cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Müller-Lyer Illusion

The Muller-Lyer illusion is an apparently simple visual illusion, first described by Franz Muller-Lyer in 1889. Although lines (a) and (b) are identical in length, many viewers perceive (a) as longer than (b). However, despite the fact that introductory psychology textbooks generally present this phenomenon as if it were universal, researchers have known for more than a century that it is not. The British scientist W. H. R., on a Cambridge University expedition to the Torres Straits, between New Guinea and northeastern Australia, tested local people on visual perception tasks, including the Muller-Lyer. He also gathered similar data from the Todas of rural India and from urban dwellers in England. Keywords: perception; senses
A modified ant colony optimization algorithm for implementation on multi-core robots

The Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm is an evolutionary algorithm that bio-mimics the behavior of ants in finding the shortest path between an origin and a destination within a set of pre-determined constraints. The goal of this work is to create a small-scale application of the ACO using a swarm of small autonomous robots. We investigate the practical applicability of the algorithm in real-life situations by addressing the issues and challenges encountered in the transition from the modeling/simulation level to the real-life application of the algorithm. We also suggest some modifications that will make feasible the implementation of the algorithm on the robots� limited computing systems. The results show that the suggested modified algorithm, when implemented on the robotic swarm, enables them to successfully identify the shortest path between two points. These results open the door to a wide variety of applications like search & rescue, path planning, and mass transportation.
GOVERNING FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND WITH LOVE: PARENTS AND CHILDREN BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL

In this essay, Benjamin Baez and Susan Talburt analyze the U.S. Department of Education's Helping Your Child Series to consider how the government of children, families, and schools reflects a concern with two seemingly unrelated political objectives of neoliberal projects: creating responsible, self- reliant citizens and making schools more efficient. Where these two objectives converge is in their techni- ques: they both use the parent-child relationship and what appears to motivate it. Drawing on Michel Foucault's conceptualization of government as ''the conduct of conduct,'' Baez and Talburt analyze two pamphlets with an eye to several themes: the ''commonsensical'' nature of its address to loving parents; the ''responsibilization'' of parents and children; the insidious entry of school goals and behavioral norms into homes; and the seeming empowerment of the parent as partner in his or her child's learning. Finally, the authors discuss how the logic of modern forms of governing families and schools might be contested.
International article review.

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery The Use of High-Density Porous Polyethylene as a Custom-Made Nasal Spreader Graft Ali Gurlek, Mehmet Celik, Alpay Fariz, Ayse Ersoz-Ozturk, Ahmet T. Eren, Goktekin Tenekec...
Simulating the energy performance of holographic glazings

The light diffraction properties of holographic diffractive structures present an opportunity to improve the daylight performance in side-lit office spaces by redirecting and reflecting sunlight off the ceiling, providing adequate daylight illumination up to 30 ft (9.14 m) from the window wall. Prior studies of prototypical holographic glazings, installed above conventional ``view`` windows, have shown increased daylight levels over a deeper perimeter area than clear glass, for selected sun positions. In this study, we report on the simulation of the energy performance of prototypical holographic glazings assuming a commercial office building in the inland Los Angeles climate. The simulation of the energy performance involved determination of both luminous and thermal performance. Since the optical complexity of holographic glazings prevented the use of conventional algorithms for the simulation of their luminous performance, we used a newly developed method that combines experimentally determined directional workplane illuminance coefficients with computer-based analytical routines to determine a comprehensive set of daylight factors for many sun positions. These daylight factors were then used within the DOE-2.1D energy simulation program to determine hourly daylight and energy performance over the course of an entire year for four window orientations. Since the prototypical holographic diffractive structures considered in thismore » study were applied on single pane clear glass, we also simulated the performance of hypothetical glazings, assuming the daylight performance of the prototype holographic glazings and the thermal performance of double-pane and low-e glazings. Finally, we addressed various design and implementation issues towards potential performance improvement.« less
Mechanical control of the sense of touch by β-spectrin

How sensory neurons integrate mechanical signals during touch sensation has remained unclear. Using a combination of laser axotomy and FRET imaging to measure force across single cells and molecules, Goodman and colleagues show that the neuronal spectrin cytoskeleton transduces touch sensation in C. elegans.
Influence of Prayer and Prayer Habits on Outcome in Patients With Severe Head Injury

Objectives. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of prayers on the recovery of the unconscious patients admitted after traumatic brain injury. Material and Results. A retrospective study of patients with severe head injury was conducted. The Glasgow Coma Scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were examined along with age, gender, smoking, and alcohol intake. There were 13 patients who received prayer and 13 who did not receive prayer during the hospital stay with almost identical mean Glasgow Coma Scale score. The prayer group stayed in the hospital for more days (P = .03). On multivariate analysis, patients’ age (P = .01), admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (P = .009), and prayer habits (P = .007) were significant factors. Conclusion. Patients with prayers habits recovered better following severe head injury. The role of intercessory prayer needs further studies in larger groups.
Interferon γ–Inducible Protein-10 (IP-10) and Eotaxin as Biomarkers in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE To analyze serum cytokine levels in subjects with different stages of AMD and to study the expression of salient cytokines in postmortem eyes with AMD. METHODS A suspension array system was used to analyze sera (n = 18 to 20/group) from control subjects and those with early AMD (AREDS stage 1), intermediate dry AMD (AREDS stage 3), advanced AMD with geographic atrophy (GA), or neovascular AMD (CNV). Postmortem eyes with AMD or control eyes were examined immunohistochemically for expression of IP-10 and eotaxin (n = 4 to 8/group). RESULTS Serum eotaxin and IP-10 levels were significantly elevated in all stages of AMD, except for eotaxin levels in neovascular AMD (P < 0.07). The peak of serum IP-10 concentration was at intermediate dry AMD. In donor eyes, IP-10 and eotaxin expressions were increased in the RPE of eyes with early AMD, GA, and CNV. Eotaxin accumulated within the layer of basal linear/laminar deposits in all stages of AMD, while IP-10 was mainly in eyes with GA and CNV. IP-10 was abundant in the connective tissue matrix associated with CNV, and eotaxin was usually present but more focally and with less intense staining. Both IP-10 and eotaxin were expressed by neovascular endothelial cells. Both IP-10 and eotaxin were expressed in the neurosensory retina, but there was no detectable difference in staining between eyes with or without AMD. CONCLUSIONS IP-10 and eotaxin may be early biomarkers in AMD. The authors hypothesize that the relative balance between levels of IP-10 and eotaxin is critical in regulating the neovascular response.
The diagnosis and therapy of impotence associated with diabetes

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of impotence resulting from diabetes is examined along with the advantages and disadvantages of two surgical procedures. A case report is presented and analyzed for illustration purpose.
University student counseling and mental health in the United States: Trends and challenges

Abstract This article reviews the status of the delivery of counseling and mental health services at colleges and universities in the United States. It provides an overview of historical and current trends of student mental health concerns and of the ways in which campus counseling services have responded to these challenges. Data from several sources are referenced to demonstrate both the increasing numbers of students seeking counseling services and the increasing severity of their concerns. Examples are provided for how these trends have influenced the delivery of counseling services and how they are changing college and university communities.
Relationships between watershed stressors and sediment contamination in Chesapeake Bay estuaries

Three methods for assessing the relationships between estuarine sediment contaminant levels and watershed Stressors for 25 Chesapeake Bay sub-estuaries were compared. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to delineate watersheds for each sub-estuary and analyze land use pattern (area and location of developed, herbaceous and forested land) and point source pollution (annual outflow and contaminant loading) using three landscape analysis methods: (1) a watershed approach using the watershed of the estuary containing the sampling station. (2) a ‘partial watershed’ approach using the area of the watershed within a 10 km radius of the sampling station and (3) a ‘weighted partial watershed’ approach where Stressors within the partial watershed were weighted by the inverse of their linear distance from the sampling station. Nine sediment metals, 16 sediment organics and seven metals loading variables were each reduced to one principal component for statistical analyses. Relationships between the first principal components for sediment metals and organics concentrations and watershed stressor variables were analyzed using rank correlation and stepwise multiple regression techniques. For both metals and organics, the watershed method yieldedR 2 values considerably lower than the partial and weighted partial watershed analysis methods. Regression models using Stressor data generated by the weighted partial watershed landscape analysis method explained 76% and 47% of the variation in the first principal component for sediment metals and organics concentrations, respectively. Results suggest that the area of developed land located in the watershed within 10 km of the sediment sampling station is a major contributing factor in the sediment concentrations of both metals and organics.
Magnetically tapered CARM (cyclotron autoresonance maser) for high power

A cyclotron autoresonance maser (CARM) inherently demonstrates high efficiency due to its autoresonant feature. Tapering the axial magnetic field can further enhance the CARM's already attractive efficiency. A self-consistent, three-dimensional, nonlinear numerical simulation code has been developed and used to optimize the design of CARM amplifiers, including an axial magnetic field taper. There are usually two free parameters involved in tapering the magnetic field linearly, namely, the tapering rate and taper-starting position. It will be shown in the simulation results that these parameters can be reduced to only one, that is, the tapering rate. By starting the magnetic field taper directly before the first electron crossover occurs, both optimum efficiency and growth rate can be obtained.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mixed-mode fracture of ceramics

The mixed-mode fracture behavior of ceramic materials is of importance for monolithic ceramics in order to predict the onset of fracture under generalized loading conditions and for ceramic composites to describe crack deflection toughening mechanisms. Experimental data on surface flaw mixed-mode fracture in various ceramics indicate that the flaw-plane normal stress at fracture decreases with increasing in-flaw-plane shear stress, although present data exhibit a fairly wide range in details of this σ — τ relationship. Fracture from large cracks suggests that Mode II has a greater effect on Mode I fracture than Mode III. A comparison of surface flaw and large crack mixed-mode I–II fracture responses indicates that surface flaw behavior is influenced by shear resistance effects.
It's a trap: bone abnormalities and autoimmune disorders resulting from TRAP deficiency

Genetic deficiency of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase associated with skeletal dysplasia, cerebral calcifications and autoimmunity Lausch et al. (2011) Nature Genetics 43(2):132–137
Automated, scalable debugging of MPI programs with Intel® Message Checker

The trend towards many-core multi-processor systems and clusters will make systems with tens and hundreds of processors more widely available. Current manual debugging techniques do not scale well to such large systems. Advanced automated debugging tools are needed for standard programming models based on commodity computing, such as threads and MPI. We surveyed MPI users to identify the kinds of MPI errors that they encounter, and classify the errors into several types. We describe how automated tools can detect such errors and present the Intel® Message Checker (IMC) technology being developed at the Intel Advanced Computing Center. IMC's unique technology automatically detects several kinds of MPI errors such as various types of mismatches, race conditions, deadlocks and potential deadlocks, and resource misuse. Finally, we review the usability and uniqueness of IMC and discuss our future plans.
The validity of the information and vocabulary subtests of the WAIS for predicting college achievement

Reviews on the validity of the WAIS have shown that the Information and Vocabulary subtests are valid measures of general intelligence. The present review investigated the ability of each of these two subtests to predict college grade point average (GPA) compared to that of well-established college aptitude tests (ACE, ACT, SAT, SCAT). The means of the comparative validity coefficients indicated that in spite of their greater brevity, the Information and Vocabulary subtests predicted college GPA more accurately than did the verbal sections and as validly as the composite scores of college aptitude tests. It was concluded that the subtests (and their recent revisions on the WAIS-R) could justifiably be used for the quick assessment of academic ability in higher educational settings.
Complex chromosomal rearrangement and multiple spontaneous abortions

We report on a woman with a balanced complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) involving chromosomes 7, 10, and 21. She is the third individual with an apparently de novo CCR to be ascertained by repeated fetal wastage. Both familial and de novo CCRs are associated with recurrent spontaneous abortions.
"Can you spare an organ?": exploring Hispanic Americans' willingness to discuss living organ donation with loved ones.

Living organ donation offers a means of overcoming the shortage of viable organs available for transplant: a shortage particularly problematic among Hispanics. One barrier standing between those in need of a kidney and a successful transplant operation is an inability, and often lack of desire, to talk to loved ones about the need for a living donation. With an eye on future intervention approaches, and guided in part by the theory of planned behavior, this research effort sought to explore the factors associated with a willingness to engage in a conversation about a living donation with loved ones. Study 1, a phone survey of Hispanic Americans drawn from a Hispanic surname list, reveals that while upward of 90% of respondents would be willing to offer a kidney to a family member in need, and a similar percentage would be willing to accept a living donation if offered, only about half of respondents would feel comfortable initiating a conversation with family members if the respondent was in need of a liv...
Effects of interfacial redox in mussel adhesive protein films on mica.

The 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa)-containing proteins of mussels and sandcastle worms provide attractive design paradigms for engineering synthetic polymers as wet adhesives and coatings. Despite this, a generally accepted explanation of how Dopa interacts with most surfaces is not available. The effect of uncontrollable Dopa redox on the dependability of catechol as an anchoring functionality for polymers is a recognized problem for many mussel-inspired adhesives. Using a surface force apparatus, the effect of interfacial redox in mussel adhesive protein-3 (Mfp-3) films on mica was tested. The SFA results show that the adhesion properties of Mfp-3 are closely coupled to the redox state of Dopa. The oxidation of Dopa to Dopaquinone diminishes the adhesion of Mfp-3 on mica surfaces. Dopaquinone tautomers could be associated with structural changes in oxidized adhesive mussel foot proteins such as Mfp-3.
Schiff Base Complexes of Vanadium(III, IV, V) as Catalysts for the Electroreduction of O2 to H2O in Acetonitrile

Fifteen Schiff base ligands were synthesized and used to form complexes with vanadium in oxidation states III, IV, and V. Electrochemical and spectral characteristics of the complexes were evaluated and compared. In acidified solutions in acetonitrile the vanadium(IV) complexes undergo reversible disproportionation to form V(III) and V(V) complexes. With several of the ligands the V(III) complexes are much more stable in the presence of acid than is the previously studied complex with salen, an unelaborated Schiff base ligand (H_2 salen = N,N‘-ethylenebis(salicylideneamine)). Equilibrium constants for the disproportionation were evaluated. The vanadium(III) complexes reduce dioxygen to form two oxo ligands. The reaction is stoichiometric in the absence of acid, and second-order rate constants were evaluated. In the presence of acid some of the complexes investigated participate in a catalytic electroreduction of dioxygen.
Increases in HIV testing among men who have sex with men--National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, 20 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 2008 and 2011.

In 2011, 62% of estimated new HIV diagnoses in the United States were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (men who have sex with men, MSM); 39% of these MSM were black or African American. HIV testing, recommended at least annually by CDC for sexually active MSM, is an essential first step in HIV care and treatment for HIV-positive individuals. A variety of HIV testing initiatives, designed to reach populations disproportionately affected by HIV, have been developed at both national and local levels. We assessed changes in HIV testing behavior among MSM participating in the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System in 2008 and 2011. We compared the percentages tested in the previous 12 months in 2008 and 2011, overall and by race/ethnicity and age group. In unadjusted analyses, recent HIV testing increased from 63% in 2008 to 67% in 2011 overall (P<0.001), from 63% to 71% among black MSM (P<0.001), and from 63% to 75% among MSM of other/multiple races (P<0.001); testing did not increase significantly for white or Hispanic/Latino MSM. Multivariable model results indicated an overall increase in recent HIV testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.07, P<0.001). Increases were largest for black MSM (aPR = 1.12, P<0.001) and MSM of other/multiple races (aPR = 1.20, P<0.001). Among MSM aged 18–19 years, recent HIV testing was shown to increase significantly among black MSM (aPR = 1.20, P = 0.007), but not among MSM of other racial/ethnic groups. Increases in recent HIV testing among populations most affected by HIV are encouraging, but despite these increases, improved testing coverage is needed to meet CDC recommendations.
Will the Musée du Quai Branly show France the way to postcoloniality

Abstract France has, arguably, struggled to negotiate its colonial history more than any other former colonial power. This article questions the declared purpose of the Quai Branly Museum to be France's first new museum of the twenty-first century, exploring its conceptualization, the complicated political and scholarly debates its opening triggered. The Quai Branly Museum wants to be a museum, but neither of purely art objects nor of social artifacts (most of which were collected by marine officers, missionaries, and anthropological expeditions during the colonial era). Architect Jean Nouvel has tried boldly to transcend that old disjunction, but his problematic architecture has much to reveal concerning the unconscious ways in which perceptions of non-Western cultures, which naturally informed the colonial expansionist enterprise, continue to inform contemporary debates on cultural and social diversity. The question remains as to whether the museum can evolve into an entity that will eventually foster m...
Effect af Trichloroacetate Anion on Partition Behavior of Tetracyclines

The influence of the trichloroacetate anion on the n-octyl alcohol-aqueous phosphate buffer apparent partition coefficients of various tetracyclines was determined. At acidic pH values, the presence of trichloroacetate caused a significant increase in the apparent partition coefficients of most of the tetracycline analogs studied, presumably through intermolecular ion-pairing between the positively charged tetracycline moiety and the trichloroacetate anion. From intermediate to mildly alkaline pH values, trichloroacetate had essentially no effect on partitioning. The transfer of compounds such as minocycline and 9-dimethyl-amino-6-demethyl-6-deoxytetracycline to the n-octyl alcohol phase was not as significantly altered by the addition of trichloroacetate, apparently because the effect of two charged moieties in each of these analogs was not as easily overcome by ion-pair formation. The alteration of the apparent partition coefficients of the tetracycline antibiotics by intermolecular ion-pair formation is discussed in terms of its relationship to the absorption of these compounds.
COSMETIC TALC AND OVARIAN CANCER

Abstract The causes of ovarian cancer are unknown. The increased incidence in industrialised countries suggests an environmental influence. Epidemiological, experimental,. and clinical data seem to link asbestos and talc with ovarian cancer. Direct passage of talc or asbestos-contaminated talc through the female reproductive tract to the ovarian surface may play an aetiological role. Further systematic evaluation of talc and asbestos as ovarian carcinogens is needed.
A hand up, not a hand out: Lessons for public policy

For many in our society owning a home is not possible without the help of grass-roots organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The study of the response of public institutions to personal problems can provide policy makers with valuable information about changing or creating new programs and policies to assist those having difficulty finding decent, affordable housing to own. This paper presents the findings of a study of the relationship between those whose dream did become reality and those who helped them. In addition, this paper presents a model of the process that policy students can use to examine the public responses to private troubles.
Dependence of visual suppression on the amplitudes of saccades and blinks.

Abstract Visual suppression accompanying voluntary saccades and eyeblinks was measured for a range of amplitudes of both. Saccade amplitudes varied from 2 to 32° and blink amplitudes varied from a slight movement to a full closure of the eye. In every case, thresholds for detecting full-field luminance decrements were determined with the method of constant stimuli and a two alternative forced choice procedure. Results from three subjects show a monotonic increase in the amount of suppression produced by saccades and blinks of increasing amplitude. Data are discussed with respect to theories about the origin of visual suppression.
Measurement of ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in time and frequency domain using miniprobe transducer

A miniprobe has been applied to measure the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient for tissue mimicking phantoms, and freshly excised beef tissues. Some measuring errors by conventional probes might be minimized from adopting the miniprobe design. The miniprobe has the small transducer area as well as the function to measure the propagation path distance. Two methods to estimate the attenuation coefficient both from the time waveform and frequency spectra are discussed for our application in transmission mode. The methods and precision of the measurements were verified by eight tissue-mimicking phantoms before the approach to several beef tissues. The range of the errors of the measurement of the whole phantoms were within 0.77% to 1.71% calculated by power spectrum, and within 0.33% to 1.83% calculated by time domain. The results of measurement in phantoms confirm the successive measurement in tissues. According to the result of the attenuation coefficient estimated from phantoms and tissues, the estimation from the power spectrum is larger than that from the time waveform. The results of the errors indicate that directly measuring the heterogeneous materials in the time domain will cause more errors.
AN OUTBREAK OF FUNGAL DERMATITIS AND STOMATITIS IN A FREE-RANGING POPULATION OF PIGMY RATTLESNAKES (SISTRURUS MILIARIUS BARBOURI) IN FLORIDA

Between September 1997 and March 1998, a severe skin, eye, and mouth disease was observed in a population of dusky pigmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri), at the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in Volusia County, Florida (USA). Three affected pigmy rattlesnakes were submitted for necropsy. All snakes had severe necrotizing and predominantly granulomatous dermatitis, stomatitis, and ophthalmitis, with involvement of the subadjacent musculature and other soft tissues. Numerous fungal hyphae were seen throughout tissue sections stained with periodic acid Schiff and Gomori's methenamine silver. Samples of lesions were cultured for bacteria and fungi. Based on hyphae and spore characteristics, four species of fungi were identified from culture: Sporothrix schenckii, Pestalotia pezizoides, Geotrichum candidum (Galactomyces geotrichum), and Paecilomyces sp. While no additional severely affected pigmy rattlesnakes were seen at the study site, a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and a ribbon sna...
Electric field induced vibration rotation spectrum of H2 and D2

Abstract Electric field induced absorption has been observed for some 8 vibration-rotation transitions of H 2 and for 7 of D 2 . An alternating electric field was used to modulate the transmitted intensity. Percentage absorptions as small as one part in 30,000 were observed with a resolution of one cm −1 at 4000 cm −1 . From intensity measurements, the values of several polarizability matrix elements were deduced. All results were consistent with previous measurements on H 2 and D 2 and support the theory as developed by Condon.
Cytomegalovirus in Juvenile Iridocyclitis

We cultured cytomegalovirus from lens material aspirated from the eye of a 4-year-old boy who had a severe bilateral iridocyclitis and secondary cataracts. There were neither systemic manifestations of congenital disease nor chorioretinitis.
Use of phlorizin binding to demonstrate induction of intestinal glucose transporters

We used specific binding of phlorizin to the intact intestinal mucosa in order to measure glucose transport site density in intestines of mice fed a high-carbohydrate or no-carbohydrate diet. Nonspecific binding varied with intestinal position but showed only modest dependence on diet. Specific binding to glucose transporters was 1.9 times greater in jejunum of high-carbohydrate mice than of no-carbohydrate mice; this ratio was the same as the ratio for Vmax values of actived-glucose uptake between the two diet groups. The gradient in specific binding of phlorizin along the intestine paralleled the gradient in Vmax of glucose transport. These results directly demonstrate that the increase in intestinal glucose transport caused by a high-carbohydrate diet is due to induction of glucose transporter. They also indicate that the normal positional graident in glucose transport along the intestine arises from a gradient in transporters, induced by the normal gradient in luminal glucose concentration.
Unusual heterogeneity of the 5'-termini of human adenovirus type 2 early region E2 mRNA.

Abstract The 5'-terminal structures of human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) early region 2 (E2) mRNA were investigated. The E2 transcription unit has several interesting properties, including the presence of a TATA-like box that matches the consensus sequence poorly, delayed transcription during early stages of infection, and a switch in promoter recognition late after infection. E2-specific RNA, 5'-labeled in vitro to high specific activity was analyzed. Purified E2 mRNA was digested with RNase A or RNase T1 and the resulting oligonucleotides were resolved by two dimensional paper electrophoresis-homochromatography. Remarkably, as many as sixteen 5'-terminal RNase A oligonucleotides were identified and their sequences were deduced. The most common 5'-termini in the RNase A digest were p(m6)AmCp, p(m6)AmA(m)Cp, pGmA(m)Cp, and p(m6)AmG(m)Cp. Two RNase A oligonucleotides originated from the E4 promoter region, consistent with electron microscopic observations. The sequence encoding these potential initiation sites covered about 90 nucleotides. Eleven of the sequences of the 5'-terminal RNase A oligonucleotides were aligned with the Ad2 DNA sequence in the Ad2 E2 promoter region. If the heterogeneous termini in the E2 promoter region were generated by a process of transcription initiation, their existence cannot be explained by stuttering of RNA polymerase II. This suggests that the transcription of Ad early region 2 has features which differ from those of other Ad2 early gene transcription units. Perhaps this is due to the absence of a conventional TATA box which is believed to position the initiation site. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the E2 promoter represents an alternate class of RNA polymerase II promoters containing different signals with different requirements for activation and/or that an E1A gene product modifies transcription initiation.
Millisecond infra-red astrophysical spectrophotometer - MIRAS

We describe an instrument under development at the University of Texas for observation of lunar occultations with complete spectral coverage from 1 - 13 μm and with limiting angular resolutions of 1 - 4 milliarcsecond over that range. The instrument will utilize three 2-D arrays that will enable spectral dispersion with a resolving power, R ~ 100, and permit pupil division to avoid blurring the Fresnel fringes of an occultation. The scientific motivation for this program is based on observations of physical properties of circumstellar disks around young, forming stars, as well as of shells around evolved stars undergoing mass loss. We also describe some examples of results with a prototype version of this instrument that has been in use at McDonald Observatory for the last 18 months.
Serotonin 5-HT3 antagonists do not alter the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine.

The central nervous system (CNS) of the rat is known to contain serotonin (5-HT) type -3 receptors (5-HT3). Behavioral evidence suggests that 5-HT3 receptors interact with mesolimbic dopamine (DA) systems and that 5-HT3 antagonists can interfere with the hyperlocomotive effects of amphetamine and cocaine and the rewarding and stimulus effects of morphine, nicotine and ethanol. Cocaine, which blocks the reuptake of DA, norepinephrine (NE), and 5-HT in the CNS, also may be an antagonist at 5-HT3 receptors. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether systemic administration of the 5-HT3 antagonists ICS 205930 or MDL 72222 could mimic or block the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine. Once rats (N=16) were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline, substitution tests with various doses of cocaine (0.313–10 mg/kg), ICS 205930 (2–24 mg/kg), and MDL 72222 (2–16 mg/kg) were conducted. Cocaine produced a doserelated increase in cocaine-appropriate responding while the 5-HT3 antagonists engendered primarily saline-lever responding. Neither ICS 205930 nor MDL 72222 were able to antagonize the stimulus effects of cocaine (5 mg/kg). Response rates were not significantly reduced when the 5-HT3 antagonists were given in combination with cocaine. The results indicate that although 5-HT3 antagonists can inhibit some of the unconditioned behavioral effects of psychomotor stimulants, the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine remain intact.
Taylor Kriging Metamodeling for Stochastic Simulation Interpolation

This paper applies a novel Kriging model to the interpolation of stochastic simulation with high computational expense. The novel Kriging model is developed by using Taylor expansion to construct a drift function for Kriging, thus named Taylor Kriging. The interpolation capability of Taylor Kriging for stochastic simulation is empirically compared with those of Simple Kriging and Ordinary Kriging according to two stochastic simulation cases. Results show that the interpolation of Taylor Kriging is more accurate than Simple Kriging and Ordinary Kriging. The authors analyze two key factors in stochastic simulation, simulation replications and variance, which influence the accuracy of Kriging interpolation, and obtain some important empirical results.
Dengue virus type 3 vaccine candidates generated by introduction of deletions in the 3’ untranslated region (3’-UTR) or by exchange of the DENV-3 3’-UTR with that of DENV-4

The dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) vaccine candidate, rDEN3Delta30, was previously found to be under-attenuated in both SCID-HuH-7 mice and rhesus monkeys. Herein, two strategies have been employed to generate attenuated rDEN3 vaccine candidates which retain the full complement of structural and nonstructural proteins of DENV-3 and thus are able to induce humoral or cellular immunity to each of the DENV-3 proteins. First, using the predicted secondary structure of the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of DENV-3 to design novel deletions, nine deletion mutant viruses were engineered and found to be viable. Four of nine deletion mutants replicated efficiently in Vero cells and were genetically stable. Second, chimeric rDENV-3 viruses were generated by replacement of the 3'-UTR of the rDENV-3 cDNA clone with that of rDENV-4 or rDEN4Delta30 yielding the rDEN3-3'D4 and rDEN3-3'D4Delta30 viruses, respectively. Immunization of rhesus monkeys with either of two deletion mutant viruses, rDEN3Delta30/31 and rDEN3Delta86, or with rDEN3-3'D4Delta30 resulted in infection without detectable viremia, with each virus inducing a strong neutralizing antibody response capable of conferring protection from DENV-3 challenge. The rDEN3Delta30/31 virus showed a strong host range restriction phenotype with complete loss of replication in C6/36 mosquito cells despite robust replication in Vero cells. In addition, rDEN3Delta30/31 had reduced replication in Toxorynchites mosquitoes following intrathoracic inoculation. The results are discussed in the context of vaccine development and the physical structure of the DENV 3'-UTR.
Bordetella avium Causes Induction of Apoptosis and Nitric Oxide Synthase in Turkey Tracheal Explant Cultures

Bordetellosis is an upper respiratory disease of turkeys caused by Bordetella avium in which the bacteria attach specifically to ciliated respiratory epithelial cells. Little is known about the mechanisms of pathogenesis of this disease, which has a negative impact in the commercial turkey industry. In this study, we produced a novel explant organ culture system that was able to successfully reproduce pathogenesis of B. avium in vitro, using tracheal tissue derived from 26 day-old turkey embryos. Treatment of the explants with whole cells of B. avium virulent strain 197N and culture supernatant, but not lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), specifically induced apoptosis in ciliated cells, as shown by annexin V and TUNEL staining. LPS and TCT are known virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. Treatment with whole cells of B. avium and LPS specifically induced NO response in ciliated cells, shown by uNOS staining and diaphorase activity. The explant system is being used as a model to elucidate specific molecules responsible for the symptoms of bordetellosis.
Weak interactions of the b quark

In weak-interaction models with two charged W bosons of comparable mass, there exists a novel possibility for the weak interactions of the b quark, in which the (u-barb)/sub R/ current occurs with maximal strength. It is noted that multimuon production in e/sup +/e/sup -/ annihilation at above Q/sup 2/ > or approx. = (12 GeV)/sup 2/ will distinguish this scheme from the conventional one. We also present a Higgs system that leads naturally to this type of coupling, in a class of gauge models.
Endogenous adenosine increases O2 utilisation efficiency in isoprenaline-stimulated canine myocardium.

Objective: We have previously demonstrated that myocardium is capable of down-regulating its O2 requirements and thus avoiding ischaemia when O2 supply is limited. The present study tested the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine produced this protective response when O2 supply was decreased by moderate coronary hypopertusion or moderate coronary hypoxaemia. Methods: In anaesthetised dogs, hearts were exposed by left thoracotomy and instrumented for measuring intraventricular pressure and regional myocardial segment length. The left anterior descending coronary artery was isolated, cannulated, and extracorporeally perfused. Coronary O2 supply was moderately reduced by lowering coronary perfusion pressure from 100 to 60 mmHg or by lowering coronary arterial O2 content by 50%. Hearts were treated with intracoronary infusions of adenosine, adenosine deaminase to degrade endogenous adenosine or with erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine · HC1 (EHNA) to inhibit adenosine degradation by endogenous adenosine deaminase, during β-adrenergic stimulation with isoprenaline. Cardiac power in the left anterior descending perfusion territory was indexed by the product of heart rate · left ventricular peak systolic pressure · percent systolic segment shortening. O2 utilisation efficiency was taken as the ratio of power index/myocardial O2 consumption. Results: Prior to a reduction in O2 supply, isoprenaline did not alter O2 utilisation efficiency. Intracoronary adenosine increased O2 utilisation efficiency during isoprenaline stimulation by 23% ( P <0.05). EHNA slightly increased O2 utilisation efficiency during isoprenaline stimulation (10%; P < 0.05); adenosine deaminase was without effect. When coronary perfusion pressure was decreased, adenosine deaminase sharply lowered cardiac power and O2 utilisation efficiency during isoprenaline stimulation, whereas EHNA augmented isoprenaline-enhanced power and increased efficiency. During hypoxaemia, adenosine deaminase lowered regional power but not efficiency during isoprenaline infusion; EHNA did not affect power but lowered O2 consumption and increased efficiency. Myocardial lactate extraction and contractile function during isoprenaline stimulation were not attenuated by reduced O2 supply, indicating that myocardial ischaemia did not occur under these conditions. Conclusion: Endogenous adenosine increases myocardial O2 utilisation efficiency during β-adrenergic stimulation, and thus helps avert ischaemia when myocardial O2 supply is reduced.
Abstract 2176: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) gene variations in bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma (BAC)

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is a key receptor in VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. It plays a significant role in tumor growth and development of metastases. A few studies suggested the angiogenic feature of bronchioalveolar cell carcinoma (BAC), a rare subtype of adenocarcinoma. However the biology of VEGFR-2 in BAC has not been clearly characterized, probably due to its rarity. We sought to determine whether differences in VEGFR-2 expression and microvessel density (MVD) in adenocarcinoma with BAC features (AWBF) might be due to heritable genetic variation in the VEGFR-2 gene. Differences in VEGFR-2 expression and MVD between the pure BAC component of tumor and AWBF, and their comparison with adjacent normal tissue, were also investigated. Methods DNA was extracted from 46 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded AWBF tissues. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and four in/dels were genotyped in all tumors. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed with tumor tissue (pure BAC component and AWBF component for each tumor) and paired adjacent normal lung tissue. TMAs were stained with anti-VEGFR-2 and anti-phosphorylated-VEGFR-2 (pVEGFR-2) antibodies (scoring: 0-9). MVD was determined by staining with an antibody against CD105, and 95% of the samples had either diffused high or focal high staining. Results The −271G>A genotype showed a clear gene-dosage effect on pVEGFR-2 expression (GG>GA>AA, p=0.04, linear trend analysis) in AWBF but not in BAC (p>0.1). The −271G>A genotype does not affect the MVD in both BAC and AWBF (linear trend analysis and Kruskal-Wallis, p>0.1). The other SNPs and in/dels did not show any significant association with VEGFR-2, pVEGFR-2, and MVD (p>0.1). VEGFR-2 and pVEGFR-2 expression in tumor (AWBF and pure BAC) was more than 10 times higher the paired normal tissue (p 0.1). For MVD, although the proportion of diffused high staining was higher in BAC (60%) vs. AWBF (47%), this difference is not statistically significant (p>0.1, Fisher's exact test). Discussion Our study shows that heritable gene variation of −271G>A in VEGFR-2 might reduce the expression of VEGFR-2 in AWBF. This is consistent with the effect of −271G>A in a luciferase assay (Ye et al., AACR 2007), as well as its effect on VEGFR-2 and pVEGFR-2 staining in breast cancer (Cerri et al., SABCS 2009, abstract #904). Although our data are suggestive of different pattern of angiogenesis between pure BAC and AWBF, our sample size is too small to draw any definitive conclusions. Additional studies are ongoing to replicate these findings that will establish the role of genetic variation as a determinant of VEGFR-2 expression in BAC, and the biology of angiogenesis in this rare tumor. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2176.
Positioning of Proteins in Membranes of Variable Lipid Composition

A novel anisotropic solvent model of the lipid bilayer has been developed and applied for calculating energetically optimal translational and rotational positions of proteins in different types of biological membranes. The spatial positions are refined for the entire set of ∼900 distinct protein structures currently in the OPM (Orientations of Proteins in Membranes) database (http://opm.phar.umich.edu). The bilayer is represented as a fluid anisotropic solvent described by profiles of dielectric constant, solvatochromic dipolarity/polarizability parameter, and hydrogen bonding acidity and basicity parameters that change gradually along the bilayer normal, including the lipid head group region. The profiles of several artificial phospholipid bilayers have been calculated based on the published distributions of their molecular segments determined by neutron and X-ray scattering. The profiles were also simulated for biological membranes based on their lipid composition including eukaryotic plasma membrane and bacterial inner and outer membranes. Transfer energy of the protein includes a solvent accessible surface area-dependent contribution (first solvation shell energy) and a long-range electrostatic component for group dipole moments and ionized groups, as well as ionization energy. Application of this model to transmembrane and peripheral proteins from the OPM resulted in a more precise and reliable calculation of their spatial positions and membrane binding affinities. Membrane-binding regions of numerous peripheral proteins have been identified during Protein Data Bank screening. The analysis of membrane association for peripheral proteins from the Structural Genomics projects helps to assign their biological functions, as illustrated for proteins from calycin and SpoIIAA superfamiles.
Advanced Placement: do minorities have equal opportunity?

Abstract Black and Hispanic high school students enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) courses at approximately half the rate of white students. This paper develops a microeconomic model of the AP participation decision and finds that low income is the single most important factor behind the minority AP participation gap. In addition, minority students enroll in AP math, science, and English at lower rates than comparable white students. Magnet schools promote AP participation among white students but reduce participation among college-bound black students. Race-matched role models promote AP-taking among high-achieving black males, and AP incentive programs have the potential to dramatically increase minority student participation. Policy implications include reducing the impersonal nature of large high schools by creating smaller “schools-within-a-school” while maintaining flexibility across academic tracks, eliminating magnet programs, hiring qualified AP teachers to actively mentor minority students, and implementing incentive programs that promote teacher training and provide incentives for student achievement.
Properties of discoidal complexes of human apolipoprotein A-I with phosphatidylcholines containing various fatty acid chains.

Abstract In this study we demonstrate that apolipoprotein A-I determined the common size classes of discoidal particles formed with numerous phosphatidylcholines, and with ether analogs of phosphatidylcholines. We show furthermore, that the nature of the lipids dictates the distribution of particles among the different size classes. These experiments were performed with discoidal complexes containing various phospholipids (phosphatidylcholines with saturated and unsaturated fatty acid chains of different lengths and the ether analog of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine), cholesterol, and human apolipoprotein A-I, prepared by the sodium cholate dialysis method, and fractionated by Bio-Gel A-5m gel-filtration chromatography. The complex preparations were analyzed in terms of their average composition, spectral properties of the apolipoprotein, and the dynamic behavior of the lipid domains. Nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the size classes of particles present in the complex preparations. Starting with reaction mixtures containing around 100:1, phospholipid/apolipoprotein A-I molar ratios, complexes were isolated with molar ratios from 40:1 to 100:1. In most complexes apolipoprotein A-I had high levels of α-helical structure (65–77% α-helix), and tryptophan residues in a nonpolar environment. The lipid domains of complexes exhibited the dynamic behavior expected of the main phospholipid components. In the average size range from 90 to 100 A diameters, discrete particle classes with 80, 87, 102, 108, or 112 A Stokes diameters were observed for all the complexes containing different phospholipids. These discrete, recurring particle sizes are attributed to distinct apolipoprotein A-I conformations and variable lipid content.