cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune Impairment of Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytosis During Influenza Virus Pneumonia

The pathogenesis of viral pneumonia is associated with an intact antiviral immune response. To determine the degree of involvement of the host response in influenza virus-induced impairment of pulmonary antibacterial defenses, mice were immunosuppressed by treatment with antilymphocyte serum (ALS). Eight days after infection, pulmonary defense mechanisms were quantitated by aerogenic challenge with Staphylococcus aureus; the ingestion of opsonized erythrocyte (EA) was used to monitor the phagocytic capability of alveolar macrophages obtained by pulmonary lavage. The ALS treatment alone caused no significant alteration in pulmonary antibacterial defenses or macrophage phagocytosis, nor did it interfere with viral multiplication. In noninfected lungs, less than 1% of the initial viable staphylococci remained viable at 24 h compared with proliferation to 490 +/- 147% in virus-infected lungs. Treatment with ALS prevented staphylococcal multiplication, the bactericidal value being 28 +/- 12% at the same time period. The phagocytic index (EA ingested/100 macrophages) in cells retrieved from normal lungs was 783 +/- 22 compared with 235 +/- 29 in macrophages from virus-infected lungs. The ALS ameliorated the impairment in phagocytic ingestion, the index being 505 +/- 34. Incubation of alveolar macrophages from virus-infected, ALS-treated animals with specific viral antibody reestablished the phagocytic defect in a dose-dependent manner; the index being 215 +/- 30 at the lowest dilution of antiviral globulin. The data demonstrate that the virus-induced suppression of pulmonary antibacterial defenses caused by dysfunction in alveolar macrophage phagocytosis is, in part, immunologically mediated.
Robust Vessel Tree Modeling

In this paper, we present a novel method for extracting center axis representations (centerlines) of blood vessels in contrast enhanced (CE)-CTA/MRA, robustly and accurately. This graph-based optimization algorithm which employs multi-scale medialness filters extracts vessel centerlines by computing the minimum-costpaths. Specifically, first, new medialness filters are designed from the assumption of circular/elliptic vessel cross-sections. These filters produce contrast and scale independent responses even the presence of nearby structures. Second, they are incorporated to the minimum-cost path detection algorithm in a novel way for the computational efficiency and accuracy. Third, the full vessel centerline tree is constructed from this optimization technique by assigning a saliency measurefor each centerline from their length and radius information. The proposed method is computationally efficient and produces results that are comparable in quality to the ones created by experts. It has been tested on more than 100 coronary artery data set where the full coronary artery trees are extracted in 21 seconds in average on a 3.2GHz PC.
Discrete-basis-set calculation for e - N 2 scattering cross sections in the static-exchange approximation

Calculations are reported for low-energy $e$-${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ scattering cross sections in the static-exchange approximation. Our approach involves solving the Lippman-Schwinger equation for the transition operator in a subspace of Gaussian functions. A new feature of the method is the analytical evaluation of matrix elements of the free-particle Green's function. Another development is the use of an analytical transformation to obtain single-center expansion coefficients for the scattering amplitude from our multicenter discrete-basis-set representation of the $T$ matrix. We present results for the total elastic and rotational excitation cross sections, and the momentum-transfer cross section, for incident electron energies from 0.5 to 10 eV. Comparison is made with other theoretical results and experimental data.
Approaches to the Assessment of Stable and Chemically Reactive Drug Metabolites in Early Clinical Trials

The recommendations of the FDA’s final Guidance document on Safety Testing of Drug Metabolites provide a framework for devising preclinical toxicology assessment paradigms, where necessary, for human metabolites of small molecule drug candidates. Importantly, these recommendations carry implications for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of circulating drug metabolites in early human trials, which typically are performed without the benefit of a radiolabeled tracer. In this perspective, an approach to these goals is outlined based on recent work at Merck Research Laboratories involving the use of ultraperformance liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry analysis, performed on a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer, of first-in-human study plasma samples. With the aid of a fractional mass filtering algorithm, drug metabolites are distinguished from endogeneous background materials and subsequently identified on the basis of their accurate masses, product ion mass spectra, and computer-ass...
Abstract 2812: Chromosome translocation frequency and intakes of B vitamins, meat, and grain products in airline pilots

B vitamins such as folate and vitamins B2, B6, and B12 are essential for the maintenance of DNA integrity. Deficiency in these B vitamins can result in DNA strand breaks which, if unrepaired, can lead to the formation of chromosome aberrations (CA). Niacin also contributes to chromosome stability due to several important roles, including DNA repair and regulation of cell division and apoptosis. Animal and in vitro studies suggest that these B vitamins may protect against chromosome damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR), but data from IR-exposed human populations are limited. Airline pilots are exposed to cosmic IR, an efficient inducer of CA which have been shown to be associated with increased cancer risk. We examined the association between the frequency of translocations (stable form of CA) and intakes of these B vitamins and their food sources in 82 male airline pilots. All subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire with information on occupational history and lifestyle factors. Dietary vitamin B intakes were estimated using a validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire and were energy-adjusted. Translocations were scored in an average of 1039 cell equivalents (CE) per subject using fluorescence in situ hybridization with whole chromosome paints, and expressed per 100 CE. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for age, flight experience in years, self-reported personal diagnostic X-ray procedures, military service, and lifestyle factors. We observed a significant inverse association between the frequency of translocations and intake of niacin from food: adjusted RR (95% CI) for subjects in the highest compared with lowest tertile was 0.58 (0.40, 0.83). Translocation frequency was not associated with total niacin intake from food and supplements, nor was it associated with intakes of folate, or vitamin B2, B6, or B12 either from food or from food and supplements. These results remained unchanged after further adjustment for the combined intakes of vitamins C and E, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food (previously shown to be significantly and inversely associated with translocation frequency), or multivitamin supplement use. Additionally, the adjusted RR (95% CI) for ≥ median compared with 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 2812.
The Role of Quality of Life in Business (Re)Location Decisions

Abstract Key decision-makers from 174 businesses that had relocated, expanded, or been launched in Colorado within the most recent 5-year period were surveyed to identify the role of quality-of-life (QOL) elements in their decision. A comprehensive set of elements considered by businesses in location decisions was developed, and their relative importance was assessed by the sample. Five domains of elements were derived. The set of QOL elements consistently ranked in importance behind labor and cost issues and daily living concerns. QOL was most important to companies that moved into Colorado from outside the state, had fewer than eight employees, were relatively footloose, employed a high proportion of professionals, who perceived ability to attract and retain professional personnel as being a primary concern, and whose ultimate decision-maker relocated with the company.
Therapeutic Hotline: Recommendations on photoprotection and vitamin D

Interest in the health benefits of vitamin D continues to increase and is at the forefront of much research and debate. Insufficient vitamin D levels have been linked in epidemiologic studies to decreased physical performance, cardiac health, autoimmune disease, neurologic disorders, colorectal and breast cancers, and total mortality. Consequently, health authorities are reviewing the most recent available data and updated recommendations on optimal vitamin D levels are pending. Daily intake of 1000 international units (IU) of vitamin D for adults and 400 IU of vitamin D for children may be appropriate for patients protecting their skin from UV radiation and can be safely obtained from diet and/or dietary supplementation. Patients should be counseled on sun protection regimens to prevent unprotected sun exposure and discouraged from using artificial tanning devices. As available information on vitamin D and its associated health benefits evolves, and as new evidence emerges, updated recommendations are sure to follow.
Towards effective adjuvant treatment for urothelial cancer.

Lancet Oncology, The - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since vendredi 12 decembre 2014
Maternal Aggression in Rats: Effects of Olfactory Bulbectomy, ZnSO4-Induced Anosmia, and Vomeronasal Organ Removal

Previous studies from our laboratory indicate that somatosensory inputs to the snout and ventral trunk, but not visual or auditory stimuli, play critical roles in the elicitation and maintenance of maternal aggression by lactating Norway rats toward a strange male intruder. There are conflicting reports on the influence of olfaction on maternal aggression. We explored the possible roles of central or peripheral anosmia on maternal aggression in Long-Evans rats during early lactation. In Experiment 1, responsiveness to both volatile and non-volatile odors was eliminated by bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (BOB), carried out during mid-gestation. BOB resulted in a reduced likelihood and intensity of maternal aggression on days 1 and 5 of lactation (L1 and L5), but also severe deficiencies in maternal behavior and litter growth and survival. In Experiment 2, anosmia to volatile odors was induced by spraying zinc sulfate intranasally on gestation day 21 and L1. This treatment had little or no effect on maternal aggression on L1 or L2 or on maternal behavior, especially if there was a 1-day recovery between the second treatment and testing. In Experiment 3, responsiveness to non-volatile odors was eliminated by vomeronasal-organ removal (VNX) carried out prior to mating. VNX did not disturb maternal behavior on L2-L8 or maternal aggression on L1 or L5. These results and others suggest that the expression of maternal aggression is affected by volatile odors, mediated possibly by accessory chemosensory systems such as the septal organ, or by neural changes that follow olfactory deafferentation, or both.
Optical absorption enhancement in partially aperiodic silicon nanohole structures for photovoltaics

We report the fabrication and absorption measurement of silicon membranes patterned with partially aperiodic nanohole structures. Measurement results agree well with simulations and show enhanced absorption in partially aperiodic structures compared to simple periodic arrays.
LEED from Re(0001); And in comparison, from Be(0001)

Abstract Intensities of five beams of low-energy electrons diffracted from the (0001) surface of rhenium (Z=75), are presented over a wide range of energy and angle of the incident beam. Comparison of these intensities with Baker's intensities from the (0001) surface of beryllium (Z=4), which has the same hcp lattice and nearly the same c a ratio as rhenium, reveals no apparent qualitative agreement, as might be expected because of the very different scattering characteristics of the two atoms. However, quantitative comparison of the specular-beam intensities near normal primary-beam incidence in the energy range of ∼50–200 eV, in the context of s-wave calculations with the Beeby-Duke-Tucker inelastic-collision model, reveals a shift from dominant inter layer scattering effects to dominant intralayer scattering effects as the atomic-scattering cross-section increases.
‘¿Tu Te Acuerdas De Ganchulinas?’: Longitudinal Research with Young Emergent Bilinguals

Drawing on the work of Celia Genishi, this article discusses data from an ethnographic case study of young Latina/o children, starting in their four-year-olds classroom in a Head Start Program through their first grade year in a dual-language program in a public school. The children attended a bilingual Head Start program that followed a play-based curriculum and focused on the socio-emotional development of the children. The flexibility of the curriculum in this setting allowed time and space for the children to play and develop at their own pace, positioning them as knowers and learners. The children then moved into a public school setting with a narrow ‘literacy focused’ curriculum, with strict boundaries established between languages and a narrower definition of what ‘counts' as literacy. In spite of this, these children continued to draw on their linguistic resources, making space for play and developing their identities as multilingual children in ways that are often not captured by the curriculum, ...
The Experiences of Gay Men and Lesbians in Becoming and Being Adoptive Parents

The purpose of this study was to explore the adoption and parenting experiences of lesbian and gay (LG) adoptive parents. Data for the present study are from a larger national cross-sectional survey of LG adoptive parents. Participants were recruited through advertisements placed in metropolitan LG newspapers, Web sites, and organizations across the country that serve LG individuals. This paper presents an analysis of the qualitative data gathered from 182 participants who responded to the following statement and two questions: 1. Write three short statements describing the biggest barriers or challenges that you faced in your efforts to become an LG adoptive parent. 2. What are the three biggest challenges you now face as an LG adoptive parent? 3. What are the three biggest joys you have experienced as an LG adoptive parent? The sample in this study was 54.9% female and 90% White. Thematic analysis was utilized to summarize the nature of the adoption experience from the LG parent perspective. Parents ide...
The prospect of molecular therapy for Angelman syndrome and other monogenic neurologic disorders

Angelman syndrome is a monogenic neurologic disorder that affects 1 in 15,000 children, and is characterized by ataxia, intellectual disability, speech impairment, sleep disorders, and seizures. The disorder is caused by loss of central nervous system expression of UBE3A, a gene encoding a ubiquitin ligase. Current treatments focus on the management of symptoms, as there have not been therapies to treat the underlying molecular cause of the disease. However, this outlook is evolving with advances in molecular therapies, including artificial transcription factors a class of engineered DNA-binding proteins that have the potential to target a specific site in the genome. Here we review the recent progress and prospect of targeted gene expression therapies. Three main issues that must be addressed to advance toward human clinical trials are specificity, toxicity, and delivery. Artificial transcription factors have the potential to address these concerns on a level that meets and in some cases exceeds current small molecule therapies. We examine the possibilities of such approaches in the context of Angelman syndrome, as a template for other single-gene, neurologic disorders.
Coordinate metrology uncertainty using parallel kinematic techniques

Dimensional metrology of manufactured objects is increasingly performed with coordinate measuring machines, where coordinates of surface points are recorded and fit to a model of the ideal surface. While coordinate metrology is often performed using machines with a serial Cartesian kinematic structure, the use of parallel kinematic machines has also been investigated. In this paper, we evaluate the uncertainty of trilateration measurements, which is the simplest form of parallel kinematic metrology for spatial coordinates. The instrument studied here is the laser ball bar, specifically designed for trilateration measurements. We use homogeneous transformation matrices to determine its length uncertainty. Monte Carlo simulation is then applied to model the coordinate uncertainty arising from propagation of the length uncertainty through the trilateration calculations. Simulation is compared to experimental results.
Nonlinear optical effects in rotationally-twinned crystals: An evaluation of CdTe, ZnTe and ZnSe

2014 Recent experiments have demonstrated that enhanced nonlinear optical effects may be produced in 43 m crystals containing rotational twins. The enhancement arises from addition of the nonlinear optical power generated from different domains of the crystal. For randomlyspaced rotational twins, the enhancement is proportional to the number of twin planes, N, and for equally-spaced twin planes the enhancement is proportional to N2. A comparison is made between CdTe, ZnTe, and ZnSe as to their potential usefulness as nonlinear optical crystals emploing rotational twins for phase matching. Criteria for determining optimum twin spacing are given, and applications to various nonlinear optical processes are discussed. REVUE DE PHYSIQUE APPLIQUEE TOME 12, FEVRIER 1977, PAGE
Improvement of metal and tissue adhesion on surface-modified parylene C.

A general method for chemical surface functionalization of parylene C [PC, (para-CH_2-C_6H_3Cl-CH_2-)_n] films is reported. Friedel-Crafts acylation is used to activate the surface of the PC film, and the resulting carbonyl groups are then used to form a range of different organic functional groups to the surface of the parylene film, including alcohol, imine, thiol, phthalimide, amine, and maleimide. The presence of these functional groups on the parylene surface was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Static water drop contact angle measurements were also used to demonstrate the changes in hydrophilicity of the PC film surface, consistent with each of the surface modifications. Enhanced metal (gold) adhesion was achieved by anchoring a thiol group onto the acylated surface of PC film. Acylation of parylene with 2-chloropropionyl chloride gave a surface bound chloropropionyl group. Grafting of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) onto the chloropropionyl substituted PC film via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was carried out. The grafted pNIPAM on the parylene surface leads to temperature-dependent cellular tissue adhesion on the PC film
Parallel Fitting Of Quadric Patches For Structural Analysis Of Range Imagery

Surface fitting allows for pose estimation and recognition of objects in range scenes. Unfortunately, surface fitting is computation-intensive. One way to speed-up this task is to use parallel processing, since its availability is on the increase. Mathematically, surface fitting can be formulated as an overdetermined linear system which can be solved in the least-square sense. Because of numerical stability and ease of implementation, the QR-factorization using the Givens transformation is best suited for the parallel solution of overdetermined systems. In this paper we present two algorithms to carry out a QR factorization on both distributed-memory and shared-memory parallel computers. These algorithms have been implemented and evaluated in terms of speed-up time.
The Primacy of Promising

Promising has often been regarded as a paradigm of a moral obligation; yet it is still the most mysterious. The mystery, long recognized by traditional and contemporary thinkers alike, is that promising seems to create an obligation of some kind, but from what does the obligation arise? From the 'will' itself? Such an answer seems only to compound the mystery, for how can the will obligate itself? As Hume pointed out, the act of willing does not distinguish promises from resolutions, yet the latter do not obligate as do the former (A Treatise of Human Nature, ed. L. A. Selby-Bigge [Oxford: Clarendon Press, I888], pp. 5I6-525). Motivated partially to avoid this difficulty, contemporary philosophers (like Hume himself) have regarded a promise instead as something that takes effect in a public, communicative act (not necessarily linguistic), their analyses having fallen into two broad traditions: one, the utilitarian tradition, which, with the exception of Rawls,1 has sought to derive the obligation from the promisee's expectations which are intentionally induced in this communicative act2; the other the deontological tradition, which has traced the obligation either to a convention constituting the speech act of promising,3 or to some moral principle governing linguistic acts in general.4 Against these views my first point shall
Prospects for measurements of parity-violating photoproduction of π±

I address the experimental feasibility of two measurements related to the photoproduction of pions, in the context of the G0 experiment. The first involves an extraction of the parity-violating pionnucleon coupling constant h;π N N (1) via a measurement of parity-violating threshold pion photoproduction. The second involves an extraction of d Δ, which parameterizes parity-violating photoproduction of pions on the Δ-resonance. The second process might have an anomalously large asymmetry, from a model based on hyperon decays.
Real-time implementation of a differential range finder

A scheme is presented for the estimation of differential ranges on the basis of optical flow along a known direction, giving attention to the factors affecting the accuracy of results and various spatial and temporal smoothing algorithms employed to enhance the method's accuracy. It is found that while the use of edge detectors reduces noise, a priori knowledge of the environment improves the method's range discriminability. The method has been implemented on a real-time, high speed pipelined image processing engine capable of processing 60 image frames/sec, using a horizontally moving camera which generates optical flow along a scan line.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Implementation of H.264 decoder on general-purpose processors with media instructions

As emerging video coding standards, e.g. H.264, aim at high-quality video contents at low bit-rates, the encoding and decoding processes require much more computation than most existing standards do. This paper analyzes software implementation of a real-time H.264 decoder on general-purpose processors with media instructions. Specifically, we discuss how to optimize the speed of H.264 decoders on Intel Pentium 4 processors. This paper first analyzes the reference implementation to identify the time-consuming modules. Our study shows that a number of components, e.g., motion compensation and inverse integer transform, are the most time-consuming modules in the H.264 decoder. Second, we present a list of performance optimization methods using media instructions to improve the efficiency of these modules. After appropriate optimizations, the decoder speed improved by more than 3x---it can decode a 720×480 resolution video sequence at 48 frames per second on 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4 processors compared to reference software’s 12 frames per second. The optimization techniques demonstrated in this paper can also be applied to other video/image processing applications. Additionally, after presenting detailed application behavior on general-purpose processors, this paper discusses a few recommendations on how to design future efficient/powerful video/image applications/standards with given hardware implications.
Twenty questions that could save your project

Successful project managers must understand and meet performance objectives; plan; control schedules and costs; develop and guide personnel; and use resources productively. This article helps project managers assess how well they perform these vital functions.
Virtual therapist: A Phantom robot-based haptic system for personalized post-surgery finger rehabilitation

Finger rehabilitation is crucial to a patient's full recovery following finger surgery. In order to avoid contact-induced infection while simultaneously improving patient motivation and reducing barriers to therapist customization of the rehabilitation system, we design the Virtual Therapist: a Phantom robot-based haptic system with a user-friendly software interface. An anatomically correct finger model is derived and implemented for calculating the four joint angles of a patient's index finger so that only the fingertip needs to be coupled with the Phantom robot for data collection purposes. A demonstration-based user interface allows the therapist to personalize a rehabilitation plan for the patient. We qualitatively validate the efficacy of our proof-of-concept system through observing the performance of three human adults. In less than eight minutes, all three subjects could correctly and proficiently use the system in the role of either patient or therapist.
A passive SETI in globular clusters at the hydroxyl and water lines

Abstract We describe an indirect or “passive” SETI in 25 globular clusters, observed for astronomical reasons at the water and hydroxyl lines. No beacon signals were found in a sample of up to 107 stars and upper limits to the maximum EIRPs of beacons were 1016–1021W. Ways of enhancing the value of other astronomical spectral line observing programs for SETI purposes are discussed.
Quality of life after management of advanced osteoradionecrosis of the mandible

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a severe complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. In this case series, the authors analyzed their treatment and quality of life outcomes over the past 6 years. A retrospective chart review of 42 patients treated surgically for advanced ORN was conducted. A telephone survey was conducted and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires were completed in a subset of patients. 30 patients responded to the telephone survey assessing QOL for speech, swallowing and overall functioning correlated with oral nutrition and performance status. Surgery for ORN can result in an improved QOL. Functional outcomes of oral intake, speech intelligibility, and eating in public correlated with patient rated QOL measures. A lack of improvement in QOL, despite the restoration of an intact mandible, relates to the persistent effects of chemoradiotherapy.
Effect of spatial variability of effective rainfall on direct runoff by a geomorphologic approach

Abstract The importance of spatial variability of effective rainfall input to a direct runoff model was analyzed by the geomorphologic approach based on the use of different paths determined according to the Horton-Strahler ordering scheme. Actual effective rainfall distributions, derived from observed rainfall-runoff events on four large basins located in Central Italy, together with synthetic storms, preserving effective rainfall depths, were employed. Storms of different time distribution were used, and for each of them sensitivity of basin response to the spatial variability of effective rainfall was computed. The sensitivity was only minor. A comparison of the geomorphologic approach with the Clark method was also carried out for spatially variable synthetic storms of 1 h duration. The Clark method was more sensitive to spatial variability of effective rainfall. It is argued that it is unreasonable to use the geomorphologic approach in computing basin response for spatially variable effective rainfall as model input. An analysis of the distribution throughout the basin of overland regions composing each path revealed that the averaging scheme of the channel network, following the Horton-Strahler ordering scheme, was not appropriate.
Strain specificity of the immune response of pigs following vaccination with various strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

The primary objective of the study was to determine strain specificity of the immune response of pigs following vaccination with selected strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The experimental design included five groups (I through V, six pigs per group) free of antibody for PRRSV at the beginning of the experiment (day 0). On day 0, groups III, IV, and V were vaccinated with attenuated versions of PRRSV strains 8, 9, and 14, respectively. On day 21, the immunity of group II (non-vaccinated/challenged controls) and groups III, IV, and V was challenged by exposing each pig to a composite of the virulent versions of these same three strains. On day 35, all pigs, including non-vaccinated/non-challenged pigs of group I, were necropsied. Lungs and selected lymph nodes were examined for lesions. Serum samples obtained at weekly intervals throughout the study and lung lavage fluids obtained at necropsy were tested for the presence of PRRSV and its strain identity. Before challenge the strain of PRRSV identified in the sera of vaccinated pigs was always that with which the particular pig had been vaccinated (i.e. homologous strain), whereas, with one exception, only heterologous strains were identified after challenge. This apparent strain exclusion as a result of vaccination was statistically significant (P = 0.004). The tendency for heterologous strains to predominate after challenge suggests that a pig's immune response to PRRSV has some degree of strain specificity. Whether this finding has any clinical relevance in regard to immunoprophylaxis remains to be determined.
Ion and water transport processes related to the light-dependent shrinkage of spinach chloroplasts

Abstract When spinach chloroplasts are illuminated in the presence of an appropriate electron acceptor, they undergo rapid, partially reversible increases in the light-scattering level which have been related, by indirect evidence, to chloroplast shrinkage. This paper presents experimental evidence that a volume decrease does occur (measured by the Coulter counter and packed-cell volume techniques), and it is associated with an efflux of Mg ++ and K + as well as an H + consumption. All reactions have kinetics similar to those of the light-scattering change. Under the conditions used, the light-induced water, Mg ++ , K + , and H + fluxes follow the same pattern of reversal in an ensuing dark period. Mg ++ and K + fluxes follow the same pattern as the water flux (as measured by light scattering) during quinacrine treatment. Kinetic analysis indicates that the relative order of speeds for the reaction is: H + > K + = Mg ++ > H 2 O. The simplest model which accomodates these observations involves protonation of fixed negative sites within the chloroplast as the primary event, followed consequentially by an efflux of the cations Mg ++ and K + (and in some cases Na + ) to maintain electric neutrality, with a final water efflux occurring to reestablish osmotic equilibrium. The cation fluxes occur under conditions which suggest that they are a manifestation of the operation of the chloroplast energy conservation mechanism (ATP formation). The idea is put forward that such rapid and large scale fluxes of Mg ++ and K + in and out of the chloroplast could possibly have an important bearing on the activities of various Mg ++ - and K + -dependent enzymes which occur in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts of spinach leaf cells.
Two organophosphorus pesticides: methyl parathion and dicapthon.

Structural studies performed in this laboratory of organo­phospho­rus pesticides continue with these related compounds. The –NO2 groups of methyl para­thion (systematic name: dimethyl 4-nitro­phenyl phospho­rothio­ate, C8H10NO5PS) and dicapthon (systematic name: 2-chloro-4-nitro­phenyl dimethyl phospho­rothio­ate, C8H9ClNO5PS) make dihedral angles of 10.67 (8) and 5.8 (1)°, respectively, with the planes of their attached rings, which accompanies angular distortion at the ring C atoms to which the –NO2 groups are attached. Similar distortions are observed at the C atom to which the thio­phosphate groups are attached. Significant differences in distances and angles around the phenolic O, versus the –OMe groups, explain why it is the site of hydrolysis for these compounds. A comparison of a torsion angle involving the thio­phosphate group and phenolic O atom with similar pesticide structures is given and indicates steric influences on that angle.
Endoproteolytic cleavage and proteasomal degradation of presenilin 2 in transfected cells.

Abstract Mutations in the presenilin genes, PS1 and PS2, cause a major portion of early onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). The biological roles of the presenilins and how their pathological mutations confer FAD are unknown. In this study, we set out to examine the processing and degradation pathways of PS2. For regulated expression of PS2, we have established inducible cell lines expressing PS2 under the tight control of the tetracycline-responsive transactivator. Western blot analysis revealed that PS2 was detected as an ∼53-55-kDa polypeptide (54-kDa PS2) as well as a high molecular mass form (HMW-PS2). Using a stably transfected, inducible cell system, we have found that PS2 is proteolytically cleaved into two stable cellular polypeptides including an ∼20-kDa C-terminal fragment and an ∼34-kDa N-terminal fragment. PS2 is polyubiquitinated in vivo, and the degradation of PS2 is inhibited by proteasome inhibitors, N-acetyl-L-leucinal-L-norleucinal and lactacystin. Our studies suggest that PS2 normally undergoes endoproteolytic cleavage and is degraded via the proteasome pathway.
Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion Associated with Oral Contraceptives

Visual acuity in a 17-year-old girl who took norethindrone with mestranol (Ortho-Novum) for eight months decreased to 6/9 (20/30) in the left eye. Ophthalmoscopically, retinal edema was temporal to the disk and white plaques were in each of two branches of cilioretinal artery. A superior centrocecal scotoma corresponding to the area of edema was present. After the patient discontinued use of the drug, visual acuity improved to 6/6 (20/20).
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission: the possible importance of unrecognized health care worker carriage.

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the ongoing transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a 10-bed trauma intensive care unit (TICU) in a large teaching hospital. Methods Surveillance cultures for MRSA were obtained on admission to the TICU. Colonized or infected patients were placed on contact precautions. On February 21, 2003, 19 burn patients were admitted to the TICU after a local mass casualty event. Universal barrier precautions were implemented for all patients, and point-prevalence surveys (nares cultures) were used to detect MRSA acquisition. Results During March 2003, 58% of the burn patients developed MRSA infection or colonization. Six of 133 health care workers (HCWs) had positive MRSA screening cultures. Seven patients and 4 HCWs harbored the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis clone A. Two patients and 1 HCW harbored clone B. Once the colonized HCWs were successfully decolonized, a sustained reduction in MRSA infections occurred. Conclusion Transmission of MRSA in an ICU was observed despite various infection control precautions. Identifying and treating colonized HCWs was followed by a significant reduction in the incidence of MRSA. Unrecognized MRSA-colonized HCWs may be an important reservoir in endemic institutions that could impair other control measures.
Kennel Disinfectants for Microsporum canis and Trichophyton sp.

The antifungal efficacy of commonly used kennel disinfectants for large surfaces was tested using naturally infective material from untreated animals (M. canis and Trichophyton sp.) soaked and macerated but unfiltered leaving visible fluorescing hairs and/or scales in the test inoculum to create a robust challenge. Disinfectants included sodium hypochlorite (1 : 32 and 1 : 100), enilconazole (1 : 100), accelerated hydrogen peroxide (1 : 16), potassium peroxymonosulfate (1% and 2%), and calcium hypochlorite “dry bleach.” Disinfectants were tested at a 1 : 10, 1 : 5, and 1 : 1 dilution of test inoculum to disinfectant with a 10 min contact time. Good efficacy was defined as a disinfectant resulting in no growth. Control plates grew >300 colonies of each pathogen per plate. Enilconazole, sodium hypochlorite (all dilutions), accelerated hydrogen peroxide, and 2% potassium peroxymonosulfate (but not 1%) inhibited all growth of both pathogens at 1 : 10, 1 : 5, and 1 : 1 dilutions. Calcium hypochlorite showed no antifungal efficacy (>300 colonies per plate). Enilconazole (1 : 100), sodium hypochlorite (1 : 32 or 1 : 100), accelerated hydrogen peroxide (1 : 16), and 2% potassium peroxymonosulfate are recommended for decontamination of kennels exposed to dermatophyte pathogens.
Preschoolers’ Knowledge of Genital Terminology: A Comparison of English and Spanish Speakers

ABSTRACT Preschoolers’ knowledge of genital names facilitates disclosure of sexual abuse and provides the foundation for subsequent sex education. Surveys of preschoolers in the early 1990s found that few children knew proper names for the genitals. To determine knowledge among a current cohort of culturally diverse children, 128 preschool children were tested for their knowledge of the correct terms for their genitals. Almost all children knew the correct terms for their nongenital body parts, but few knew the correct terminology for their genitals. Significantly more English-speaking children correctly labeled their genitals compared to Spanish-speaking children. The importance of teaching preschool children the correct terminology for their genitals is discussed as well as the role of this concept in sexual abuse prevention programs. Suggestions are made for how program staff can work with Hispanic families to overcome cultural barriers to sexuality education.
Using social network analysis to identify the most central services in an emergency department

In the past decade, emergency department (ED) overcrowding has become an internationally recognized problem that is associated with adverse patient care and safety. ED overcrowding is caused by multi-factorial system issues, many of which are outside the control of ED managers. In this paper we propose service-based approaches to improving ED throughput via social network analysis. We first construct a service network using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Then degree, betweenness, and eigenvector centrality measures are applied to rank each service. Combined with practical knowledge of ED operations, the rankings help us identify the most central services that are likely to help improve throughput, if administered at the point of care or resources are allocated to them appropriately.
Serpentine soils do not limit mycorrhizal fungal diversity.

Background Physiologically stressful environments tend to host depauperate and specialized biological communities. Serpentine soils exemplify this phenomenon by imposing well-known constraints on plants; however, their effect on other organisms is still poorly understood. Methodology/Principal Findings We used a combination of field and molecular approaches to test the hypothesis that serpentine fungal communities are species-poor and specialized. We conducted surveys of ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity from adjacent serpentine and non-serpentine sites, described fungal communities using nrDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) fragment and sequence analyses, and compared their phylogenetic community structure. Although we detected low fungal overlap across the two habitats, we found serpentine soils to support rich fungal communities that include representatives from all major fungal lineages. We failed to detect the phylogenetic signature of endemic clades that would result from specialization and adaptive radiation within this habitat. Conclusions/Significance Our results indicate that serpentine soils do not constitute an extreme environment for ectomycorrhizal fungi, and raise important questions about the role of symbioses in edaphic tolerance and the maintenance of biodiversity.
Decontextualized Language: A Problem, Not a Solution

Why do children from some minority groups and children living in poverty do poorly in school when compared to white middle-class children? Researchers have offered a large number of different answers to this question. One of the most popular answers has been based on the notion of “decontextualized language.” This article argues that this widely influential answer is wrong and misleading, because it is based on a poor theory of how human language works. In turn, I will suggest a better theory of language with which to pursue the question.
Mitochondrial reorganization during resumption of arrested meiosis in the mouse oocyte

Correlated nuclear and cytoplasmic reorganizations during the 14 hr of reactivated meiosis in vivo and in vitro were examined in the laboratory mouse. Observations of living oocytes by differential interference contrast microscopy, and by fluorescent microscopy with nontoxic mitochondrial and DNA-specific probes, enabled us to determine that the major cytoplasmic reorganization involved two mitochondrial translocations associated with two stages of nuclear maturation. These observations were confirmed at the fine structural level by parallel transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondria translocate to the perinuclear region during formation of the first metaphase spindle and subsequently disperse during abstriction of the first polar body. Determinations of frequency of maturation in more than 2,900 normal oocytes, and in more than 1,100 oocytes in which germinal vesicle breakdown was reversibly inhibited, indicated that mitochondrial redistributions are a normal and probably necessary feature of reactivated meiosis in the laboratory mouse. We suggest that these two rapid translocations serve to concentrate mitochondria for localized activities that require elevated levels of adenosine triphosphate.
Perception of correlated attributes involving African–American and white females' faces by 10-month-old infants

Thirty-two 10-month-olds were habituated to stimuli containing an African–American female face or a white female face paired with a specific object. Test stimuli maintained or violated habituation stimuli pairings (i.e. categories). Results add to an emerging literature showing that 10-month-olds perceive categories of social information based on detection of correlated attributes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Development of the Project Sanguine Radiating System

The Project Sanguine system is the result of many years of research and analysis into radiating system configurations. The paper describes the early portions of this search, the recognition of equivalences among several of the candidate systems, the conduct of an early transmission experiment, and the initial efforts at system optimization and choice of the radiating system configuration. The early research and tests provided confirmation of the theory that a vertically polarized E -field propagates through the earth ionosphere cavity at ELF with a slight forward tilt which allows it to enter the sea water and then penetrate to considerable depths. It also verified the behavior of the earth return antenna element through the operation of an experimental system. In addition, a system optimization program was developed to allow the cost of achieving various levels of system performance to be assessed.
Galactokinase Is a Novel Modifier of Calcineurin-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Drosophila

Activated/uninhibited calcineurin is both necessary and sufficient to induce cardiac hypertrophy, a condition that often leads to dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. We expressed constitutively active calcineurin in the adult heart of Drosophila melanogaster and identified enlarged cardiac chamber dimensions and reduced cardiac contractility. In addition, expressing constitutively active calcineurin in the fly heart using the Gal4/UAS system induced an increase in heart wall thickness. We performed a targeted genetic screen for modifiers of calcineurin-induced cardiac enlargement based on previous calcineurin studies in the fly and identified galactokinase as a novel modifier of calcineurin-induced cardiomyopathy. Genomic deficiencies spanning the galactokinase locus, transposable elements that disrupt galactokinase, and cardiac-specific RNAi knockdown of galactokinase suppressed constitutively active calcineurin-induced cardiomyopathy. In addition, in flies expressing constitutively active calcineurin using the Gal4/UAS system, a transposable element in galactokinase suppressed the increase in heart wall thickness. Finally, genetic disruption of galactokinase suppressed calcineurin-induced wing vein abnormalities. Collectively, we generated a model for discovering novel modifiers of calcineurin-induced cardiac enlargement in the fly and identified galactokinase as a previously unknown regulator of calcineurin-induced cardiomyopathy in adult Drosophila.
Rapid sodium channel augmentation in response to inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant

The mechanisms by which inflammation induces a chronic pain state are poorly understood. Following the induction of many painful conditions, an increase in the spontaneous firing rate of neurons is often observed in peripheral sensory ganglia. Since ion channels are essential mediators of spike generation and impulse conduction, it is reasonable to postulate that local changes in ion channel expression might underlie the changes in membrane excitability. Such alterations may serve to enhance the efficiency by which painful stimuli are transduced and then conducted to the central nervous system. In these studies, we employed immunocytochemical methods to investigate the changes in sodium channel expression in dorsal root ganglia of rats following a subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant, an inducer of chronic inflammation. We find that sodium channel immunoreactivity within primary sensory neurons is dramatically increased within 24 h of the complete Freund's adjuvant injection. These changes persist in small neurons for at least 2 months and roughly parallel the time course of behaviorally measured changes in pain thresholds. Thus, the regulation of sodium channel synthesis may play a role in the generation and maintenance of the hyperesthetic state seen in chronic inflammation.
Rosolving conflicts in global storage design through replication

We present a conceptual framework in which a database's intra- and interrecord set access requirements are specified as a constrained assignment of abstract characteristics (“evaluated,” “indexed,” “clustered,” “well-placed”) to logical access paths. We derive a physical schema by choosing an available storage structure that most closely provides the desired access characteristics. We use explicit replication of schema objects to reduce the access cost along certain paths, and analyze the trade-offs between increased update overhead and improved retrieval access. Finally, we given an algorithm to select storage structures for a CODASYL 78 DBTG schema, given its access requirements specification.