cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergism between mouse thyroglobulin- and vaccination-induced suppressor mechanisms in murine experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that genetically susceptible mice can be rendered resistant to the induction of experimental autoimmune thyroditis (EAT) by pretreatment with deaggregated mouse thyroglobulin (dMTg). This resistance is mediated by CD4 + suppressor T cells (T s ) which suppress the afferent/inductive phase of EAT. Recent work has also shown that resistance to EAT can be achieved by vaccination with irradiated spleen cells previously primed in vivo with MTg and cultured in vitro with MTg(γSC). The γSC-induced resistance also inhibits the afferent phase of EAT but is mediated by both CD4 + and CD8 + T s . To determine if dMTg- and γSC-induced suppression can cooperate to prevent EAT, we pretreated mice with suboptimal doses of dMTg and γSC before challenge with MTg and adjuvant. Mice receiving dMTg or γSC only showed suppressed in vitro response to MTg, but the development of thyroid lesions was unaltered. However, mice given one or two subtolerogenic doses of dMTg followed by γSC not only showed suppressed in vitro response to MTg, but also little or no thyroditis, indicating cooperation between these two mechanisms. The cooperation was not reciprocal since reversing the order, giving γSC first followed by dMTg, was not effective in suppressing EAT. Thus, suppressor mechanisms activated by pretreatment with dMTg and γSC can act synergistically to suppress EAT induction; the two mechanisms may cooperate in vivo to maintain self-tolerance provided that MTg-specific CD4 + T s are initially activated.
BINDING OF MICROTUBULES TO TRANSITIONAL ELEMENTS IN OLIGODENDROCYTES OF THE MYELIN MUTANT TAIEP RAT

The presence of microtubules physically bound to smooth endoplasmic reticulum profiles of oligodendrocytes constitutes the most conspicuous feature observed in the myelin mutant taiep rat. The endoplasmic reticulum membranes associated with microtubules were morphologically characterized as transitional elements that constitute the intermediate compartment according to their topographic location close to the cis-Golgi apparatus. The development of this surprising microtubular defect appears to be associated with the early events of myelination. Transitional elements associated with microtubules operate in protein transport from endoplasmic reticulum to cis-Golgi. This microtubular defect could explain the dysmyelination and neurologic alterations observed in taiep rats. Moreover, these findings allow us to propose that there is a blockage of protein traffic at the intermediate compartment of taiep oligodendrocytes, a situation that could explain the hypomyelinated axons observed in this myelin mutant. The binding of microtubules to membranous organelles promotes the stabilization of microtubules, a feature that has important implications regarding its accumulation within the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes during the temporal evolution of this neurologic disorder. The taiep rat is a myelin mutant with a long survival and could be a useful model for understanding dysmyelinating diseases in which the intracellular transport of myelin components is affected. J. Neurosci. Res. 47:573–581, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Assessment of Trichotillomania: A Psychometric Evaluation of Hair-Pulling Scales

Currently there is no “gold standard” treatment outcome measure for trichotillomania (TTM), a disorder characterized by repetitive hair pulling resulting in noticeable hair loss. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of TTM measures of differing assessment methods: self-report, clinician-rated summary scales, and clinician-rated global severity scales. Data collected from 28 patients with TTM indicated mixed psychometric properties for current scales. Internal consistency was strong for self-report but not clinician-rated summary scales. One clinician-rated summary scale total and subjective ratings of hair loss demonstrated good interrater agreement. Although convergent validity was good within measurement type, self-report did not correlate with clinician-rated global severity scales, perhaps because of absence of hair loss severity assessment on the self-report measure. A multimethod assessment including one of each type of measure reviewed in this paper, along with self-monitoring and measures of hair loss severity, is recommended for a comprehensive best practice approach to TTM assessment.
SQUID NMR Studies of the Second Layer of 3He at High Density

Nuclear magnetism in the second layer of 3He films on graphite has been studied as a function of density in the zero-field limit at temperatures down to 300 µK. Total surface coverages in this study ranged from 20 atoms/nm2 (the lowest coverage at which the effective exchange parameter turns ferromagnetic) through the two-phase region (ending at about 24 atoms/nm2) and into the single-phase imcommensurate solid region up to 31.2 atoms/nm2. The surface layers were studied using both pulsed and cw NMR measured with our SQUID NMR system in magnetic fields of 500 µT and lower. As the surface density continues to increase in the single-phase region, the exchange constant decreases consistently with a picture of steric hindrance impeding ferromagnetic exchange. Several different observational features scale with this inferred exchange: low-field magnetization, NMR frequency shift, and the temperature of onset of significant magnetization.
Factors Associated with a Medical Home Among Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Providing a medical home to children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is challenging. Little is known about the factors associated with having a medical home for these children, or how comorbidities affect having a medical home. Our study aims are: (1) identify factors associated with having a medical home and five sub-components of a medical home and (2) determine the effect of medical home on several outcomes for children with ADHD. The sample included 5,495 children with ADHD from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Children with ADHD alone and children with ADHD plus a physical diagnosis had greater frequencies of having a medical home, or meeting the five sub-components, than children with ADHD plus a mental diagnosis. Multivariate results show that children with ADHD plus a physical and/or mental comorbidity were 24–63% more likely to be without a medical home compared to children with only ADHD. Having a medical home also had a bearing on several child health outcomes. Having a medical home was significantly associated with being less likely to have an unmet health need and having fewer missed school days; but also being less likely to have received needed mental health care (P < .05). Our results suggest that there are differences in parent’s perceptions of receiving care among children with ADHD. Pediatric medical home projects and policies should acknowledge that children with ADHD often have comorbidities making their care more complex. These complexities should be addressed during practice transformation and setting reimbursement policies.
Activists Ten Years Later: A Test of Generational Unit Continuity.

This study focuses on the generational unit born out of the student protest movement. Three groups were selected for the study: (a) former civil rights activists involved in protest demonstrations during 1960 and 1963, (b) former students who had been involved in student government politics during that time, and (c) former students who had taken no part in institutional or noninstitutional politics. The major dependent variables are political attitudes and political behavior eight to eleven years after the student protest. Using path analysis, it was found that the level of student activism had major direct and indirect effects on political attitudes and behavior. Together with other exogenous and intervening variables, student activism accounted for 55% of the variance in political attitudes and 42% of the variance in political behavior.
A novel uranium-containing coordination polymer: poly­[dioxouranium(VI)-μ4-n-pentane-1,5-di­carboxyl­ato]

The title compound, [U(C5H6O4)O2], consists of (UO2)2O8 dimers connected by n-pentane-1,5-di­carboxyl­ate (glutaric acid) mol­ecules to form chains running in the [010] direction. These chains are further connected by the carboxylate ligand to form sheets in the (10\overline 2) plane.
Unmasking and Conversion of Gap Phenomenon in the Human Heart

Two types of gap phenomena (types I and II ) have been described in human hearts and their electrophysiologic bases have been delineated. In both types of gap phenomena relatively early premature atrial impulses are blocked within some portion of the His-Purkinje system (HPS). By increasing the prematurity of the atrial depolarization, conduction to the ventricles resumes due to delay of the premature impulse with the atrioventricular node (A-VN) (type I gap) or within the proximal HPS (type II gap). Gap phenomena are not observed when the refractory period of the A-VN exceeds that of the HPS. Since atropine decreases refractoriness of the A-V node, its effect on the gap phenomena was studied in nine subjects. After administration of atropine (0.2-0.5 mg i.v.) type I gap was demonstrated in six subjects and type II gap in three subjects. When atropine shortened the functional and effective refractory period (ERP) of the A-V node, premature atrial impulses arrived at the HPS during its ERP. By a similar me...
A short superconducting RFQ resonator for slow ion beams

Abstract The radio frequency quadrupole can be used as a superconducting linac structure for heavy ions produced by an ECR source. The concept of the RFQlet, a short RFQ, resonator is described. The RFQlet combines the advantages of rf quadrupole focussing with the wide transit time factor curve, low stored energy, small size and flexibility of the individual resonator approach, common to many modern booster linacs. One interesting form of RFQlet is the RFQW resonator, an RFQ geometry with just two accelerating gaps based on the quarter wave resonator, having the same transit time factor curve of the QWR.
Cystic renal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of single kidney with concurrent transitional cell carcinoma of ipsilateral ureter and urinary bladder

We report on a case of the simultaneous occurrence of cystic renal cell and squamous cell carcinoma in a single kidney in a patient with concurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the ipsilateral ureter and urinary bladder. A review of the literature reveals this to be the first such occurrence.
Cytochemical Studies of Multifunctional Gonadotropes

Studies have focused on the roles of the gonadotrope subsets defined by cytochemical and morphological tools. The evidence points to groups of gonadotropes that may be stimulated to mature and secrete to support surge activity. We postulate that these gonadotropes stem from the medium-sized subset. Other gonadotropes may more involved with maintenance functions. Perhaps these come from the larger cell pools. Monohormonal gonadotropes may play unique roles, such as FSH secretion early in estrus. Some may be immature, others may be regulatory and play both paracrine or autocrine roles in the pituitary cell population. We also recognize that one of the limitations of the current-day cytochemical techniques is that it does not define the entire gonadotrope population in any given two-label protocol. Nevertheless, based on past cytochemical studies, assumptions are made about the extent to which the cells express both hormones or behave in a uniform manner. These assumptions have led researchers to focus on one subset of the gonadotrope population. In their attempts to simplify the population to be studied, they may have eliminated important regulatory, secretory, or monohormonal gonadotropes from the pool. The approach is valid, as long as they recognize that they are studying a subset of a complex and dynamic population.
A note on the characteristics of parental T 4 DNA transmitted to progeny phages.

Several hypotheses concerning the fate of the parental DNA of phage T4 are discussed as possible interpretations of experimental data presently available. Particularly the experimental implications of the breakage-rejoining hypothesis, and the possibility that the joints between parental and progeny DNA may or may not be reversible during intracellular growth, are taken into consideration. Some of the crucial experiments, byLevinthal, byKahn, byStent, Sato andJerne, byKozinski andKozinski, and byTomizawa andAnraku, are briefly described. The results of these experiments make it possible to rule out most of the hypotheses considered. Only the following hypothesis is found to be consistent with present experimental data: A portion (roughly one half) of the parental DNA is transmitted to the progeny in the form of large segments (average size 40% or more of a single T4-DNA strand) which are reversibly joined to newly formed DNA and usually remain intact if transmitted again to later generations. Another protion of the parental DNA is transmitted in small segments which might be irreversibly joined to newly formed DNA. The joints between parental and progeny DNA are reversible during intracellular growth (Anraku andTom zawa, 1965).
Characterization of a novel collagen-like protein TrpA in the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101.

The collagen protein family is diverse and its membership is continually expanding as new collagen-like molecules are identified. Identification of collagen in unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes has opened discussion on the function of these collagens and their role in the emergence of multicellularity. The previous identification of a collagen gene in Trichodesmium erythraeum raises the question of function of this structural protein in a prokaryote. In this study, we show that this gene is expressed during all phases of growth, indicating that it may be required for all phases of growth. Using immunofluorescence techniques, we demonstrate that the collagen-like protein is localized in a specific manner between adjacent cells along the trichome of T. erythraeum. Trichomes treated with the enzyme collagenase exhibited fragmentation, supporting our immunofluorescence localization data that this collagen-like protein is found between adjacent cells. Our data strongly suggest that the collagen-like protein found in T. erythraeum functions to maintain the structural integrity of the trichome through the adhesion of adjacent cells.
Runx2 is essential for larval hyobranchial cartilage formation in Xenopus laevis.

The vertebrate transcription factor protein Runx2 is regarded as a “master regulator” of bone formation due to the dramatic loss of the osseous skeleton in the mouse homozygous knockout. However, Runx2 mRNA also is expressed in the pre-hypertrophic cartilaginous skeleton of the mouse and chicken, where its developmental function is largely unknown. Several tiers of Runx2 regulation exist in the mouse, any of which may account for its seeming biological inactivity during early stages of skeletogenesis. Unlike mouse and chicken, zebrafish require Runx2 function in early cartilage differentiation. The present study reveals that the earlier functional role of Runx2 in cartilage differentiation is shared between zebrafish and Xenopus. A combination of morpholino oligonucleotide injections and neural crest transplants indicate that Runx2 is involved in differentiation of the cartilaginous hyobranchial skeleton in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Additionally, in situ hybridizations show runx2 mRNA expression in mesenchymal precursors of the cartilaginous skull, which reveals the earliest pre-patterning of these cartilages described to date. The early distribution of runx2 resolves the homology of the larval suprarostral plate, which is one of the oldest controversies of anuran skull development. Together these data reveal a shift in Runx2 function protein during vertebrate evolution towards its exclusive roles in cartilage hypertrophy and bone differentiation within the amniote lineage. Developmental Dynamics 236:1650–1662, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Alternative strategies for legislative analysis of public policy

Abstract Current methods for providing analytic support for public policy choices provide a severely limited basis for decisions by the legislative branch. The executive branch currently dominates the system in that it employs most of the analytical talent, maintains data bases, and determines the alternatives to be analysed. In this paper, two alternative models designed to correct this deficiency are defined and illustrated—i.e. (1) an independent legislative analysis model, and (2) a joint executive-legislative analysis model, and the three alternatives are compared. The conclusion reached is that the joint analysis model is preferable. Two alternative institutional arrangements—an in-house bureaucracy and contracts with outside consultants are also compared with the conclusion that a mixture of the two institutional arrangements is desirable.
Brainstem serotonin receptors in the guinea pig : implications for myoclonus

Abstract The brainstem is the locus of serotonin (5-HT)-mediated myoclonus in the guinea pig, which is induced by 5-hydroxy- l -tryptophan ( l -5-HTP) and indole but not piperazine 5-HT receptor agonists. As an initial step in testing the hypothesis that one 5-HT receptor subtype mediates this effect, we measured seven 5-HT receptor binding sites and the 5-HT uptake site in guinea pig brainstem and compared them to the rat. In guinea pig brainstem, the rank order of binding site density was: 5-HT transporter site⪢5-HT 1D > antagonist-labeled 5-HT 2 > 5-HT 1A , 5-HT 1C > 5-HT 1E > agonist-labeled 5-HT 2 binding site. There were fewer 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1C binding sites and 5-HT uptake sites in guinea pig than rat brainstem, more 5-HT 1D and antagonist-labeled 5-HT 2 sites, but the differences were 2-fold or less. The major species difference was that 5-HT 1B sites were virtually undetectable in guinea pig brainstem. Limited competition experiments with related 5-HT receptor subtype-selective agonists and antagonists suggested that the sites in guinea pig brainstem conformed to those described in the rat. 5-HT agonist and antagonist dose-threshold and dose maximum-effect data from guinea pig myoclonus in vivo were compared with receptor affinities at each receptor site in vitro from the literature. No convincing correlation between myoclonus and one particular 5-HT site was found. These data indicate the presence of a full complement of 5-HT receptor binding site subtypes in guinea pig brainstem with some species differences. However, EC 50 data and use of more selective drugs in behavioral experiments will be necessary to establish the relation between these binding sites and myoclonus.
The Mongolian gerbil as a model for chronic lead toxicity

Abstract The long term administration of lead acetate in the diet of Mongolian gerbils results in a chronic progressive nephropathy with tubular degeneration, interstitial fibrosis and intranuclear inclusions; in addition, microcytic hypochromic anaemia with red cell destruction and deposition of lipofuscin and hemosiderin in the liver also occurs. These histological findings were confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The development of a chronic nephropathy accompanied by haematological changes following long term administration of lead in the diet suggests that the gerbil may be a useful animal model to study chronic lead poisoning in man.
Does Terror Have an Urban Future

This article was written and submitted before the 11 September terrorist attack on New York City. Minor revisions were made to the text and a post-script added in order to bring it up to date, but ...
Cross Sections for Two-Pair Production at Infinite Energy

We give here the total cross sections for the following three high-energy processes: (i) $\ensuremath{\gamma}+\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}+{e}^{+}+{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, (ii) $\ensuremath{\gamma}+\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, and (iii) $\ensuremath{\gamma}+\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{e}^{+}+{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. Up to the eighth order, all of them approach constants in the high-energy limit. These constants are 6.5, 0.23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, and 0.26\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ \ensuremath{\mu}b, respectively, for (i), (ii), and (iii). The corresponding photon-photon elastic scattering amplitudes in the forward direction are also given. The creation of $\ensuremath{\mu}$ pairs is also briefly discussed.
Optical rotation and viscosity of native and denatured proteins. XI. Relationships between rotatory dispersion, ionization and configuration☆

Abstract The optical rotations of pepsin, trypsin, the α-, β-, and γ-chymotrypsins, trypsin inhibitor, papain, pancreatic amylase, taka-amylase, lysozyme, ribonuclease, phosvitin, and several other proteins were studied. The rotatory dispersion constants of these proteins were determined by means of spectropolarimetry. It was found that pepsin, pancreatic amylase, and soybean trypsin inhibitor have low dispersion constants. The concentration dependence of rotation of several proteins was studied. The pH dependence of the optical rotation was studied using mercaptalbumin, lysozyme, pepsin, ribonuclease, and phosvitin. The rotation of pepsin and phosvitin changed strongly when the pH of the solutions was changed in the range 4–9; the rotation of the other proteins changed very little in the same pH range. Viscosity measurements indicated that the change in levorotation of pepsin and phosvitin in the above-mentioned pH limits is due to changes in molecular gross configuration. It was also demonstrated that the intrinsic viscosity of native pepsin, pancreatic amylase, and trypsin inhibitor solutions was low and therefore incompatible with the assumption that these proteins might be denatured. This finding was substantiated by testing the enzymic activity of these substances.
The thermal conversion of 6,6-Difluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene to fluorobenzene. A novel mechanism

The dehydrofluorinative aromatization reaction of 6,6-difluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene (1) has been found to proceed via a two-step mechanism, the first being a novel, rate-determining homolytic H-shift process.
Proadifen (SKF-525A), an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, augments LPS-induced fever and exacerbates prostaglandin-E2 levels in the rat

Abstract Fever in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 μg/kg) and body temperature was measured by biotelemetry. Inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, SKF-525A and clotrimazole, injected peripherally (15 mg/kg) or into the brain (SKF-525A; 5 μg/rat) augmented fever. SKF-525A given intraperitoneally doubled the increase of the 3 h post-LPS plasma prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) level from 169±37 pg/ml in control/LPS to 343±45 pg/ml in SKF-525A/LPS rats. SKF-525A administered into the brain (lateral ventricle) exacerbated the LPS-induced elevation of PGE2 in cerebrospinal fluid from 31±5 pg/ml in control/LPS to 92±21 pg/ml in SKF-525A/LPS rats. These data support the hypothesis that inhibitors of P-450 augment fever due to exacerbation of the level of PGE2 induced by LPS.
Photoreduction of membrane bound cytochrome c by excited-state phencthiazine

Abstract Ferricytochrome c can be reduced in a photochemical reaction by excited state phenothiazine. This reaction is observed between phenothiazine which is solubilized by phospholipid artificial membranes and cytochrome c which is adsorbed to the membrane surface. Under conditions when cytochrome c is not bound to the phospholipid, the rate of reduction by phenothiazine is greatly reduced. The phosphorescence of phenothiazine is quenched in the presence of cytochrome c , implying that the excited triplet state interacts with cytochrome c . Oxygen inhibits the reaction since possibly, as a paramagnetic species, it increases intersystem crossing of the excited states of phenothiazine. On the basis of molecular models the proximity between the iron of ferricytochrome c and phenothiazine is estimated to be over 20 A.
Radar target classification using DOA information

This is an application paper where existing ultra wideband (UWB) direction of arrival (DOA) techniques are utilized for estimating the direction of arrival of a radar signal with respect to the broadside of an antenna array. Such arrival information (or target azimuth) is then invested in improving the recognition performance of an unknown target. This application examines the impact of knowing the exact target azimuth position on the classifier's performance. The paper uses real UWB radar data of commercial aircraft models recorded via a stepped frequency radar. The classifier uses the target high range resolution (HRR) profile that is dependent on the target's aspect angle.
Causal Attributions for Achievement Outcomes: Sex-Role Identity, Sex and Outcome Comparisons

White male and female subjects completed a digit guessing task, an instrument assessing perceived outcome and causal attributions, and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), a measure of sex-identity. Men generally used more ability attributions than women, though women stressed ability for failure more than men did. Those who saw themselves as successful on the task reported using more ability, effort, and luck ascriptions than those with lower subjective outcome. While sex identity was related to the kinds of attributions made for ability and effort, it was only in relation to subjective outcome for effort that it added information over and above that of sex of subject.
Depth of outreach and financial sustainability of microfinance institutions

The primary justification for subsidizing Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) is their enhancement of social welfare by extending credit to the poor households. Therefore, recent emphasis on their financial self-sufficiency has created concern, that this may adversely affect the mission of social outreach. Utilizing data from 702 MFIs operating in 83 countries, this study shows empirical evidence of a positive complementary relationship between financial sustainability and depth of outreach.
The silent sinus syndrome: protean manifestations of a rare upper respiratory disorder revisited

Silent Sinus Syndrome (SSS) is known to be a rare clinical condition, characterized by spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus associated with atelectasis of the maxillary sinus and alteration of the orbital floor. Most of the patients with this syndrome present with ophthalmological complaints without any nasal sinus symptoms, and it typically has a painless course and slow development, ergo the term “silent.” Here we present a case report of a patient with occasional coughing spells as the presenting symptom of Silent Sinus Syndrome, which has not been previously described in the literature. The CT scan findings suggested chronic rhinosinusitis. The radiological findings were suggestive of maxillary sinus hypoplasia, with evidence of maxillary sinus atelectasis. Awareness of this syndrome is important for specialists who work with nasal sinus disease, since its management is different than chronic rhinosinusits.
Adaptive cytokine production in early life differentially predicts total IgE levels and asthma through age 5 years.

Background Although it has been postulated that allergic disease is associated with a predominance of T H 2 cells, whether IgE levels and asthma might differ in their relation to early-life cytokine production is not known. Objective We sought to assess the relationship between first-year adaptive immune cytokine production with asthma and total IgE levels through age 5 years in a nonselected birth cohort. Methods Mitogen (concanavalin A/phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)–stimulated IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ levels were measured in supernatants from cord blood mononuclear cells and PBMCs at birth, 3 months, and 12 months. Total serum IgE levels and physician-diagnosed active asthma were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. Longitudinal models that adjust for both T H 1 and T H 2 cytokine production were used to determine relations of outcomes. Results Relations of cytokines to total IgE levels and asthma were strikingly different. Total IgE levels through age 5 years were positively associated with 12-month IL-4 ( P P P = .02) levels when adjusted for IFN-γ levels and inversely associated with 12-month IFN-γ levels after IL-4 adjustment ( P = .01). Active asthma through age 5 years was positively associated with 3-month IL-13 levels adjusted for IFN-γ (odds ratio, 2.6; P P = .001). These relations were strongest for nonatopic asthma. Conclusion Total IgE levels and active asthma through age 5 years are associated with adaptive cytokine production in early life, although relations vary temporally and with regard to the relative importance of individual cytokines.
Microsearch: A search engine for embedded devices used in pervasive computing

In this article, we present Microsearch, a search system suitable for embedded devices used in ubiquitous computing environments. Akin to a desktop search engine, Microsearch indexes the information inside a small device, and accurately resolves a user's queries. Given the limited hardware, conventional search engine design and algorithms cannot be used. We adopt Information Retrieval (IR) techniques for query resolution, and proposed a new space-efficient top-k query resolution algorithm. A theoretical model of Microsearch is given to better understand the trade-offs in design parameters. Evaluation is done via actual implementation on off-the-shelf hardware.
IMPLICATIONS OF CHEMICAL MIXTURES IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal public health agency that investigates and strives to prevent human health problems produced by exposure to toxic chemicals and their mixtures in the environment. Most human exposures involving toxic chemicals or mixtures are thought to originate from environmental and occupational sources; however, concurrent exposures are also likely from other sources, such as prescription and nonprescription drugs, indoor air pollutants, alcohol, and tobacco smoke. Thus, in evaluating the potential hazard following exposure to environmental mixtures, ATSDR not only considers the inherent joint toxicity of the mixture but also the influence of environmental, demographic, occupational, and lifestyle factors. To foster these goals, ATSDR has pursued a Mixtures Research and Assessment Program that consists of three component efforts: trend analysis, joint toxicity assessment, and experimental testing. Through trend analysis, ATSDR sets priorities for environmental mixtures of concern for which joint toxicity assessments are conducted as needed. If data are not available to conduct appropriate assessments, a research agenda is pursued through established extramural mechanisms. Ultimately, the data generated are used to support ATSDR's work at sites involving exposure to chemical mixtures. This pragmatic approach allows testable hypotheses or research needs to be identified and resolved and enhances our understanding of the mechanisms of joint toxicity. Several collaborative and cooperative efforts with national and international organizations such as the Toxicology and Nutrition Office, the Netherlands, and the Department of Energy are being pursued as part of these activities. ATSDR also develops guidance manuals to consistently and accurately apply current methodologies for the joint toxicity assessment of chemicals. Further, expert panels often are assembled to resolve outstanding scientific issues or obtain expert advice on pertinent issues. Recently, the need for studies on chemical mixtures has been proposed as one of the six priority areas the agency identified in its agenda for public health environmental research. This has been reinforced through the agency's close work with communities whose leaders have spoken passionately about their concern for information on exposures to chemical mixtures. The five other priority research areas the agency identified are exposure, susceptible populations, communities and tribal involvement, evaluation/surveillance of health effects, and health promotion/prevention.
Anti-inflammatory agents attenuate the passive responses of guinea pig pups : Evidence for stress-induced sickness behavior during maternal separation

Summary A previous study found that intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of 25m go fa-MSH reduced the passive responses (crouched stance, eye-closing, piloerection) of guinea pig pups during a 3-h isolation in a novel environment. Because a-MSH has broad antiinflammatory properties, the results suggested that proinflammatory factors play a role in mediating the behavior of isolated infants. The present study further investigated this possibility. In Experiment 1, injection of lipopolysacchride (LPS) increased the number of 60-s intervals in which pups expressed the same three responses during a 1-h test, and ICV infusion of a-MSH significantly reduced the effect of LPS on crouching and piloerection. In Experiment 2, the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (10mg/kg) reduced the number of 60-s intervals in which pups exhibited both crouching and the full suite of passive responses during a 3-h isolation in a novel environment. Together these results provide further support for the hypothesis that the passive behaviors exhibited during prolonged isolation are ‘‘stress-induced sickness behaviors’’ mediated by proinflammatory factors.
Semiconductor nanowire heterostructures

Recent progress on the synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanowire heterostructures is reviewed. We describe a general method for heterostructure synthesis based on chemical vapour deposition and the vapour-liquid-solid growth of crystalline semiconducting nanowires. We then examine examples of nanowire heterostructures for which physical properties have been measured, considering the effects of synthetic conditions on the heterointerfaces as well as the electrical and optical characterization measurements that reveal heterointerface formation and quality. Finally, we identify areas of technical and conceptual progress that can contribute to the development of functional nanowire heterostructures.
Morphological Traits and Invasive Potential of the Alien Euphorbia terracina (Euphorbiaceae) in Coastal Southern California

ABSTRACT Euphorbia terracina L., also known as terracina spurge, is a Mediterranean Basin perennial that has recently become invasive in southern California and is actively spreading at a virtually exponential rate along coastal areas in Los Angeles County. The National Park Service (NPS) is undertaking measures to treat and control further spread of current populations, but little is known about the plant's ecology and impact on native plant communities. This study reviewed the existing information on E. terracina and investigated populations established in Solstice Canyon in coastal Los Angeles County. Populations of E. terracina were compared in two different habitats in Solstice Canyon: in an open site along an old road and a shaded riparian site subject to past disturbance. Both open-disturbed and shaded sites had high aboveground biomass densities, with the highest density in the open, disturbed site. Sites differed in biomass allocation and specific leaf area (SLA) between sites, with plants at the...
Can insurance provide the US dairy farm safety net

US farm programs have been moving towards using insurance to provide the farm safety net for many years but this policy transformation has not been realized for dairy farms. Historically, support for dairy farmers focused on milk price but has been declining in real terms for decades. Dairy policy in the US has been in flux because of the recent increases in feed price levels and increases in export markets that have made historic milk price supports essentially irrelevant. Recently a program of subsidized insurance for the margin between milk and feed price has met with limited success. We analyze the potential demand for margin insurance using estimates from a survey of US dairy farmers. Dairy farmers with larger herds and more education were willing to pay more for the insurance. In addition, those dairy farm operators who had used milk and feed price risk instruments in the past were willing to pay more for margin insurance than those who had not. However, the willingness-to-pay for these contracts by farmers who had not used risk management tools was low, calling into question the feasibility of using margin insurance as the foundation of policies intended to support all dairy farms.
Anterior cruciate ligament-medial collateral ligament injury: Nonoperative management of medial collateral ligament tears with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction A preliminary report

We present the results of a series of patients who had nonoperative management of the medial collateral ligament with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. From February 1983 through December 1989, 84 of 90 consecutive patients were available for followup (minimum, 1 year; mean, 3.1 years) with a combined anterior cruciate ligament-medial collateral ligament injury (anterior cruciate ligament rupture and medial collateral ligament tear) received surgical management by the same physician. The last 68 of these 84 patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent patellar tendon graft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, with concomitant nonoperative management of medial collateral ligament tears. Follow-up evaluation consisted of physical examination for medial laxity, range of motion, and isokinetic and KT-1000 testing. Brace use and postoperative level of competition were also recorded. In addition, the patients completed a subjective assessment questionnaire rating pain, swelling, and stability. They also rated overall activity level, and any changes in their ability to do the activities tested: walk, climb stairs, run, jump, or twist. Our results indicate that proper reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, in conjunction with nonoperative management of tears of the medial collateral ligament in combined anterior cruciate ligament-medial collateral ligament injuries, can given excellent stability and good to excellent functional outcome in patients with combined anterior cruciate ligament-medial collateral ligament injuries.
Money: A Bias for the Whole

We document the phenomenon of “bias for the whole,” wherein greater value is perceived for money in the form of a whole (large denomination) than for equivalent amounts of money in parts (smaller denominations), resulting in a lower inclination to spend with the whole. We demonstrate across four experiments that the bias arises from greater processing fluency experienced in processing the whole as opposed to parts. This processing fluency is hedonically marked and generates positive affect that is attributed to the money, which results in an overvaluation of the whole, making one reluctant to spend with the whole.
Characterizing and Processing Robot-Directed Speech

Speech directed at infants and pets has properties that distinguish it from speech among adults (6). Some of those properties are potentially useful for language learning. By careful design of form and behavior, robots can hope to evoke a similar speech register and take advantage of these properties. We report some preliminary data to support this claim, based on experiments carried out with the infant-like robot Kismet (4). We then show how we can build a language model around an initial vocabulary, perhaps acquired from "cooperati ve" speech, and bootstrap from it to identify further candidate vocabulary items drawn from arbitrary speech in an unsupervised manner. We show how to cast this process in a form that can be largely implemented using a conventional speech recognition system (8), even though such systems are designed with very different applications in mind. This is advantageous since, after decades of research, such systems are expert at making acoustic judgments in a probabilistically sound way from acoustic, phonological, and language models.
Arginine and Cancer

Arginine is a dibasic, cationic, semiessential amino acid with numerous roles in cellular metabolism. It serves as an intermediate in the urea cycle and as a precursor for protein, polyamine, creatine and nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis. Arginine is conditionally essential since it becomes necessary under periods of growth and after recovery after injury. Arginine also promotes wound healing and functions as a secretagogue stimulating the release of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin, and prolactin. Furthermore, arginine has several immunomodulatory effects such as stimulating T- and natural killer cell activity and influencing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. The discover that l-arginine is the sole precursor for the multifunctional messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO) led to investigation into the role of arginine in numerous physiologic and pathophysiologic phenomena including cancer. Although NO was first identified in endothelial cells, it is now recognized to be generated by a variety of cell types, including several tumor cell lines and solid human tumors. Unfortunately, the precise role of NO in cancer is poorly understood but it may influence tumor initiation, promotion, and progression, tumor-cell adhesion, apoptosis angiogenesis, differentiation, chemosensitivity, radiosensitivity, and tumor-induced immunosuppression. The biological effects of NO are complex and dependent upon numerous regulatory factors. Further research is necessary to enhance our understanding of the complex mechanisms that regulate NO's role in tumor biology. A better understanding of the role of arginine-derived NO in cancer may lead to novel antineoplastic and chemopreventative strategies.
An intelligent aid for circuit redesign

Digital circuit redesign is a task that requires knowledge of circuit structure, function, and purpose, and of the interrelationships among these. We describe a knowledge-based system, REDESIGN, which assists in the redesign of digital circuits to meet altered functional specifications. REDESIGN assists the user in focusing on an appropriate portion of the circuit, generating possible local changes within the circuit, ranking these possible changes, and detecting undesirable side-effects of redesigns. It provides this assistance by combining two modes of reasoning about circuits: (1) causal reasoning involving analysis of circuit operation, and (2) reasoning about the purposes, or roles, of various circuit modules within the larger circuit. We describe these two modes of reasoning, and the way in which they are combined by REDESIGN to provide aid in circuit redesign.
Characterization of Stratospheric Clear Air Turbulence for Air Force Platforms

Stratospheric mechanical turbulence (altitudes 12?25km) is characterized by patchy high frequency fluctuations in the stratospheric wind fields and long-lived energetic eddies with a few hundred meters scales in the vertical. The thin Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) layers negatively impact the effective control, stability and performance of the newest generation of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) such as the Global Hawk. Flying through stratospheric CAT causes the autopilot to begin pitch oscillations that seriously degrade photographic and synthetic aperture radar performance as well as putting the platform itself at risk. While there is a need for a real-time forecast of these thin stratospheric CAT layers, these cannot be resolved by even the latest generation of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological codes. Some of the objectives of this challenge project are to influence the development of the next generation mesoscale numerical weather prediction codes for the lower stratosphere, by improving subgrid-scale parametrization of nonhomogeneous, anisotropic, non-Kolmogorov, patchy shear stratified stratospheric turbulence; and to enable forecasting of nonlinear, non-monochromatic inertia-gravity waves with large horizontal wavelengths (few hundred kilometers) which generate thin (few hundred meters) CAT layers.
Differential Incubation Temperatures Result in Dimorphic DNA Methylation Patterning of the SOX9 and Aromatase Promoters in Gonads of Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Embryos

Environmental factors are known to influence sex determination in many nonmammalian vertebrates. In all crocodilians studied thus far, temperature is the only known determinant of sex. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the effect of temperature on sex determination are not known. Aromatase (CYP19A1) and SOX9 play critical roles in vertebrate sex determination and gonadogenesis. Here, we used a variety of techniques to investigate the potential roles of DNA methylation patterning on CYP19A1 and SOX9 expression in the American alligator, an organism that relies on temperature-dependent sex determination. Our findings reveal that developing gonads derived from embryos incubated at a male-producing temperature (MPT) show elevated CYP19A1 promoter methylation and decreased levels of gene expression relative to incubation at a female-producing temperature (FPT). The converse was observed at the SOX9 locus, with increased promoter methylation and decreased expression occurring in embryonic gonads resulting from incubation at FPT relative to that of MPT. We also examined the gonadal expression of the three primary, catalytically active DNA methyltransferase enzymes and show that they are present during critical stages of gonadal development. Together, these data strongly suggest that DNA methylation patterning is a central component in coordinating the genetic cascade responsible for sexual differentiation. In addition, these data raise the possibility that DNA methylation could act as a key mediator integrating temperature into a molecular trigger that determines sex in the alligator.
Biosynthesis of dimethylsulfide and dimethylpropiothetin by Hymenomonas carterae in relation to sulfur source and salinity variations

The marine coccolithophorid phytoplankton species Hymenomonas carterae (class Prymnesiophyceae) produces both dimethylpropiothetin (DMPT) and dimethylsulfide (DMS) in axenic cultures. The rate of DMS production is closely regulated by the cell; it remains independent of environmental sulfate concentration down to levels of 2.5% of the seawater value. Below this sulfate level, DMS production decreases with decreasing sulfate concentration, but significant amounts of DMS are released even under conditions of sulfate-limited growth. Hymenomonas carterae can grow on sulfite, thiosulfate, and cysteine as sulfur sources, but not on methionine. The rate of DMS output is similar for the different sulfur sources. Both the intracellular concentration of DMPT and the rate of output of DMS by H. carterae increase with increasing salinity of the medium. This increase is observed when either salt or sucrose is used to control the osmolarity of the growth medium. Variations in DMPT levels and DMS output were observed within hours after transferring cells to a medium of different osmotic pressure. The intracellular DMPT concentration is of the order of 0.3 mole per liter and contributes significantly to the osmotic pressure in the cell. These results suggest that DMPT plays an important role in osmoregulation by H. carterae.