fat. However, dachs mutations have only mild tissue polarity phenotypes, and only partially suppress the tissue polarity defects of fat mutants. Our results implicate Dachs as a crucial downstream component of a Fat signaling pathway that influences growth, affinity and gene expression during development.
Synthesis and stereochemical assignments for goniobutenolides A and B

Abstract Goniobutenolides A and B and their C-7 epimers are stereoselectively synthesized using osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) as the key transformation. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of the natural goniobutenolides A and B are assigned with reference to the spectral data and optical rotations from the literature.
Choose your target.

The technology of modifying endogenous genes has recently been extended from mice to Drosophila and sheep. Concurrently, genomic sequencing is uncovering thousands of previously uncharacterized genes. Armed with today's technologies, what are our best options for delineating the functions of these new genes?
Polynomial decomposition algorithms

We examine the question of when a polynomial f over a commutative ring has a nontrivial functional decomposition f=g^o h. Previous algorithms are exponential-time in the worst case, require polynomial factorization, and only work over fields of characteristic 0. We present an O(n^2)-time algorithm, where r is the degree of g. We also show that the problem is in NC. The algorithm does not use polynomial factorization, and works over any commutative ring containing a multiplicative inverse of r. Finally, we give a new structure theorem that leads to necessary and sufficient algebraic conditions for decomposibility over any field. We apply this theorem to obtain an NC algorithm for decomposing irreducible polynomials over finite fields, and a subexponential algorithm for decomposing irreducible polynomials over any field admitting efficient polynomial factorization.
On the theory of spin-lattice relaxation, with special reference to F-centers

Abstract The theory of spin-lattice relaxation is extended to the case that electronic excitation is associated with appreciable lattice distortions. The formulation is entirely in terms of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation sometimes called the adiabatic approximation. This has the advantage that the electron-lattice coupling is simply related to the lattice kinetic-energy operator. With a suitable transformation, the transition matrix elements of first and second order are obtained in full generality. With use of the time-reversal operator, results equivalent with the “Van Vleck cancellations” are obtained. It is shown that, as long as the Born-Oppenheimer approximation can be used as basis for a perturbation expansion, the direct- and Raman-type relaxation rates can be calculated on the basis of the Franck-Condon principle, using only the electronic states for the ground-state lattice configuration and their derivatives with respect to the nuclear cartesian coordinates. The application of this method to the spin relaxation of F-centers in strong magnetic fields is discussed.
À la mémoire de ma mère: souvenirs et identité dans Les saisons de passage D’Andrée Chedid

Andree Chedid’sLes Saisons de passage is a collection of selected personal memories published more than two years after her mother’s death. Dedicated to the memory of Alice Godel, this text serves as a process of mourning and a celebration of life. Through this maternal portrait, the narrator offers us intersections of real and imagined memories, biography and autobiography, and national and personal histories whose content determines its form. This hybrid approach to the text reveals not only a subjective perspective of the mother, source of identity and language, but also a socio-historical vision of Cairo and Paris in the middle of the last century. This article is divided into three parts. First, I derive certain specificities fromLes Saisons de passage and compare them to traditional autobiography in order to show how Chedid’s approach, organization, and refusal of mimesis excludes it from classification as any single genre. Second, I consider biographical aspects ofLes Saisons de passage and the effects of a mother-daughter (con)fusion on the aging process, identity, and textual fluidity. Third, I analyze intersections between national history and autobiography inLes Saisons de passage in order to highlight the influences of certain historical events on Chedid’s personal life and their effects on her beliefs, her writing process, and her body of works.
Abstract A70: Smoking, body mass index, and breast cancer risk: A pooled analysis of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women from New Mexico.

Obesity has been identified as a well-known modifiable risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer. The association between smoking and breast cancer also has been extensively studied in epidemiological literature. The compounded relationship between smoking and obesity with breast cancer risk has been of interest in recent studies; however ethnic/racial differences with this potential interaction have not been investigated. We evaluated the interaction between active smoking and obesity measured by body mass index (BMI) and risk of breast cancer in Hispanic (H) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women from New Mexico. Data on smoking exposure, BMI (kg/m2), and other lifestyle/behavioral risk factors were available from a pooled sample of 1,699 incident breast cancer cases (1011 NHW, 688 H) and 1,772 population based-controls (1066 NHW, 706 H) from the New Mexico Women9s Health Study (1992-1994) and the 4-Corner9s Breast Cancer Study (1999-2004). Using multivariable logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated to estimate the risk of breast cancer by active smoking exposures between normal weight (BMI Citation Format: Avonne E. Connor, Christina M. Pinkston, Richard N. Baumgartner, Kathy B. Baumgartner. Smoking, body mass index, and breast cancer risk: A pooled analysis of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women from New Mexico. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A70.
Serial ultrastructural study of experimental Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs inoculated with brain homogenate from serially passaged Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) were killed biweekly starting at week 2 until terminal illness (about 200 days following inoculation). A mild swelling of postsynaptic dendrites and an increase in the number of glial filaments in astrocytic processes was seen at week 4, followed by increased swelling and lucency of axons and dendrites by week 6 post inoculation (p.i.). Severe undulation and focal interruptions of synaptic membranes were also observed both at weeks 4 and 6. By week 8, one could see cystically dilated cellular processes. These sometimes showed continuity with adjacent swollen processes through focally disrupted plasma membranes, and most likely represent a progressive enlargement of vacuoles through fusion and subsequent addition of adjoining processes. The spongiform changes increased mildly between week 8 and week 10 and remained essentially the same in subsequent weeks. After week 24 there was a sharp increase in both the number and size of vacuoles. At week 24 severe structural alterations were present both in the neurons and astrocytes, and numerous intranuclear inclusions were demonstrated in many neuronal nuclei. This study shows that morphological changes in the brain occur considerably earlier than the clinical manifestations of the disease. In the early phase of the disease, there were significant alterations on the dendrites and synapses.
Assessment of Ice Shape Roughness Using a Self-Orgainizing Map Approach

Self-organizing maps are neural-network techniques for representing noisy, multidimensional data aligned along a lower-dimensional and nonlinear manifold. For a large set of noisy data, each element of a finite set of codebook vectors is iteratively moved in the direction of the data closest to the winner codebook vector. Through successive iterations, the codebook vectors begin to align with the trends of the higher-dimensional data. Prior investigations of ice shapes have focused on using self-organizing maps to characterize mean ice forms. The Icing Research Branch has recently acquired a high resolution three dimensional scanner system capable of resolving ice shape surface roughness. A method is presented for the evaluation of surface roughness variations using high-resolution surface scans based on a self-organizing map representation of the mean ice shape. The new method is demonstrated for 1) an 18-in. NACA 23012 airfoil 2 AOA just after the initial ice coverage of the leading 5 of the suction surface of the airfoil, 2) a 21-in. NACA 0012 at 0AOA following coverage of the leading 10 of the airfoil surface, and 3) a cold-soaked 21-in.NACA 0012 airfoil without ice. The SOM method resulted in descriptions of the statistical coverage limits and a quantitative representation of early stages of ice roughness formation on the airfoils. Limitations of the SOM method are explored, and the uncertainty limits of the method are investigated using the non-iced NACA 0012 airfoil measurements.
Pipelining mechanism to minimize the latency time in hierarchical multimedia storage managers

An emerging area of database system research is to provide support for continuous media data types (digital audio and video). These data types are expected to play a major role in applications such as library information systems, scientific databases, entertainment technology, etc. They require both a high volume of storage and a high bandwidth requirement for their continuous display. The storage organization of systems that support these data types is expected to be hierarchical, consisting of one or more tertiary storage devices, several disk drives, and some memory. The database resides permanently on the tertiary storage device. The disk drives store a number of frequently accessed objects, while the memory is used to stage a small fraction of a referenced object for immediate display. When a user references an object that is tertiary resident, if the system elects to materialize the object on the disk drives in its entirety before initiating its display then the user would observe a high latency time. This paper describes a general purpose pipelining mechanism that overlaps the display of an object with its materialization on the disk drives in order to minimize the latency time of the system. The pipelining mechanism is novel because it ensures a continuous retrieval of an object to a display station (in order to support its continuous display).
Phase Equilibria in the System MgO-Cr2O3-SiO2

Studies of phase equilibria by the method of quenching show that there are no ternary compounds at liquidus temperatures in the system MgO-Cr2O3-SiO2. There is an extensive two-liquid region, and the stability fields of periclase, picrochromite, and chromic oxide extend across most of the diagram. Temperatures of liquid formation are sufficiently high that a number of different compositions can be suggested for refractory purposes. Fundamental explanations are brought out for the improvement of chromite and chromite-forsterite refractories by the addition of MgO and for the improvement of chromite-silica refractories by the addition of chromic oxide or some other high-chromium compound.
The story of language: culture not nature

If ideas about culture's involvement in the origins of language are right where does that leave universal grammar?
Pain and politics: DEA, Congress, and the courts, oh my!

In this issue, Howard Heit describes a pressing problem that faces two public health crises that are seemingly at odds with each other. Although few would question that combating drug abuse as well as resolving the under treatment of pain justify our attention and resources, helping one need not harm the other. The perfect storm in which these issues are now colliding stems from real public needs and agencies and professionals who are focused, perhaps too narrowly, on each of their individual causes. There are no real bad guys here even though some in law enforcement may see some well-intended physicians as drug dealers and some from the pain community may see the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) leadership as disingenuous and lacking in respect or concern for the collateral victims of their antidrug abuse activities. The reality here is that healthcare workers focus on improving health and, in large part, are not primarily invested in the enforcement of laws to prevent drug abuse. Law enforcement is just the opposite, with primary responsibility in fighting abuse as set forth by the law, with friendly fire being the price of doing business. No wonder we hear the DEA present themselves in the best public light, as the same old physician-friendly agency, while almost simultaneously, their behavior suggests a diametrically different position. It is as though their words and their music go with two different songs. In light of several other governmental initiatives that have challenged the line between health policy and law enforcement, the current state of affairs with the DEA is just one of several examples of a subtle shift in governmental oversight of medicine from agencies responsible for public health to law enforcement. For instance, just last year, Congress gave the DEA …
Repression of Dmp1 and Arf transcription by anthracyclins: critical roles of the NF-κB subunit p65

Both genotoxic and oncogenic stress activates the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and p53 proteins; however, the p53 activity is antagonized by NF-κB signaling. Dmp1 is a Myb-like transcription factor that activates the Arf-p53 pathway. The Dmp1 promoter was activated by a classical NF-κB activator tumor necrosis factor α, but repressed by treatment of cells with non-classical NF-κB activators, anthracyclins and UV-C. p65 and other subsets of NF-κB proteins were bound to the Dmp1 promoter following anthracyclin/UV-C treatment of rodent fibroblasts. This resulted in the downregulation of Dmp1 mRNA and protein. Repression of the Dmp1 transcription by anthracyclins depended on the unique NF-κB site on the promoter. Downregulation of p65 significantly attenuated the repression of the Dmp1 promoter by anthracyclins/UV-C. The amount of Dmp1 bound to the Arf promoter decreased significantly upon anthracyclin treatment; this, in turn, downregulated the Arf levels. Repression of the Arf promoter by p65 or anthracyclins depended on Dmp1, which was significantly attenuated in Dmp1−/− cells. Both Dmp1−/−and Arf−/−cells showed resistance to anthracyclin-induced cell death compared to wild-type cells; non-immortalized p65-knockdown cells were much more sensitive. Thus, the Dmp1-Arf pathway is repressed by p65 in response to genotoxic stress, which implicates a novel mechanism of p53 inactivation by NF-κB.
The Role of Static and Dynamic Modeling in the Fort Nelson CCS Project

Abstract Spectra Energy Transmission and the Energy & Environmental Research Center, through the Plains CO 2 Reduction Partnership, are investigating potential commercial-scale carbon capture and storage in a saline formation near Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, by conducting detailed modeling and predictive simulations of injection at the Fort Nelson site. The results of the Fort Nelson modeling activities are providing insight regarding the movement of sour CO 2 ; the potential effects that large-scale sour CO 2 injection may have on neighboring natural gas production fields; and the deployment of selected monitoring, verification, and accounting techniques.
Relationship of Total Sulfur to Initial and Retained Ascorbic Acid in Selected Cruciferous and Noncruciferous Vegetables

Selected cruciferous (including six cultivars of broccoli) and noncruciferous vegetables were analyzed for ascorbic acid, total sulfur, moisture contents and pH. Vegetables were assayed initially after harvest and after three weeks storage at 2°C and 95–100% relative humidity. During storage ascorbic acid retention in cruciferous vegetables ranged from 75–98%, whereas non-cruciferous vegetables ranged from 16–75% retention. Initial ascorbic acid content correlated with sulfur content (r = 0.925) when comparing cruciferous and noncruciferous vegetables. A correlation coefficient of 0.230 was obtained for the initial ascorbic acid content versus total sulfur content within six broccoli cultivars.
Recurrent otitis media in the fragile X syndrome.

• Thirty prepubertal boys with fragile X syndrome (fra[X]) were evaluated retrospectively to document the incidence of recurrent otitis media by physician records. The number of documented otitis media infections in the first five years of life was statistically more than those of the normal male siblings and of unrelated, cytogenetically normal controls. Nineteen (63%) of the 30 boys with fra(X) experienced six or more otitis infections. Of the 30 boys with fra(X), 13 (43%) were treated with polyethylene tubes or prophylactic antibiotics for persistent middle ear effusion. Males with fra(X) are at high risk for recurrent ear disease, which may exacerbate the cognitive, language, and behavior problems that exist in this syndrome. ( AJDC 1987;141:184-187)
Raloxifene improves bone mass in osteopenic women with primary biliary cirrhosis: results of a pilot study.

: Background/Aims: Bone disease is common in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Our aim was to evaluate safety and efficacy of raloxifene in this population. Methods: Nine postmenopausal women with PBC were enrolled and seven completed the study. Subjects received raloxifene 60 mg daily for 1 year. Each patient on raloxifene was age-matched to three controls. Liver biochemistries were monitored periodically; bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was measured at baseline and at 1 year. Results: No significant adverse effects were reported. Liver biochemistries remained unchanged. Baseline LS-BMD was similar in the treatment group and controls [median 0.720 g/cm2 (range 0.620–0.867) vs. 0.740 g/cm2 (0.570–1.040), P=0.5]. Conclusion: Compared with baseline, LS-BMD improved significantly with 1 year of therapy [0.72 g/cm2 (0.62–0.87) vs. 0.74 g/cm2 (0.63–0.97), P=0.02]. FN-BMD remained stable [0.53 g/cm2 (0.50–0.60) vs. 0.54 g/cm2 (0.49–0.63), P=0.6]. Improvement in LS BMD was seen in patients on raloxifene but not in matched controls [0.02 g/cm2 (0.01–0.10) vs. 0.00 g/cm2 (−0.120–0.040), P=0.06)]. In conclusion, raloxifene appears safe and of benefit in preventing bone loss in patients with PBC. Larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted.
Towards new metrics for multitasking behavior

In this paper we propose new metrics to investigate computer-based multitasking behavior. These metrics range from a very lean dichotomous variable to a very rich measure based on switches that combines user, task and technology considerations. We demonstrate how to calculate these measures with an exploratory study based on self-reported user logs. The development of new metrics to research multitasking behavior lays the foundation to incorporate this variable in future studies of human-computer interaction.
Endotoxin-sensitive membrane component of human platelets.

GRAM-NEGATIVE bacteria produce endotoxin and cause intravascular coagulation, shock and ultimate death of an estimated 25% of patients with bloodstream infections1,2. The number of blood platelets in such patients decreases3. In animal experiments, endotoxin aggregates platelets, induces release of vasoactive amines and adenine nucleotides, and unmasks the phospholipid procoagulant (platelet factor 3, PF3), which accelerates blood clotting4. To determine the mechanism of endotoxin action in man we studied the endotoxin interaction with human platelets. Here we describe experiments which demonstrate that the endotoxin-sensitive component (receptor) is present on the membrane of human platelets. Two types of changes resulting from endotoxin interaction with this receptor have been noted: selective release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and unmasking of platelet phospholipid (PF3).
TCDD biomonitoring and exposure to Agent Orange: still the gold standard

to re-evaluate the issue in light of these new publications,and our work will be presented in a series of articles andcommentaries in forthcoming issues of ESPR (see the over-view on p. 146). My conclusion is that the IOM Commit-tee's approach to exposure assessment is ill conceived, andfundamentally flawed. Serum dioxin analysis remains thegold standard, and the failure to validate the model ulti-mately endorsed by IOM should have led the IOM commit-tee to question the validity of the methodology rather thanto drop serum dioxin analysis from the project.Numerous studies relying on extensive serum dioxin testinghave established that some RANCH HAND (the Air Forceunit responsible for spraying herbicide from fixed-wing air-craft) and the US Army Chemical Corps veterans involvedin the application of Agent Orange in Vietnam had absorbeddoses of dioxin that can still be distinguished decades after-wards [5,6]. Similar studies of ground troops have not foundelevated levels of dioxin – strong evidence that these troopswere not significantly exposed to dioxin in Agent Orange[7]. The following summary of studies of biomonitoring ofdioxin levels from Agent Orange exposure, and the broaderpublic policy context, will provide an introduction to theissues to be addressed in detail in forthcoming papers.
Retardation of Cs+ and Cl− Diffusion Using Blended Cement Admixtures

Diffusion of cesium chloride through thin plates of hardened cement pastes was studied. Blast-furnace slag and condensed silica fume were used as blending admixtures in an attempt to retard the diffusion of cesium and chloride ions. The curing and diffusion temperatures were varied from 27° to 60°C, and the water/solid ratio was varied from 0.30 to 0.40. Results indicate that the cesium ion diffuses more slowly than the chloride ion in hardened cement paste systems. Blending admixtures caused a further reduction in diffusivity for both ions, which is important for preventing corrosion or restricting radionuclide transport.
Tungsten(0) and Rhenium(I) η2-Pyrrole Complexes: Dearomatization of Pyrroles and Their Facile Isomerizations, Protonations, and Reductions

Complexes of the form TpRe(CO)(MeIm)(η2-L) and TpW(NO)(PMe3)(η2-L) have been synthesized, where L = 1-methylpyrrole, 2-methylpyrrole, and 2,5-dimethylpyrrole. Depending on the nature of both the pyrrole and the metal, either a η2-1H- or an η2-3H-pyrrole complex can be isolated. In contrast, for the parent pyrrole, oxidative addition occurs across the N−H bond, generating either a N-pyrrolyl or N-pyrrolyl hydride. The protonation or methylation of the η2-pyrrole complexes and the reduction of the resulting pyrrolium species have also been investigated.
Modeling human neurodegenerative diseases in Drosophila: on a wing and a prayer

The ability of Drosophila genetics to reveal new insights into human neurodegenerative disease is highlighted not only by mutants in flies that show neuronal cell loss, but also by targeted expression of human disease genes in the fly. Moreover, study of Drosophila homologs of various human disease genes provides new insight into fundamental aspects of protein function. These recent findings confirm the remarkable homology of gene function in flies when compared with humans. With the advent of complete genomic sequencing on the horizon, Drosophila will continue to be an outstanding model system in which to unravel the complexities, causes and treatments for human neural degeneration.
EFFECTS OF FAMILIARIZATION ON CHILDREN'S RATINGS OF PICTURES OF WHITES AND BLACKS

CANTOR, GORDON N. Effects of Familiarization on Children's Ratings of Pictures of Whites and Blacks. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1972, 43, 1219-1229. 80 9to 11-year-old white children (40 males, 40 females) were exposed to 10 10-second presentations of each of 3 pictures of white and each of 3 pictures of black boys. The Ss then rated these pictures and also those of 3 previously unseen whites and blacks on a 5-point rating scale, indicating the extent to which they "would like to bring the boy home to spend time with them and their families." The major results were: (a) the Ss as a group rated the blacks more highly than the whites; and (b) familiarization enhanced ratings made by both male and female Ss of the blacks, but not ratings of the whites (male Ss rated familiar whites below nonfamiliar whites, whereas female Ss gave these groups virtually identical ratings). These results were discussed with reference to earlier child studies on familiarization effects and the adult literature concerned with the effects of "mere exposure."
Enalapril-induced cough.

• A retrospective analysis of records from an outpatient medical practice was undertaken to determine the incidence and features of cough resulting from the use of enalapril maleate. Of 209 patients taking enalapril, 22 (10.5%) required discontinuation of therapy because of an intractable, dry cough. Cough was more than twice as common in women; 16 (14.6%) of 109 women and 6 (6%) of 100 men stopped taking enalapril because of cough. The cough resolved in 21 of 22 patients within 2 weeks of discontinuation of enalapril therapy. When the patients with cough were compared with the others, there was no significant difference in age, smoking status, creatinine levels, enalapril dosage, associated cardiopulmonary disease, or concomitant administration of medications. Among the 187 study patients who did not discontinue taking enalapril because of cough, many developed a persistent, dry cough that to date has not been severe enough to require discontinuation of therapy, after a mean follow-up period of 16 months. The enalapril-induced cough is insidious, dry, persistent, benign, and reversible on discontinuation of therapy. It is important to distinguish enalapril-induced cough from cough resulting from acute illness, reactive airway disease, and congestive heart failure. Optimal clinical application of enalapril in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure will require increased awareness of this incessant cough, which requires discontinuation of the therapy in about 10% of patients. ( Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:2701-2703)
A Hybrid Solar‐Biogas System for Food Drying: Biogas Generation From Processed Papaya Wastes

A solar-biogas system was designed to dry food more efficiently than with solar energy alone. Processed papaya waste was anaerobically fermented to produce methane to augment solar energy for food drying. A gas with a minimum of 50% methane was produced at a rate of 0.38 liter methane per liter of digester volume per day with an organic loading rate of 1.60g of total volatile solids in the waste per liter of digester liquid volume per day in a once-through system. Results indicate technical feasibility.
Finite Element Analysis and Structural Optimization of Heavy-Duty Truck's Carriage

The purpose of this paper was the optimization design of heavy strength carriage for 50t heavy-duty truck. Two optimization schemes B and C were provided based on original scheme A, which have different thickness of sole/side plate and main longitudinal girder and different number of strengthening ribs. ANSYS was used to do the finite element analysis of equivalent stress and elastic displacement of truck carriages. The equivalent stress of main longitudinal girder, soleplate and transverse bars of soleplate will increase when the soleplate’s thickness was reduced. The maximum of equivalent stress will increase 13%~15% with 1mm reduction. When the thickness of side plate or the number of side plate’s strengthening ribs was reduced, the elastic displacement of side plate would increase. Scheme C fulfilled the requirement of structure strength, in which the elastic displacement increases in the allowable range and the lightening ratio was 12.6%. Scheme B didn’t fulfill the requirement of structure strength. The numerical results provided theoretical foundations for optimization design of carriage in actual production and the solutions of expansion of carriage.
Citizens' Attitudes Toward Wrongful Convictions

Perhaps no problem challenges the legitimacy of the criminal justice system more than the conviction of factually innocent individuals. Numerous highly publicized exonerations that occurred since 1989 have raised the visibility of wrongful conviction, eliciting the attention of both scholars and policy makers. Much of the research in this area focuses on the causes and incidence of the phenomenon. Despite the growing body of research, however, there has been no examination of how citizens view this problem. Using data from a statewide survey of Michigan residents, the present study aims to fill that gap in the literature by reporting on citizens’ attitudes regarding the issue of wrongful conviction. Overall, the results of this exploratory study suggest that respondents not only recognize the incidence of wrongful conviction but also believe that such errors occur with some regularity. Further results show that respondents believe wrongful convictions occur frequently enough to justify major criminal just...
Plasma catalase and glutathione levels are decreased in response to inhalation injury

We determined the effect of a severe smoke exposure on plasma oxidant and antioxidant activity. Adult sheep were given a smoke exposure while under anesthesia that produced a carboxyhemoglobin level of 45% ± 3%. Twelve sheep were studied; six were given smoke alone and volume-resuscitated with sufficient lactated Ringer's solution to maintain baseline hemodynamics. This response was compared with six control sheep during a 6-hour period. The smoke inhalation injury produced a significant increase in plasma hydrogen peroxide and a significant decrease in plasma lipid peroxidation. Circulating lipid peroxidation did not correlate with tissue lipid peroxidation because lung and liver lipid peroxidation were significantly increased. The plasma antioxidants glutathione, catalase, and vitamin E were significantly reduced in response to the injury. Vitamin C remained unchanged from control. Circulatory failure is not a key element in this study, because lactate levels were controlled with volume resuscitation. The degree of smoke inhalation to the airway produced distant organ lipid peroxidation and a decrease in circulating antioxidants-without producing an increase in circulating lipid peroxidation. Maintaining circulating antioxidants may prevent distant organ lipid peroxidation and may be of clinical use in devising treatment strategies for smoke inhalation injury with the availability of antioxidants.
Severe hypertension in an adolescent girl

rectal wall distention and anoxia. Although constipated, our patient was only significantly distended at 2 days and 2 months of age, making it difficult to account for the loss of ganglion ceils on this basis. In fact, constipation probably was the result of an initial absence (or early disappearance) of ganglion cells from the sigmoid. Although paucity of ganglion cells in the rectal wall may cause a clinical picture similar to that of Hirschsprung disease, ganglion cells in our patient were readily apparent on acetylcholinesterase staining of the initial rectal biopsy. A viral etiology is possible, although there were no suggestive inflammatory changes noted on the initial biopsy. There was also no history of exposure to neurotoxic agents capable of causing ganglion cell degeneration. After consideration of several possible mechanisms, we believe that acquired distal aganglionosis in this case may have resulted from an inapparent hypoxic event. R E F E R E N C E S
Path coverings of the vertices of a tree

Abstract Consider a collection of disjoint paths in graph G such that every vertex is on one of these paths. The size of the smallest such collection is denoted i ( G ). A procedure for forming such collections is established. Restricting attention to trees, the range of values for the sizes of the collections obtained is examined, and a constructive characterization of trees T for which one always obtains a collection of size i ( T ) is presented.
CRT-111 Prevalence and Prognostic Value of Wellens’ Sign in Patients with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Deeply inverted or biphasic T-waves in anterior leads, so-called Wellens’ sign, has been considered to represent impending ischemia in left anterior descending (LAD) territory. However, this electrocardiographic pattern may be observed in patients without a critical stenosis in LAD artery. We
Role of particle radiotherapy in the management of head and neck cancer.

Purpose of review Modern imaging techniques and powerful computers allow a radiation oncologist to design treatments delivering higher doses of radiation than previously possible. Dose distributions imposed by the physics of 'standard' photon and electron beams limit further dose escalation. Hadron radiotherapy offers advantages in either dose distribution and/or improved radiobiology that may significantly improve the treatment of certain head and neck malignancies. Recent findings Clinical studies support the effectiveness of fast-neutron radiotherapy in the treatment of major and minor salivary gland tumors. Data show highly favorable outcomes with proton radiotherapy for skull-base malignancies and tumors near highly critical normal tissues compared with that expected with standard radiotherapy. Heavy-ion radiotherapy clinical studies are mainly being conducted with fully stripped carbon ions, and limited data seem to indicate a possible improvement over proton radiotherapy for the same subset of radioresistant tumors where neutrons show a benefit over photons. Summary Fast-neutron radiotherapy has different radiobiological properties compared with standard radiotherapy but similar depth dose distributions. Its role in the treatment of head and neck cancer is currently limited to salivary gland malignancies and certain radioresistant tumors such as sarcomas. Protons have the same radiobiological properties as standard radiotherapy beams but more optimal depth dose distributions, making it particularly advantageous when treating tumors adjacent to highly critical structures. Heavy ions combine the radiobiological properties of fast neutrons with the physical dose distributions of protons, and preliminary data indicate their utility for radioresistant tumors adjacent to highly critical structures.
Nitric oxide inhibits the firing activity of hypothalamic paraventricular neurons that innervate the medulla oblongata: role of GABA

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to modulate autonomic function by acting both peripherally and centrally. A growing body of evidence indicates that the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), an important site for autonomic and endocrine homeostasis, constitutes an important locus mediating central NO actions. However, the cellular targets and mechanisms mediating NO actions within the PVN are not completely understood. Here, we examined whether NO influences the firing activity of identified PVN neurons that innervate two functionally different autonomic centers, the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Perforated patch-clamp recordings were performed in hypothalamic slices containing retrogradely labeled PVN neurons innervating the DVC or the RVLM. Application of the NO donors dyethylamine- or 1-propanamine, 3-(2-hydroxy-2-nitroso-1-propylhydrazino) NONOate inhibited the firing activity of both DVC- and RVLM-projecting PVN neurons. Furthermore, application of 2-(4-carboxypheny)-4,4,5,5,-tetramethilimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO), or the relatively selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor 7-nitroindazole alone, increased their basal firing activity, suggesting the presence of an endogenous NO inhibitory tone. GABAergic synaptic activity in PVN neurons was potentiated by NO donors, an action that involved a presynaptic mechanism. Furthermore, the NO-mediated inhibition of firing activity was blocked by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline, suggesting that NO-inhibitory actions involved potentiation of local GABAergic synaptic activity. Immunohistochemical studies showed that approximately 25% of DVC- and RVLM-projecting PVN neurons express nNOS, suggesting that a proportion of these medullary-projecting PVN neurons contribute to the cellular source of NO within the PVN. In summary, NO has been identified as an important molecule controlling autonomic function under physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we provide information on the cellular mechanisms mediating central NO actions. Our results demonstrate for the first time that NO modulates the activity of identified populations of PVN neurons that innervate the medulla oblongata, an action that is likely mediated by enhancing synaptic GABAergic function. This work suggests that NO-GABA interaction in PVN neurons that innervate the medulla constitutes an efficient cellular mechanism mediating NO central regulation of autonomic function.
Isolation and in vitro synthesis of trypsin from the biting fly, Stomoxys calcitrans

The synthesis of [3H]trypsinlike enzyme by the fat body was followed in Stomoxys calcitransin vitro using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) developed against mammalian trypsin. Using high specific activity [3H]valine, trypsinlike activity was followed in midgut epithelial cells, thoracic muscle, and fat body removed from sugar-fed flies. Excreta protease of S. calcitrans was partially purified using charge and hydroxylapatite gel chromatography. Seventy-five percent of the enzyme eluted from these gels was inhibited by tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone HCI (TLCK) and was classified as trypsinlike. Electrophoresis of the trypsinlike enzyme indicated that it was only 50% pure. Trypsinlike activity from S. calcitrans bound to α1-globulin IV-I and formed a complex that was dissociated on a P-100 Bio-Gel column. Binding between the protease and the α1-gobulin IV-I caused a 1.4-fold increase in the apparent molecular weight of the protease on the P-100 Bio-Gel column. Trypsinlike activity was characterized in the midgut and excreta by affinity binding to covalently linked TLCK and tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone HCI (TAME)Sepharose 4B gels. Between 50% and 55% of the excreta protease and 5669% of the midgut protease bound to the affinity gels and was trypsinlike. Protease activity that did not bind to the gels was not inhibited by TLCK and did not have the esterolytic activity of trypsin.
Evolution of sediment permeability during burial and subduction

We assembled a data set of permeability measurements from 317 subduction zone and reference site samples worldwide made over nearly 25 years of scientific drilling. This data set allowed us to examine the influence of grain size, structural domain, and measurement type on permeabilities ranging from 10−21 to 10−14 m2. We found that porosity–permeability behavior is a function of clay-size fraction, which is consistent with previous work. Sediments within the slope, accretionary prism, and fault-zone structural domains are strongly affected by shearing, which alters the permeability behavior with burial. Consolidation, flow-through, and transient pulse decay measurements all provide comparable results. Measurements of horizontal and vertical permeability show significant cm-scale permeability anisotropy (ratio of horizontal to vertical permeability >10) in the slope and accretionary prism structural domains, further indicating shear deformation in these domains. Laboratory consolidation trends match large-scale (102 m) field trends in structural domains with negligible shear, but tend to underestimate the rate of permeability reduction with porosity loss where shear is significant. Comparison with downhole measurements shows that permeability is controlled by higher-permeability (>10−15 m2) layers at the meter to tens of meters scale, while wireline formation tester measurements closely match laboratory results. Sediments from the underthrust and reference structural domains exhibit similar porosity–permeability trends, which suggests that shallow subduction (total burial <1 km) does not significantly alter the porosity–permeability behavior of incoming sediments. Comparison with measurements of deeper analog data from 14 passive-margin samples show that porosity–permeability trends are maintained through burial and diagenesis to porosities <10%, suggesting that behavior observed in shallow samples is informative for predicting behavior at depth following subduction.
Rodent Models of TDP-43 Proteinopathy: Investigating the Mechanisms of TDP-43-Mediated Neurodegeneration

Since the identification of phosphorylated and truncated transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) as a primary component of ubiquitinated inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions, much effort has been directed towards ascertaining how TDP-43 contributes to the pathogenesis of disease. As with other protein misfolding disorders, TDP-43-mediated neuronal death is likely caused by both a toxic gain and loss of TDP-43 function. Indeed, the presence of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions is associated with loss of nuclear TDP-43. Moreover, post-translational modifications of TDP-43, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and cleavage into C-terminal fragments, may bestow toxic properties upon TDP-43 and cause TDP-43 dysfunction. However, the exact neurotoxic TDP-43 species remain unclear, as do the mechanism(s) by which they cause neurotoxicity. Additionally, given our incomplete understanding of the roles of TDP-43, both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, it is difficult to truly appreciate the detrimental consequences of aberrant TDP-43 function. The development of TDP-43 transgenic animal models is expected to narrow these gaps in our knowledge. The aim of this review is to highlight the key findings emerging from TDP-43 transgenic animal models and the insight they provide into the mechanisms driving TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration.
Dependence of the glass transition temperature on heating rate

Abstract The Narayanaswamy model of structural relaxation was used to calculate heat capacity heating curves for a model glass. It was found, contrary to a recently published suggestion, that the Narayanaswamy non-linearity parameter could not be assessed from the dependence of the glass transition temperature on heating rate following cooling at a constant rate.
Some nonlinear operators for picture processing

Abstract This paper assumes that any non-negative function of two independent variables can be considered a picture. Also that some pictures might be processed to show fine detail better with an appropriate nonlinear operator or an operator that satisfies some other partial differential equation than the Laplacian. This paper discusses some of these operators.
Long-term effects of treated domestic wastewater on brown trout

Abstract A 12-month bioassay was conducted to determine the effects of unchlorinated, treated, domestic wastewater on survival, growth, swimming performance, and gill tissue of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ). Ammonia was the toxicant of concern, because the facility's effluent periodically exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recommended criterion. Juvenile brown trout (initial weight = 2 g), which were exposed to six concentrations (0–37%) of effluent, were fed a restricted ration, so that growth rates were similar to those of wild stream residents. At the highest effluent concentration, monthly mean concentrations of un-ionized ammonia ranged from 0.004 to 0.055 mg l −1 NH 3 N (at. wt = 14); these concentrations exceeded the EPA criterion of 0.016 mg l −1 about 40% of the time. There were no significant effects of effluent concentration on survival, growth, or swimming performance of brown trout, but the degree of damage to gills was directly related to effluent concentration.
EXCITATION ACCOMPANYING PHOTOIONIZATION IN ATOMS AND MOLECULES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ELECTRON CORRELATION

If electron correlation is neglected, the photoelectric effect requires that only one electron be ejected from an atom. Experimentally, however, it is found in the photoionization process that there is a high probability for simultaneous excitation or ionization of a second electron in the same atom. This extra excitation can be explained by electron correlation : in some cases implicitly through the use of single-electron wave functions as in electron shake-off calculations, and in other cases through the use of wave functions that explicitly include correlation. We have utilized two recently constructed high resolution electron spectrometers to measure satellite lines in the photoelectron spectra of both the inner and valence shells of the rare gases and some simple gaseous molecules. These satellite lines are interpreted in terms of transitions to excited states of the singly charged ion, and are used to form a broader basis for the understanding of simultaneous excitation as the result of the photoelectron process.
The feasibility of 350 μm spatial resolution coronary magnetic resonance angiography at 3 T in humans.

Purpose The purposes of this study were to (1) develop a high-resolution 3-T magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique with an in-plane resolution approximate to that of multidetector coronary computed tomography (MDCT) and a voxel size of 0.35 × 0.35 × 1.5 mm3 and to (2) investigate the image quality of this technique in healthy participants and preliminarily in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods A 3-T coronary MRA technique optimized for an image acquisition voxel as small as 0.35 × 0.35 × 1.5 mm3 (high-resolution coronary MRA [HRC]) was implemented and the coronary arteries of 22 participants were imaged. These included 11 healthy participants (average age, 28.5 years; 5 men) and 11 participants with CAD (average age, 52.9 years; 5 women) as identified on MDCT. In addition, the 11 healthy participants were imaged using a method with a more common spatial resolution of 0.7 × 1 × 3 mm3 (regular-resolution coronary MRA [RRC]). Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were made between the 2 MRA techniques. Results Normal vessels and CAD lesions were successfully depicted at 350 × 350 μm2 in-plane resolution with adequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio. The CAD findings were consistent among MDCT and HRC. The HRC showed a 47% improvement in sharpness despite a reduction in SNR (by 72%) and in contrast-to-noise ratio (by 86%) compared with the regular-resolution coronary MRA. Conclusion This study, as a first step toward substantial improvement in the resolution of coronary MRA, demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining at 3 T a spatial resolution that approximates that of MDCT. The acquisition in-plane pixel dimensions are as small as 350 × 350 μm2 with a 1.5-mm slice thickness. Although SNR is lower, the images have improved sharpness, resulting in image quality that allows qualitative identification of disease sites on MRA consistent with MDCT.