cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localized reduction of atherosclerosis in von Willebrand factor–deficient mice

To examine the role of the platelet adhesion molecule von Willebrand factor (vWf) in atherogenesis, vWf-deficient mice (vWf−/−) were bred with mice lacking the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR−/−) on a C57BL/6J background. LDLR−/−vWf+/+ and LDLR−/−vWf−/− mice were placed on a diet rich in saturated fat and cholesterol for different lengths of time. The atherogenic diet stimulated leukocyte rolling in the mesenteric venules in both genotypes, indicating an increase in P-selectin–mediated adhesion to the endothelium. After 8 weeks on the atherogenic diet, the fatty streaks formed in the aortic sinus of LDLR−/−vWf−/− mice of either sex were 40% smaller and contained fewer monocytes than those in LDLR−/−vWf+/+ mice. After 22 weeks on the atherogenic diet (early fibrous plaque stage), the difference in lesion size in the aortic sinus persisted. Interestingly, the lesion distribution in the aortas of LDLR−/−vWf−/− animals was different from that of LDLR−/− vWf+/+ animals. In vWf-positive mice, half of all lesions were located at the branch points of the renal and mesenteric arteries, whereas lesions in this area were not as prominent in the vWf-negative mice. These results indicate that the absence of vWf primarily affects the regions of the aorta with disturbed flow that are prone to atherosclerosis. Thus, vWf may recruit platelets/leukocytes to the lesion in a flow-dependent manner or may be part of the mechano-transduction pathway regulating endothelial response to shear stress.
EFFECT OF FREEZING METHODS ON THE QUALITY OF THE PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii1

Fresh water prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) has a shelf-life of only 3–4 days. Its deterioration usually starts with softening of the abdominal tissues. Freezing studies were conducted to determine qualities of the prawn after one month of frozen storage. Freezing methods include liquid nitrogen dipping, still air at -13 to -19°C, and freezing in brine at -6 to -18°C. Total bacterial count, pH, trimethylaminenitrogen and salt content were measured on previously frozen, thawed samples. Texture profile and sensory evaluation were measured on thawed, then cooked samples. Loss of muscle elasticity and lowering of viable bacterial counts were found in all the frozen-then-thawed samples. No significant losses of sensory qualities on the cooked samples were observed, with samples frozen with liquid nitrogen scored closer to fresh samples. Overall qualities of previously frozen samples were judged acceptable.
Specific Features of Electron Beam Interaction with Electromagnetic Wave in Diffraction Radiation Mode

Radiation pattern and electromagnetic field interaction power have been analyzed depending on the electron beam proper field in diffraction radiation mode. This paper discusses two cases: in the linear case interaction power is increased by electron beam and in the case of synchronism with fast space charged waves, interaction power falls, so that the field amplitude increases, the electron beam is additionally retarded in view of nonresonant radiation loss
A new algorithm for removing compression artifacts of wavelet-based image

Compression artifacts are the results of an aggressive data compression scheme applied to an image that discards some data which is determined by an algorithm to be of lesser importance to the overall contents but which is nonetheless discernible and objectionable to the user. In this paper we present a post-processing algorithm that focuses on restoring the clarity of important image features and removing the compression ringing artifacts around edges at compression ratios of 100∶1 and greater. At the decoder, the algorithm extracts the locations of edges from reconstructed image and classifies the pixels surrounding edges for removing compression ringing artifacts.
Addressing the Mental Health Concerns of International Students

International students on the American college campus are a diverse and increasing population whose unique concerns are traditionally overlooked. However, given the evidence that the demands for cultural adjustments frequently place international students at greater risk for various psychological problems than are students in general, it is important that sufficient and readily accessible mental health services be established for them. This article examines the sources of international students' psychological concerns, the reasons for their notable underutilization of existing counseling services, and the ways to provide more culturally sensitive services.
Toxicokinetics of 2,2′,5-Trichlorobiphenyl in House Flies Following Topical Administration

Abstract Adult female house flies ( Musca domestica L.) were dosed topically with 10-, 15-, and 20-μg doses of [2,2′ ,5- 14 C]trichlorobiphenyl in acetone, chosen to bracket the narrow range wherein a dramatic increase in toxicity was observed in previous studies. Total radioactivity in acetone rinses of flies, extracts of flies, extracts of excrement, and unextractable fly tissues and/or excrement were determined at eight time points over a 50-hr period to develop a toxicokinetic model. About 90% of a topical PCB dose was absorbed from the surface of the integument in 12 hr, apparently by simultaneous rapid and slow absorption processes. A small fraction of the absorbed dose was irreversibly bound to fly tissues and the majority of the remaining dose was excreted by 50 hr. Although polar metabolites were measured in all extracts, individual rate constants of elimination for parent PCB and metabolites could not be determined. Biotransformation enzymes apparently became saturated between the 10- and 15-μg doses which may account for the previously observed increase in toxicity within this narrow dose range. Extensive metabolism of the lower dose (more closely related to environmental exposure) suggests that the large biomass of insects may contribute to conversion of environmental PCBs to more polar metabolites.
Asymptotic expansions of the probabilities of misclassification for k-NN discriminant rules

Abstract Let X1,…, Xl and Y1,…, Yn be independent random samples from the distributions functions (d.f.) F and G respectively. Assume that F′ = f and G′ = g. The discriminant rule for classifying an independently sampled observation z to F if f l (z) > g n (z), and to G otherwise where f l and g n are the nearest neighbor estimates of f and g respectively based on the ‘training’ X- and Y-samples is considered optimal in some sense. Let PF denote the probability measure under the assumption that Z ∼ F and set P0 = PF(f(Z) f l (Z) g n (Z)). In this article, we have derived the rate at which Pl,n → P0 as l, n → ∞, for the situation where l = n, F(x) = M(x − θ2) and G(x) = M(x − θ1) for some symmetric d.f. M with a compact support and parameters θ1, θ2. It is also established through an example that this rate of convergence does not necessarily hold if the support of the symmetric d.f. M is infinite.
Grafting of polymeric side chains to soft tissues

This paper describes a novel approach for obtaining covalent bonding to tissues by chemical grafting of polymeric side chains to the collagenous backbone. Soft tissues such as calfskin or ratskin can be modified by acrylic, methacrylic, or vinyl monomers containing a variety of functional groups using ceric ions, persulfate–bisulfite or comonomers forming donor–acceptor complexes as initiators. Reactions take place within 20 min to 3 hr under experimental condition which, with suitable changes, might be tolerated clinically. The resulting products are insoluble in solvents for the respective homopolymers. It is likely that the polymeric side chain is attached chemically to the collagenous backbone. With ratskin, the grafting takes place mainly at the surface, resulting in a change in wettability and water sorption of the substrate. Modified hydrophilic, hydrophobic or even oil repellent surfaces can be prepared by judicious choice of monomer used. Thus, hydrophobic, oleophobic subdermal ratskin surfaces are obtained on reaction with flourinated monomers. Treated ratskins appear more resistant to fungal attack than the original substrate. It is conceivable that the polymeric side chains can serve as adhesive liners since the modified surface may improve the ability of the substrate to adhere to restorative materials.
The Structure of the Spring Thermal Bar in Lake Superior, II

Abstract The thermal bar was studied during May and June of 1974 and 1975 near the Keweenaw Peninsula along the south shore of Lake Superior. Temperature distributions and the distributions of naturally fluorescent material were measured in order to determine the nature of the energy and mass transport in the thermal bar zone. Transects were located perpendicular to the thermal bar, and temperature was measured at 5 m intervals to a depth of 45 m using a thermistor probe with a 3 sec time constant interfaced with a signal conditioner and digital voltmeter. Accuracy in the range of 4°C was ± 0.01°C. Water samples were collected, and the natural fluorescence arising from land runoff was measured. Station locations were determined by triangulation. Data for both temperature and fluorescence were plotted by a computer mapping program (SYMAP). The computer plotted temperature distributions provide the most detailed picture of the thermal bar thus far obtained. The complexity suggests considerable turbulence. A strong correlation between natural fluorescence and temperature supports the concept that little mixing occurs between inshore and offshore waters and that a significant portion of inshore water arises from runoff. The bottom slope seems to have a strong influence on the flow near the thermal bar and on the rate of movement offshore.
Motivational interviewing in substance abuse treatment: negotiating roadblocks

Some students of motivational interviewing have found aspects of the technique and/or underlying philosophy problematic. Six such concerns are described: (1) that the technique seems too passive; (2) that it appears to collaborate with the user's denial; (3) that it may take too much time; (4) that it seems to support the status quo; (5) that interviewers who use it appear naive; and (6) that it may be presented as the right thing for all people at all times. Alternative views to these six concerns are offered. These alternative views may allow practitioners to feel more comfortable adding motivational interviewing to their collection of counseling skills for use with individuals who abuse substances.
Effect of Manufacturing and Assembly Process Variations on the Crash Behavior of a Hybrid Aluminum Front-End Structure

In this work, the crash behavior of a hybrid aluminum front-end structure was studied. From the test results, it was shown that overall the structure absorbed the required impact energy. An initial CAE model, which was created prior to the test, predicted the initial portion of the impact pulse. However, beyond the point where weld and joint failure initiated the model over predicted the results. Since the model did not simulate the weld failures, a more detailed model of the front-end structure was created to account for these failures. Unlike steel, the Heat-Effected-Zone (HAZ) around the welds in heat-treatable aluminum alloys exhibit significantly lower yield and ultimate stress than the base material. However, the degree to which the properties are reduced and size of the HAZ vary as a function of welding speed, heat input, weld alloy, etc. A series of analysis using a range of the properties around the HAZ showed a corresponding variation in the crash pulse. The range of properties used was based on coupon level tests of the yield and ultimate strength variation around the HAZ. To better understand the effect of the HAZ and other variations within the structure, a stochastic analysis methodology is proposed. This type of analysis will point to significant source(s) within the structure or components that affect the variations in the crash pulse. It is hoped that this information can be used to improve the manufacturing process or aid in the redesign of the structure to lessen the effect of variations.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Induction of low dose oral tolerance in IL-10 deficient mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

IL-10 has been shown to be an important anti-inflammatory mediator that has both down-regulatory and immunomodulatory effects. Utilizing IL-10(-/-) mice we demonstrate the induction of low dose oral tolerance characterized by the up-regulation of TGF-beta and IL-4 and the suppression of Ag specific proliferation with little suppression of INF-gamma. More severe EAE was found in IL-10(-/-) mice than in wild type controls, however, feeding resulted in amelioration of disease severity in both groups. Orally tolerized IL-10(-/-) mice had greater disease severity compared to orally tolerized wild type mice. IL-4 was present in the GALT of IL-10(-/-) mice and up-regulation of TGF-beta was detected in the lamina propria of fed mice. These results demonstrate that IL-10 is not required for the induction of low dose oral tolerance but is required for the regulation of INF-gamma which affects severity of disease in tolerized mice.
A New Species of Euchirella (Copepoda, Calanoida) From the Pacific Coast of North America, With Notes On Euchirella Pulchra (Lubbock) 1)

Euchirella pseudopulchra n. sp. wird beschrieben von Individuen, welche im Washington Sound, im nordostlichen Pazifischen Ozean gesammelt worden waren. Euchirella pulchra (Lubbock), ein naher Verwandter der neuen Art, wird wieder beschrieben von Individuen, die in der Nahe der Typlokalitat gefunden worden sind, unter besonderer Berucksichtigung von Charakteristiken, welche nutzlich erscheinen fur eine Unterscheidung von der neuen Art.
Possible mechanism for explaining the origin and size distribution of Martian hematite spherules

Abstract Mysterious hematite spherules, also known as “blueberries”, observed at Meridiani Planum on Mars have been widely accepted as concretions which are formed by precipitation of aqueous fluids. One of the biggest mysteries is that all observed Martian blueberries are limited in size with maximum diameter of 6.2 mm. In contrast, terrestrial concretions are not size limited. In this article, we discuss significant differences between Martian blueberries and Earth concretion analogs. Puzzling observations from Mars Exploration Rovers Opportunity and Spirit suggest that the spherules may not be concretions but are cosmic spherules formed by ablation of meteorites. The perfect spherical shape of spherules, their observed size limit, and all other physical properties are easily explained by a meteorite ablation model. Evidence that some of these spherules are only few years old strongly constrains concretion and other growth mechanisms related to aqueous processes that require the existence of water on Mars in its recent history. The large number of hematite spherules in Meridiani Planum may be due to a big rare iron meteorite impact event in this region sometime in the past.
Aliphatic hydroxylation by highly purified liver microsomal cytochrome P-450. Evidence for a carbon radical intermediate

was oxidized. Analysis of the mass spectra of the products from the deuterated hydrocarbon showed that 25% of the exo-norborneol contained four deuterium atoms whereas 9% of the endo-norborneol contained three deuterium atoms. These results, wm indicate a very large isotope effect (kH/kD = 11.521) and a significant amount of epimerization for the hydroxylation of norbornane by cytochrome P-450, suggest an initial hydrogen abstraction to give a carbon radical intermediate. The heme-containing mixed function oxidase of liver micro- somes, cytochrome P-450, has been the subject of much investiga- tion because of its ability to catalyze epoxidation or hydroxyla- tion of a wide variety of organic compounds (cf. l-3). Several - lines of evidence suggest that the reactive oxygen intermediate is a higher valent iron-oxo species equivalent to (Fe013+
Mutant epidermal growth factor receptor vIII increases cell motility and clonogenecity in a prostate cell line RWPE1

Epidermal growth faxtor receptor (EGFR)-vIII mutant has been demonstrated to over-express as prostatic neoplasms progressed from intraepithelial changes to metastatic disease. In this study, we transfected the EGFRvIII expression vector into an immortalized normal prostate epithelium cell line RWPE-1 and established stable transfectants. The cell growth, glandular morphogenesis, cell motility, and soft-agar colony formation efficiency were then studied. The results showed that EGFR-vIII mutation increased the RWPE1 cell motility and clone formation efficiency, while it had no significant effect on the cell growth when compared to non-transfected as well as mock transfected RWPE-1 cells. Moreover, EGFR-vIII changed the RWPE1 acinar morphogenesis. Further study showed that these effects of EGFR-vIII mutation may be related to down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of beta-catenin.
Understanding the Development-Organizing Dialectic

: Can community organizing and community development be practiced in combination through community development corporations (CDCs)? While community organizing and community development have complementary goals, they are based on potentially contradictory worldviews and occupy potentially contradictory social structural locations. Whether the two strategies can be combined in a single organization without causing severe disruption is questionable. A three-year historical and comparative case study of CDCs involved in the Toledo Community Organizing Training and Technical Assistance Program shows the challenges faced by CDCs attempting to combine organizing and development. The analysis traces changes in the program and the CDCs through honeymoon, conflict, and resolution stages. Of the three CDCs that began the program, one dropped out early, another continued organizing as long as the program continued but then ended its organizing efforts, and a third continued its organizing efforts. The analysis confirms the dialectical relationship between community organizing and community development, showing how the two continuing CDCs differed in their contradictive management strategies.
Fabrication of target foils by rolling techniques

Abstract Target fabrication by rolling is a very effective way to prepare self-supporting foils with a variety of thickness. Extremely thin foils can be produced by utilizing modified pack-rolling techniques on conventional mills. The ultimate thickness to which a metal can be reduced is dependent upon mechanical properties, purity, and chemical stability. Most metals can be cold reduced, but some do require hot rolling prior to the cold rolling and/or intermediate anneals during the cold-working operation. Using this method, molybdenum isotopes have been rolled to a thickness of ≈200μg/cm2. Material quantity is not limited by rolling but is primarily dependent upon the amount needed for consolidation to a form suitable for rolling.
Variable effects of beta-carotene therapy in a child with erythropoietic protoporphyria

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inborn error of heme biosynthesis with high levels of protoporphyrin in red cells and is characterized by mild to moderate photosensitivity. High-dose beta-carotene therapy has been reported to affford photoprotection in patients with EPP. We report the case of a 5-year-old Caucasian female with EPP who presented with a long-standing 3-year history of recurrent facial blisters and erythematous swelling and lesions of other sun-exposed areas of the skin. She was treated with a topical sunblocker (PreSun Ultra-SP45) but continued to show moderate to severe photosensitivity despite 3 months (March to May) of vigorous photoprotection. She was then started on increasing doses of beta-carotene (90–180 mg/day) over a period of 3 months (June to September) which resulted in a marked improvement of both facial and forearm lesions, but only modest improvement in her hand lesions. Conclusion:high-dose beta-carotene appears to provide photoprotection in erythropoietic protoporphyria, resulting in improved but highly variable tolerance to sunlight.
Mixing Plasmonic Cloaking with Second-Order Optical Nonlinearity

Using plasmonic cloaks around second-order nonlinear optical materials, we theoretically show that relative values of second-harmonic induced dipoles can be enhanced as compared with uncloaked scenarios, while having relatively low scattering at the fundamental frequency.
Ependymomas factors in clinical and diagnostic staging

In ependymoma, there is evidence that indicates that age, sex, histologic patterns, functional status, location, duration of symptoms, size, and accessibility to surgical removal influence survival. The role of neuron-specific enolase and other biologic markers must await the accumulation of further information. Further advances in diagnostic imaging, immunodiagnostics, and intraoperative staging should lead to a better understanding of the disease and pinpoint prognostic factors more precisely. A profile that contains important information is suggested; this should eventually lead to the development of a staging system.
A Multilevel Stochastic Collocation Algorithm for Optimization of PDEs with Uncertain Coefficients

In this work, we apply the MG/OPT framework to a multilevel-in-sample-space discretization of optimization problems governed by PDEs with uncertain coefficients. The MG/OPT algorithm is a template for the application of multigrid to deterministic PDE optimization problems. We employ MG/OPT to exploit the hierarchical structure of sparse grids in order to formulate a multilevel stochastic collocation algorithm. The algorithm is provably first-order convergent under standard assumptions on the hierarchy of discretized objective functions as well as on the optimization routines used as pre- and postsmoothers. We present explicit bounds on the total number of PDE solves and an upper bound on the error for one V-cycle of the MG/OPT algorithm applied to a linear quadratic control problem. We provide numerical results that confirm the theoretical bound on the number of PDE solves and show a dramatic reduction in the total number of PDE solves required to solve these optimization problems when compared with stand...
On Comprehension Across the Adult Lifespan

Abstract To test whether healthy elderly subjects develop language comprehension strategies to compensate for decreases in pure-tone audition, we tested 128 healthy subjects aged 30–79 on two tasks: (1) Comprehension materials from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (Goodglass and Kaplan, 1972) presented over babble noise with and without the speaker's face visible; and (2) the Kalikow et al. (1977) Speech Perception in Noise test, which assesses the effect of semantic predictability on sentence-final word intelligibility. Whereas, as predicted, overall performance decreased with advancing age, it appeared, unexpectedly, that older and younger adults were equally affected by the absence of visual input and the absence of semantic predictability.
Consistent-labeling problems and their algorithms: Expected-complexities and theory-based heuristics

A new parameter is introduced to characterize a type of search problem of broad relevance in artificial intelligence, operations research and symbolic logic. This parameter, which we call inter-variable compatibility, is particularly important in that complexity analyses incorporating it are able to capture the dependence of problem complexity on search order used by an algorithm. Thus compatibility-based theories can provide a theoretical basis for the extraction of heuristics for choosing good search orderings-a long-sought goal for such problems, since it can lead to significant savings during search. We carry out expected-complexity analyses for the traditional backtrack algorithm as well as for two more recent algorithms that have been found empirically to be significant improvements: forward checking and word-wise forward checking. We extract compatibility-based ordering-heuristics from the theory for forward checking. Preliminary experimental results are presented showing the large savings that result from their use. Similar savings can be expected for other algorithms when heuristics taking account of inter-variable compatibilities are used. Our compatibility-based theories also provide a more precise way of predicting which algorithm is best for a given problem.
Influence of isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) and 1-isonicotinyl-2-isopropyl hydrazide (IIH) on bacterial and mammalian enzymes

Isonikotinsaure-hydrazid (INH) und 1-Isonikotinyl-2-isopropyl-hydrazin (IIH) hemmen Diaminoxydase und Guanidindeamidinase vonMycobacterium smegmatis und verhalten sich in dieser Hinsicht gleich wie basische Antibiotika und basische tuberkulostatische Chemotherapeutika. Die beiden neuen Tuberkuloseheilmittel wirken auch auf eine gereinigte Diaminoxydase aus Schweinenierenrinde. Hierbei wird die Oxydation viel starker als die Desaminierung beeinflusst, was zu einer teilweisen Aufspaltung des Prozesses der oxydativen Desaminierung fuhrt. Auffallend stark ist die Hemmung der Monoaminoxydase der Mitochondria aus Rattenleber durch IIH, eine Reaktion, die moglicherweise im Zusammenhang mit unerwunschten Nebenreaktionen bei der therapeutischen Anwendung dieses Heilmittels steht, die unter dem Bild einer Sympathikuserregung verlaufen konnen.
Histoplasmosis Masquerading as a Rheumatoid Nodule in an Immunocompromised Host: A Case Report.

Articular infection has infrequently been described as being caused by Histoplasma capsulatum . We report a case of a periarticular shoulder mass due to an H. capsulatum infection that mimicked the clinical presentation of a rheumatoid nodule. This case highlights the importance of microbiologic examination when an inflammatory soft-tissue mass is identified, particularly in an immunocompromised host who may not present with classic signs or symptoms of infection. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. A sixty-three-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis presented with a six-month history of pain and swelling of the left shoulder. Medications included methotrexate (12.5 mg weekly), leflunomide (30 mg daily), and prednisone (5 mg daily). He had no history of tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy. A review of systems was noteworthy for fatigue, joint pain, stiffness, and swelling; he denied chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, fevers, chills, or night sweats. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 36.6°C and a nontender mass over the anterior aspect of the left shoulder; there was no overlying warmth or erythema. The peripheral blood leukocyte count was normal at 8800 cells/mm3 with a polymorphonuclear (PMN) predominance (83%); the remainder of the complete blood-cell count and comprehensive metabolic panel was within normal limits. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was elevated at 65 mm/h, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was elevated at 36.5 mg/L. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left shoulder following intravenous gadolinium contrast administration revealed an enhancing mass involving the rotator cuff musculature, soft tissue, and adipose tissue. The mass was predominantly extra-articular, but intra-articular enhancement was also noted. The long head of the biceps tendon was completely torn, and there was circumferential labral tearing and degeneration (Figs. 1-A through 1-D). Positron emission tomography revealed markedly increased …
Evidence for two distinct aspects of the mechanism regulating chromosome replication in Escherichia coli

The premature initiation of DNA synthesis which occurs in Escherichia coli 15 T-(557) after thymine deprivation can be prevented by fiuorouracil and chloramphenicol, neither of which prevents reinitiation of DNA synthesis following amino acid starvation. The results support the hypothesis that there are at least two proteins which regulate DNA synthesis in bacteria. One of these, postulated to be a structural protein, does not accumulate in the absence of DNA replication.
Subjective Wellbeing in a Southwestern Province in China

Differences in subjective wellbeing were examined among 3,641 men and women in Yunnan, China. Using an urban Chinese sample, Appleton and Song in World Dev 36:2325–2340, (2008) reported that SWB was positively correlated with income, reporting good health, being married, female, and a Communist Party member. The current work examines how well these findings hold in the non-coastal province of Yunnan, by gender, and by urban/rural status.
A Multivariable Analysis of the Plasma Vertical Instability in Tokamaks

For more than a decade the vertical position instability intrinsic to vertically elongated tokamak plasmas has been relatively well understood. Controllers that stabilize this instability have been in routine use at experimental devices since the 1980' s. In this paper, we exploit a full multivariable model of the vertical instability using a matrix pencil analysis to provide for the first time a rigorous demonstration of some well known results in the general case, and to clarify issues which have heretofore not been clearly resolved. We examine two models of the tokamak-and-plasma system, one assuming the plasma has mass, the other assuming zero mass. Although the plasma with mass model is more correct, the massless model is most often used in control analyses. We provide examples where analyses conducted using a massless plasma model can reach erroneous conclusions.
Walls as Technologies of Government: The Double Construction of Geographies of Peace and Conflict in Israeli Politics, 2002–Present

Since 2002, consecutive Israeli governing coalitions have been building a separation wall in the West Bank for the declared purposes of security and separation from the Palestinian population. Buil...
Control of 3′ splice site choice in vivo by ASF/SF2 and hnRNP A1

The constitutive splicing factor ASF/SF2 has been shown to affect the choice between alternative splice sites by favoring the proximal as opposed to the distal choice. HnRNP A1 antagonizes ASF/SF2 by promoting the distal choice for competing 5′ splice sites. We have tested the in vivo effects of these proteins on alternative 3′ splice site choices. Cotransfection of a dihydrofolate reductase-calcitonin chimeric construct together with a plasmid specifying the SR protein ASF/SF2 into cells of several mammalian lines increased use of a proximal 3′ splice site, resulting in the inclusion of a terminal calcitonin exon. This stimulation of 3′ proximal splicing was antagonized by cotransfection with an hnRNP A1 plasmid. This effect of hnRNP A1 in promoting distal splicing was also seen in an hnRNP A1-deficient MEL cell line. A similar effect of hnRNP A1 was demonstrated with mutant hamster adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) transcripts that are normally constitutively spliced, suggesting that hnRNP A1 may be a general inhibitor of proximal splicing. Intron size also influenced splice site choice in mutant aprt transcripts, with larger introns favoring proximal splicing. These results support the idea that the ratios of particular but general splicing factors and hnRNPs play a role in alternative splicing.
Prostatic neoplasia in transgenic mice with prostate-directed overexpression of the c-myc oncoprotein.

BACKGROUND Promoter elements within the 5′ DNA region of the rat C(3)1 gene have been shown to direct prostate-specific expression of gene products when they are fused through recombinant DNA procedures and used to produce transgenic mice. In order to test the in vivo effects of chronic overexpression of the mouse c-myc protooncogene on the prostate glands of transgenic mice, we created several lines of C(3)1-c-myc transgenic mice and then examined the phenotype of males with this genetic alteration. METHODS The modified promoter and 5′ region of the rat C(3)1 gene was fused to the coding region of the mouse c-myc gene using recombinant DNA techniques. This DNA was used to create three different founder lines of transgenic mice. Tissues from males and females heterozygous for the transgene were examined for expression of the recombinant mouse c-myc mRNA by an RNase protection assay. Prostates from males were examined for expression of recombinant c-myc mRNA by in situ hybridization. Thin sections of fixed ventral prostates from males were analyzed by microscopy for histological abnormalities. RESULTS Three different lines of transgenic mice were obtained from these procedures. These mice demonstrated expression of recombinant mouse c-myc mRNA in the testis and ventral prostates of males and in the uterus of females. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the epithelial cells were the source of recombinant c-myc expression in the ventral prostates of the transgenic lines. Microscopic analysis of the ventral prostates from these mice demonstrated abnormalities in epithelial cell morphology seemingly typical of an intraepithelial neoplasia-like phenotype. However, none of the males of any of the lines developed overt prostatic adenocarcinoma over their lifetimes. CONCLUSIONS Chronic overexpression of c-myc in the ventral prostate epithelial cells of C3(1)-c-myc transgenic mice leads to the development of epithelial cell abnormalities similar to those seen in low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in humans. These abnormalities were not found to progress to adenocarcinoma over the lifetimes of the transgenic mice, suggesting the need for additional oncogenic changes in the pathway to prostatic adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, our cumulative experience with the use of the C3(1) gene promoter in the generation of transgenic mice suggests that the probasin promoter element provides a much more specific and effective means to target transgenes to the prostate glands of mice. Prostate 43:278–285, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Truncation-error reduction in acoustic spherical near-field scanning

The spherical near-field (NF) antenna measurement technique [1] is an indispensable tool for the antenna community. NF samples are almost always collected over a truncated spherical surface, 0 1 ≤ θ ≤ θ 2 1 ≤ ⊘ ≤⊘ 2 3 ≤ θ ≤θ 4 and ⊘ 3 ≤⊘≤⊘ 4 , where θ 3 >θ 1 , θ 4 2 , ⊘ 3 >⊘ 1 and ⊘ 4 2 .
A Rare Complication of Tracheal Intubation: Tongue Perforation

Aim. To describe the subsequent treatment of airway trauma sustained during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Methods. A rare injury occurring during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation that resulted in perforation of the tongue by an endotracheal tube and the subsequent management of this unusual complication are discussed. A 65-year-old female with intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage with rapidly progressive neurologic deterioration had the airway secured prior to arrival at the referral institution. The endotracheal tube (ETT) was noted to have pierced through the base of the tongue and entered the trachea, and the patient underwent operative laryngoscopy to inspect the injury and the ETT was replaced by tracheostomy. Results. Laryngoscopy demonstrated the ETT to perforate the base of the tongue. The airway was secured with tracheostomy and the ETT was removed. Conclusions. A wide variety of complications resulting from direct and video-assisted laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation have been reported. Direct perforation of the tongue with an ETT and ability to ventilate and oxygenate subsequently is a rare injury.
Collaborative Behavior for Vehicle Replacement in AUV Formations

The Navy would like to use platoons of cooperating Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for large area underwater mine countermeasures (MCM). Collaborative behavior requires a common language, control structure, and logic so the AUVs can coordinate their action through communication. The loss of an AUV (can no longer perform assigned tasks) is a problem the formation is likely to face. The formation must compensate for lost AUVs, or time would be wasted in researching the area. In order to replace a lost AUV, the formation must determine when a vehicle is lost and what to do if a vehicle returns after being declared lost. To address these problems, fuzzy logic was used to determine when an AUV should be replaced, and a logic structure was developed to insert returning AUVs. Computer simulations showed that the logics increased the defined performance index by about 70% over the baseline case.
Bayesian Detection with Amplitude, Scale, Orientation and Position Uncertainty

The likelihood ratio is computed in the case where the background is known, the signal has a known shape, but the amplitude, scale, orientation and location of the signal are unknown. The noise is assumed to be additive i.i.d. Gaussian. The result is an expression involving the mutidimensional wavelet transform of the data with respect to the signal. The linear and quadratic approximations to the full likelihood statistic are examined in detail and are seen to involve operations commonly used in this context. Finally the full nonlinear ratio is formulated in terms of an amplification and modulation mechanism from the data to the prior probabilty distribution on the unknown parameters.
Liver Transplantation From an Uncontrolled Non–Heart-Beating Donor Maintained on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Liver transplantation, a definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease, has achieved excellent results. However, potential recipients on the waiting list outnumber donors. To expand the donor pool, marginal grafts from older donors, steatotic livers, and non‐heartbeating liver donors (NHBD) have been used for transplantation. Reducing the warm ischemia time of NHBD is the critical factor in organs preservation. Liver transplantation using grafts from NHBD have been reported to display a high incidence of primary graft nonfunction and biliary complications. The authors report a liver graft donor who was maintained on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Core body temperature was 5°C. Procurement of the liver using a rapidflush technique was performed 4 hours after instituting ECMO. Graft function recovered fully after transplantation. In conclusion, ECMO may be used to reduce warm ischemia time in liver grafts obtained from uncontrolled NHBD, thereby increasing graft salvage rates.
Failure Analysis Techniques Applied in Resolving Hybrid Microcircuit Reliability Problems

The failures discussed in this paper are those that are not presently easy to detect with conventional screening. This summary contains a series of recommendations for additional surveillance to assure more reliable hybrids. 1- Add a high temperature bake to qualify a bonding process. At least quarterly on Class B hybrids and on a lot to lot basis for Class A devices. Should failure occur the frequency of testing should be increased. 2- If multilevel substrates are used some hybrids should be sectioned to check for quality level. If possible vias should not connect more than two adjacent levels and chips that generate heat should be kept on the first level. 3- PIND testing should be instituted at the hybrid manufacturers as an on line process check and improvement technique. Users should also use PIND testing as a check on what process,if any,is generating oose particles. 4- Check chip capacitors at Incoming Inspection to see if any contaminants are trapped in the end terminations. 5- The present pre-cap visual should be modified to allow for rejecting parts with spittle droplets in them. 6- Institute a regular check on hybrids to determine the level of moisture resulting from the manufacturer's process. This test should be carried out using one of the methods described in the pending test method 5008 of Mil-Std-883. The levels should be below 1000 ppm (parts per million) rather than the 6000 ppm minimum called for in test method 5008.
Considerations in charge transfer by transient contact of small particles

The author addresses the transfer of charge during collisions between small particles, idealized as spheres, in terms of classical electrostatics. The topics considered include the distribution of charge between spheres of different radii left in contact for a long time and the rate of transfer through finite resistances during transient contact. The model has implications for a variety of phenomena from the charging of hail stones to triboelectric effects in dry powders such as sugar, flour, and xerographic toner particles. An attempt is made to develop a simple two-body model for charge transfer between colliding spheres which will provide a framework to answer questions about equilibrium charging and rate of exchange if only classical electrostatics were applicable. This sets the stage for inferences about many-body processes and the modifications that quantum mechanics might impose. >
Photocatalytic and Photoredox Properties of Polyoxometalate Systems

Early transition metal oxygen anion clusters, or polyoxometalates for short, are a large and rapidly growing class of inorganic complexes [1–15]. These compounds attracted us as it was apparent they simultaneously exhibited a unique set of properties we felt could be utilized to address new catalytic transformations, photoredox chemistry, and, ultimately construction of sophisticated single-molecule multifunctional devices capable of several temporally linked functions. These prognostications have already been borne out to a considerable extent. This article reviews the title subject, an enterprise still in its infancy. Presented sequentially in this chapter are the basic properties of polyoxometalates, general features of the photochemistry, the mechanisms elucidated in polyoxometalate photochemistry thus far, and an overview of the photochemistry of two representative complexes in tabular form (Table I).
A literature based method for identifying gene-disease connections

We present a statistical method that can swiftly identify, from the literature, sets of genes known to be associated with given diseases. It offers a comprehensive way to treat alias symbols, a statistical method for computing the relevance of the gene to the query, and a novel way to disambiguate gene symbols from other abbreviations. The method is illustrated by finding genes related to breast cancer.
Unified observability analysis and measurement placement in generalized state estimation

This paper deals with the problem of observability analysis and measurement placement in generalized state estimation, where substations are modeled at the physical-level (bus-section/switching-device model) by explicit representation of circuit breakers. The conventional state estimator is extended by incorporating the active- and reactive-power flows through circuit breakers as state variables. The generalized measurement model is transformed to a conventional node frame of reference formulation. Any circuit breaker (flow measured or not) is substituted by two fictitious nodes and branches, the two pairs of the corresponding voltage angles and magnitudes, and additional pseudo measurements. A very efficient numerical method is proposed for observability testing and identification of observable islands. When the network is unobservable multiple measurement placement is accomplished in a noniterative manner. Results from a test system are presented.
Computer-Assisted Testing and the Goals of Counseling Psychology

This article explores how the use of computer-assisted testing and assessment can potentially contribute to the goals of counseling psychology. The following five trends in computer applications in testing and assessment are analyzed in relation to five goals of counseling psychology: (1) computer-based test interpretation (goals of remediation and rehabilitation, and serving diverse populations); (2) computer-assisted instruction (goals of remediation and rehabilitation, and education and development); (3) integration of audio-visual media (goals of prevention and serving diverse populations); (4) adaptive devices (goal of serving diverse populations); and (5) computer-assisted research (goal of research). The necessary commitment of human and financial resources, research priorities, and ethical issues are then discussed as issues that will influence the extent to which computer-assisted testing can contribute to the goals of counseling psychology.
Calcium wave of tubuloglomerular feedback.

ATP release from macula densa (MD) cells into the interstitium of the juxtaglomerular (JG) apparatus (JGA) is an integral component of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism that controls th...
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors and FSH-responsive adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production in porcine granulosa cells decline with follicular growth.

Comparison of binding of 125I-porcine FSH to porcine granulosa cells from small and large ovarian follicles indicated that binding is dependent on both time and temperature. At 37 C, binding of ligand is more than four times higher in cells from small follicles than in cells from large follicles within 30 minutes of the start of incubation. Binding to cells from both small and large follicles is more stable for a longer period of time at 20 C than at 37 C. Equilibrium saturation binding analysis of 125I-pFSH binding indicated that binding is saturable and of high affinity. Granulosa cells from small and large follicles have similar affinities for 125I-pFSH. However, granulosa cells from small follicles have 4.7-times as many FSH receptors as granulosa cells from large follicles. The sensitivity and responsiveness of the adenylyl cyclase system to FSH were assessed by incubating cells from small and large follicles with increasing concentrations of FSH in a defined medium containing isobutylmethylxanthine ...
Diatom assemblages in a reservoir sediment core track land-use changes in the watershed

Diatom assemblages in a 144-cm sediment core reliably chronicled watershed changes and modifications of a riverine water-source reservoir in northeastern Ohio (USA) between 1932 and 2005. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling segregated diatom assemblages into six groups that correspond to known anthropogenic modifications in the watershed and reservoir: zone I (filling, 1932–1936), zone II (high farming activity, 1937–1949), zone III (declining farm activity and increased residential development, 1950–1976), zone IV (implementation of sewage bypass, 1977–1982), reduced development activity caused by economic recession, 1983–1993), zone VI (renewed population growth and construction of a dam extension, 1994–2005). Ten watershed and reservoir environmental variables (percent farmland, population, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, transparency, surface area, air temperature, export of suspended solids, total phosphorus) were significantly correlated with diatom aggregate distribution in ordination space. Changes in species composition, in concert with watershed and reservoir changes, implicated light, alkalinity, and littoral macrophyte development as the primary drivers of diatom aggregate structure and function. Diatom productivity did not track nutrient loading (TP) and was likely driven by factors other than nutrients. Each zone was defined by a distinct set of environmental variables that differed from all other zones. Thus, diatom aggregate structure likely was determined by a dynamic suite of factors in the watershed and reservoir that had differential effects on diatom aggregate structure through time.