cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Emergence in Genetically Informed Relationships Research: A Methodological Analysis

This paper provides a critical analysis of genetically informed research on relationships, with an emphasis on relationships among unrelated individuals (e.g., spouses). To date, research in this area has used traditional behavioral genetic frameworks to either partition the variance in relationship-related outcomes into genetic and environmental components, or to examine gene-environment interplay between relationship factors and other outcomes. However, this conventional approach is at odds with the long-standing understanding from the field of relationship science that both partners' characteristics matter when predicting shared outcomes-that is, outcomes that are emergent. We examine briefly the philosophical concept of emergence, and discuss ways to model dyadic outcomes in genetically informed relationships research. We also review the related topic of social genetic effects, which refer to the influence of a social partner's genotype on a proband's phenotype. A genetically informed dyadic perspective has potentially important consequences for our understanding of the pathways from genotype→shared or individual-level phenotypes, and more fully recognizes the complexity of how genetic and social/environmental factors come together to influence human behavior.
CS-06 Structural brain abnormalities in youth with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is limited for detection of clinically relevant brain changes in youth with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We aimed to examine structural brain abnormalities in youth with SLE compared to healthy controls, utilizing advanced MRI analysis. Methods We cross-sectionally compared images from clinically-obtained brain MRI for adolescents and young adults with SLE, to those from age and sex-matched healthy control subjects with research MRI. Images were obtained from 2007–2015 on the same 3T scanner using a T1-weighted MPRAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid, acquisition gradient echo) protocol. A neuroradiologist performed conventional MRI reads, and was blinded to subsequent structural MRI volumetric analysis. An advanced multi-atlas segmentation algorithm divided the brain into 154 anatomical regions of interest (ROIs). Calculated volumes for large brain structures and ROIs were corrected for average intracranial volume of the sample, then compared between SLE and control subjects using univariate paired t-tests, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results 29 SLE were compared to 29 control images. SLE subjects had a median disease duration of 1.1 years (interquartile range, 0.3–3.3) at brain MRI, with clinical indications including cognitive changes (31%), headache (24%), depression/anxiety (21%), and seizures (14%). Nonspecific findings on conventional MRI read were higher for SLE subjects compared to controls, including T1 hyperintensities/T2 hypointensities (48% vs 17%, p Conclusions Compared to healthy peers, youth with SLE early in their disease course have increased white matter and decreased regional gray matter volumes, possibly representing acceleration of normal age-related brain changes. Future study will examine the relationship between structural brain changes, disease-related factors and cognitive function in youth with SLE.
Determining Input-Output Relationships in Milk Production

In the application of economics to actual production problems, we are concerned with the question; how much of each cost factor does it pay to use? The limits depend upon how the principle of diminishing returns applies to the problem at hand, upon how soon and how seriously we encounter its effects. These effects, physical and economic, permeate all production. The direction of economic affairs, be it in manufacturing or in farming, is constantly concerned with problems in this borderline field of technology and economics.
Long-term effects of grazing management and buffer strips on phosphorus runoff from pastures fertilized with poultry litter.

Phosphorus (P) runoff from pastures can cause accelerated eutrophication of surface waters. However, few long-term studies have been conducted on the effects of best management practices, such as rotational grazing and/or buffer strips on P losses from pastures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of grazing management and buffer strips on P runoff from pastures receiving annual (5.6 Mg ha-1 ) poultry litter applications. A 14-yr study was conducted on 15 small watersheds (0.14 ha) with five treatments: hayed (H), continuously grazed (CG), rotationally grazed (R), rotationally grazed with an unfertilized buffer strip (RB), and rotationally grazed with an unfertilized fenced riparian buffer (RBR). Runoff samples were collected using automatic samplers during runoff events. Average annual runoff volumes from H (40 mm yr-1 ) and RBR (48 mm yr-1 ) were lower than CG and RB, which were both 65 mm yr-1 , and from R (67 mm yr-1 ). Rotational grazing alone did not reduce P loads compared with continuous grazing (1.88 and 1.71 kg P ha-1 for R and CG, respectively). However, compared with CG, total P losses from RB pastures were reduced 36% with unfertilized buffer strips (1.21 kg P ha-1 ), 60% in RBR watersheds with unfertilized fenced riparian buffer strips (0.74 kg P ha-1 ), and 49% by converting pastures to hayfields (0.97 kg P ha-1 ). Hence, the use of unfertilized buffer strips, unfertilized fenced riparian buffer strips, or converting pastures to hayfields are effective best management practices for reducing P runoff in U.S. pasture systems.
Pediatric Neurology ICU: Special Issues–Seizure Control

Publisher Summary The evaluation and treatment of seizures in childhood present a number of potential pitfalls that can result in serious consequences if not recognized. This chapter discusses these special problems, pointing out the high-risk patients. It also describes appropriate drugs and dosages for the management of status epilepticus in the newborn as well as in older children. The chapter discusses the management of seizure in pediatric neurology intensive care unit (ICU). The most common neurological problem in the pediatric ICU is prolonged seizures. Whether the child's condition satisfies a diagnosis of status epilepticus, an aggressive intravenous therapy is generally initiated promptly. Two of the most effective agents, that is, diazepam and phenobarbital have a dangerously close therapeutic–toxic dosage range in young children. The toxic hazard is central respiratory depression, and this side effect may appear before, during, or after the anticonvulsant effects. The equipment and technique required for immediate intubation of an infant is all too often unavailable in a general hospital emergency room. The result may convert an urgent situation into a life-long disaster secondary to hypoxic encephalopathy. For this reason, therapy with these agents should be delayed until the specialist and the equipment are available for intubation.
Precise levels of Nectin-3 and an interaction with Afadin are required for proper synapse formation in postnatal visual cortex

Background: Developing cortical neurons express a tightly choreographed sequence of cytoskeletal and transmembrane proteins to form and strengthen specific synaptic connections during circuit formation. Nectin-3 is a cell-adhesion molecule with previously described roles in synapse formation and maintenance. This protein and its binding partner, Nectin-1, are selectively expressed in upper-layer neurons of mouse visual cortex, but their role in the development of cortical circuits is unknown. Methods: Here we block Nectin-3 expression (via shRNA) or overexpress Nectin-3 in developing layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons using in utero electroporation. We then assay dendritic spine densities at three developmental time points: eye opening (postnatal day (P)14), one week following eye opening after a period of heightened synaptogenesis (P21), and at the close of the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity (P35). Results: Knockdown of Nectin-3 beginning at E15.5 or ~P19 increased dendritic spine densities at P21 or P35, respectively. Conversely, overexpressing full length Nectin-3 at E15.5 led to decreased dendritic spine densities when all ages were considered together. Interestingly, an even greater decrease in dendritic spine densities, particularly at P21, was observed when we overexpressed Nectin-3 lacking its Afadin binding domain, indicating Afadin may facilitate spine morphogenesis after eye opening. Conclusion: These data collectively suggest that the proper levels of Nectin-3, as well as the interaction of Nectin-3 with Afadin, facilitate normal synapse formation after eye opening in layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons.
UN and Business: The WIR Prequel

Referring back to the genesis of the _World Investment Report_ (_WIR_), this article shows how the _WIR_ fits into a key objective of the UN’s business agenda: enhancing the contribution of multinational enterprises to economic growth and development. Focusing on a particular period of the _WIR_ life (the second half of the 2000s), this article highlights how the Report contributed to that end through the topics selected, the involvement of local stakeholders in the production process, and academic collaboration. While building on sound analytical bases, the Report provided action-oriented policy recommendations for effective and positive changes on the ground.
Suppressed Oxidation and Photodarkening of Hybrid Tin Iodide Perovskite Achieved with Reductive Organic Small Molecule

Tin(II)-based halide perovskites have shown promise in lead-free and mixed tin(II)–lead ideal-band-gap photovoltaic applications. Nonetheless, they notoriously suffer from oxidation in oxygen envir...
Hidden in the Woodshed: Big Bath Herding

This paper demonstrates that bad news herding is actually accompanied by bad news over-reporting. By focusing on write-offs during two major recessions of 2001 and 2008 and taking advantage of a unique hand-collected dataset on reversals of restructuring charges, we document that when firms herd in their negative reports, they over-state bad news, creating a cushion that can be reversed in the future. Specifically, we show that: (1) large write-offs by early firms are followed by clustered write-offs by their peer firms; (2) herding firms over-report and subsequently partially reverse their write-offs; and (3) the reversals help herding firms to meet financial analysts’ earnings forecasts that otherwise would not be met. Taken together, these results lend credence to the following mechanism behind bad news herding: firms strategically engage in herding with excessive bad news reports to benefit from subsequent reversals.
Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia: A rare but lethal complication of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients

Background The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN)/ Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism guidelines recognize that critically ill patients receiving stable, low doses of vasopressors have experienced the advantages of early initiation of enteral nutrition (EN). However, clinical questions remained unanswered including vasopressor combinations associated with complications, the advent of other therapies during hypotensive states, as well as the volume and content of EN that might contribute to the development of a nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI). Presentation A 68-year old male with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease with two-vessel bypass grafting, and peripheral vascular disease underwent subtotal excision of an infected right axillofemoral-femoral bypass graft. Postoperatively, EN was held because of hemodynamic instability and postsurgical complications. A fiber-free, high-protein, and low-residue formula was started at 10 ml/h while the patient was receiving stable doses of midodrine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin. Despite advancement of tube-feed rates to goal, nasogastric output never exceeded 300 ml. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed diffuse bowel distention with pneumatosis, concerning for bowel ischemia. No surgical interventions were pursued, and the patient died. Conclusions Our patient developed NOMI postoperatively while receiving EN. Further studies addressing EN route, trophic vs full EN, recommended formula, the safety of vasoactive agents, the addition of fiber to EN, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration in relation to NOMI are needed, as there continues to be clinical controversy regarding these topics.
CRAC channel activity in C. elegans is mediated by Orai1 and STIM1 homologues and is essential for ovulation and fertility

The Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel is a plasma membrane Ca2+ entry pathway activated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ store depletion. STIM1 proteins function as ER Ca2+ sensors and regulate CRAC channel activation. Recent studies have demonstrated that CRAC channels are encoded by the human Orai1 gene and a homologous Drosophila gene. C. elegans intestinal cells express a store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOCC) regulated by STIM-1. We cloned a full-length C. elegans cDNA that encodes a 293 amino acid protein, ORAI-1, homologous to human and Drosophila Orai1 proteins. ORAI-1 GFP reporters are co-expressed with STIM-1 in the gonad and intestine. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-dependent Ca2+ signalling regulates C. elegans gonad function, fertility and rhythmic posterior body wall muscle contraction (pBoc) required for defecation. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of orai-1 expression phenocopies stim-1 knockdown and causes sterility and prevents intestinal cell SOCC activation, but has no effect on pBoc or intestinal Ca2+ signalling. Orai-1 RNAi suppresses pBoc defects induced by intestinal expression of a STIM-1 Ca2+-binding mutant, indicating that the proteins function in a common pathway. Co-expression of stim-1 and orai-1 cDNAs in HEK293 cells induces large inwardly rectifying cation currents activated by ER Ca2+ depletion. The properties of this current recapitulate those of the native SOCC current. We conclude that C. elegans expresses bona fide CRAC channels that require the function of Orai1- and STIM1-related proteins. CRAC channels thus arose very early in animal evolution. In C. elegans, CRAC channels do not play obligate roles in all IP3-dependent signalling processes and ER Ca2+ homeostasis. Instead, we suggest that CRAC channels carry out highly specialized and cell-specific signalling roles and that they may function as a failsafe mechanism to prevent Ca2+ store depletion under pathophysiological and stress conditions.
Lutein cysts in normal twin pregnancy leading to erroneous diagnosis of hydatid mole; a case report.

Abstract A report is presented of a case of twin pregnancy in which there were many signs and symptoms and clinical laboratory findings commonly associated with the presence of either a hydatidiform mole or a chorionepithelioma, but there was no evidence found in the uterus or its contents of either of these two diseases.
Bacteriophage Tail Components II. Dihydrofolate Reductase in T4D Bacteriophage

The protein component of the T-even bacteriophage coat which binds the phage-specific dihydropteroyl polyglutamate has been identified as the phage-induced dihydrofolate reductase. Dihydrofolate reductase activity has been found in highly purified preparations of T-even phage ghosts and phage substructures after partial denaturation. The highest specific enzymatic activity was found in purified tail plate preparations, and it was concluded that this enzyme was a structural component of the phage tail plate. Phage viability was directly correlated with the enzymological properties of the phage tail plate dihydrofolate reductase. All reactions catalyzed by this enzyme which changed the oxidation state of the phage dihydrofolate also inactivated the phage. Properties of two T4D dihydrofolate reductase-negative mutants, wh1 and wh11, have been examined. Various lines of evidence support the view that the product of the wh locus of the phage genome is normally incorporated into the phage tail structure. The effects of various dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors on phage assembly in in vitro complementation experiments with various extracts of conditional lethal T4D mutants have been examined. These inhibitors were found to specifically block complementation when added to extracts which did not contain preformed tail plates. If tail plates were present, inhibitors such as aminopterin, did not affect further phage assembly. This specific inhibition of tail plate formation in vitro confirms the analytical and genetic evidence that this phage-induced "early" enzyme is a component of the phage coat.
Permanent trimming of silicon ring resonator filters by thermal modification

Reported here is a method for trimming the resonant frequency of microring resonators by permanent thermal modification of a waveguide cladding. This method would use in-situ heaters, avoiding the need for highly specialized equipment.
Atomic and molecular theory

The multifaceted role of theoretical physics in understanding the earliest stages of radiation action is discussed. Scientific topics chosen for the present discourse include photoabsorption, electron collisions, ionic collisions, and electron transport theory. Connections of atomic and molecular physics with condensed-matter physics are also discussed. The present article includes some historical perspective and an outlook for the future.
Oracle8i Spatial: Experiences with Extensible Databases

Conventional relational databases often do not have the technology required to handle complex data like spatial data. Unlike the traditional applications of databases, spatial applications require that databases understand complex data types like points, lines, and polygons. Typically, operations on these types are complex when compared to the operations on simple types. Hence relational database systems need to be extended in several areas to facilitate the storage and retrieval of spatial data. Several research reports have described the requirements from a database system and prioritized the research needs in this area.
A Review of: “CHILDHOOD EPILEPSY: LANGUAGE, LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL COMPLICATIONS”

William B. Svoboda, MD, has received national grants for his work with institutionalized epilepsy patients. He was associate clinical professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of M...
Increased platelet aggregation and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women on oral contraceptives

Abstract In vivo platelet function, serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and serum triglycerides (TG) were determined in 26 women starting oral contraceptives (OCA). Studies were run prior to, and after one and two months of therapy. Platelet aggregation time decreased by 50 percent or more in eight of the 26 women from a pre-experimental mean value of 387 ± 136 seconds. TC did not vary but after the women were on medication for two months. HDL decreased from 56 ± 14.4 mg/dl to 52 ± 12.3 mg/dl (p
The diagnosis of hepatic metastases: Converting a chance into a choice

Clinicians frequently perform tests to determine whether patients have liver metastases. Optimal use of a laboratory test requires that the clinician know the test's operating characteristics (its sensitivity and specificity) and have an estimate of the pretest probability that disease is present. We have surveyed studies that examined the value of four biochemical and three imaging tests in establishing a diagnosis of hepatic metastases in patients who underwent an invasive procedure to establish the presence or absence of disease. We have pooled the data from these studies to arrive at values for the sensitivity and specificity of each of these tests, and calculated the predictive values for these tests over a wide range of pretest probabilities of disease. Several examples illustrate how this information may be used clinically. We provide a framework for the optimal interpretation of these commonly ordered tests and indicate the data needed for their complete analysis.
Hemophilia in the Vizsla.

— This study presents laboratory and clinical eveidence of canine hemophilia A in the Vizsla breed. The preparation and treatment with fresh frozen (-197dC) normal canine plasma is reported. Resume— Cette etude apporte le preuve par la clinique et les examens de laboratoire, de l'existence d'une hemophilic canine de type A dans la race Vizsla. La preparation du plasma de chien normal conserve au grand froid (-197dC) et le traitement de la maladie par celui-ci est indique. Zusammenfassung— Diese Studie befast sich mit den klinischen und Laborbefunden bei Hunden des Vizsla-Stammes mit Hamophilie A. Es wird uber die Herstellung und therapeutische Anwendung von tiefgekuhltem (-197dC) normalen Hundeplasma berichtet.
Optimal two-terminal a-b wire routing

Abstract Wire routing problems have received a great deal of attention over the past two decades. However, the worst-case performance of the classical techniques such as maze and line search routers is still lower-bounded by the number of grid points available for routing. This number is typically quite large and theoretically independent of the number of circuit medium obstacles (i.e. module boundaries and previously laid wires). We consider here several minimum bend and minimum length routing problems of graduated difficulty. For these problems we suggest routing methods whose running times are dependent upon the number of obstacles in the routing region, m, rather than the size of the underlying grid.
A Plasma Reactor for Solid Waste Treatment on Pecvd Production Systems

The growth of particulates within a PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) reactor has been extensively studied in recent years. As one of the early concerns was wafer particle contamination, the attention of industry also shifted to environmental issues. In the particular case of Si 3 N 4 film deposition, the amount of dust particles created within the plasma is great and a significant amount of dust is dragged out of the RF interelectrode region along with the exhausted process gases. On a production system, this results in solid residues accumulation in the exhaust line (or foreline), frequent maintenance and poor vacuum pump lifetime. We developed a DPA (Downstream Plasma Apparatus) placed downstream of the deposition chamber to solve the issue of solid waste treatment for thin films applications such as SiO 2 , Si 3 N 4 , SiC, SiO x N y ,…, α‐Si,…). The DPA is designed to capture all the residue during deposition, using both a passive and an active mode. It consists of two labyrinth‐shaped electrodes that can trap particles by gravitation (passive) and electrostatically (active) by application of a DC electric field. The second function of the device is to vaporize the previously trapped residues using a periodic plasma assisted clean. The vaporization process is performed by re‐ionizing the effluent PFCs gas (PerFluoro‐Coumpounds) from the processing chamber. All byproducts of the reaction are gaseous and water soluble. This results in the elimination of solid waste as well as improving vacuum pump lifetime. There is also better clean gas utilization and the emission of PFCs in the atmosphere is reduced. In this paper, we review the particulate formation, their size and composition. We describe the DPA reactor designed to trap charged particulates with closed to 100% efficiency. We examine the plasma‐assisted cleaning process and the implications of the device in terms of solid waste treatment and environmental impact.
Effect of application frequency on epidermal ornithine decarboxylase induction by chrysarobin in SENCAR mice

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC EC 4.1.1.17) induction in mouse epidermis after single or multiple topical applications of chrysarobin differed from that following topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Following a single application of 220 nmol chrysarobin, ODC activity began to rise at 24 h reaching a peak at 56 h and returned to normal after 96 h. When 5 separate applications of 220 nmol chrysarobin were applied in multiple application protocols, an alteration in the ODC induction response was observed. With a once per week or twice per week application protocol, ODC was elevated in a multiphasic manner giving multiple peaks of activity after the last application. Interestingly, the magnitude of ODC induction was greater using the once per week, compared to the twice per week, application protocol. Preliminary results indicate that a once per week application protocol is more effective than a twice per week protocol for promoting the development of skin papillomas in SENCAR mice. Thus, the magnitude of the induced ODC response with chrysarobin, although low compared to TPA, correlated with tumor promoting activity.
A gene triggering flower formation in Arabidopsis

In Arabidopsis, the apical shoot meristem produces lateral meristems that develop into either shoots or flowers. The decision to form flowers instead of shoots is mediated by the action of floral-meristem-identity genes, such as APETALA1 (AP1) and LEAFY (LFY), which specify meristem fate. Here we show that transgenic plants which constitutively express the AP1 gene show transformations of apical and lateral shoots into flowers, and that these plants flower much earlier than wild-type plants. These results indicate that AP1 alone can convert infloresence shoot meristems into floral meristems, and that ectopic AP1 expression can dramatically reduce the time to flowering.
Urinary excretion of angiotensinogen reflects intrarenal angiotensinogen production.

Urinary excretion of angiotensinogen reflects intrarenal angiotensinogen production. Background In rats maintained on a high salt diet (H/S) to suppress basal renal angiotensinogen levels, angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion for 13 days increased renal angiotensinogen mRNA and protein, thus providing a mechanism for further augmentation of intrarenal Ang II levels. The present study tested the hypothesis that enhanced intrarenal angiotensinogen formation during Ang II infusion is reflected by secretion into the tubular fluid leading to increased urinary excretion of angiotensinogen (U AGT ). Methods The effects of chronic Ang II infusion were examined on kidney and plasma Ang II levels and U AGT in male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on an 8% salt diet for three weeks ( N = 10). Following one week on the H/S diet, Ang II (40 ng/min) was administered for two weeks via an osmotic minipump to one group (H/S + Ang II, N = 5), while the remaining rats were sham-operated (H/S + Sham, N = 5). Additionally, a control group was prepared with normal salt diet and sham-operation (N/S + Sham, N = 5). Results H/S alone did not alter systolic blood pressure (BP) (103 ± 2 vs. 104 ± 2 mm Hg), while Ang II infusion to H/S rats significantly increased systolic BP from 103 ± 2 to 154 ± 2 after two weeks. Intrarenal Ang II content in H/S + Ang II was significantly greater than H/S + Sham (435 ± 153 vs. 65 ± 14 fmol/g). Ang II infusion significantly increased U AGT (4.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2 nmol Ang I/day by radioimmunoassay of generated Ang I; 57 ± 15 vs. 14 ± 2 densitometric units by Western blotting analysis) compared to Sham. U AGT by radioimmunoassay was highly correlated with kidney Ang II content ( r = 0.79); but not with plasma Ang II concentration ( r = 0.20). Conclusions These data demonstrate that chronic Ang II infusion increases urinary excretion rate of angiotensinogen, and suggest that U AGT provides a specific index of intrarenal angiotensinogen production in Ang II-dependent hypertension.
Distribution, quantitation, and origin of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y in the human gastrointestinal tract

A radioimmunoassay for measurement of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y has been developed using antiserum from a rabbit (221) immunized with porcine neuropeptide Y. Antibody 221 has been characterized for both sensitivity and specificity. To determine the distribution of neuropeptide Y in the human gastrointestinal tract, fresh tissue specimens were separated by microdissection into the muscularis externa and the mucosa-submucosa. To examine the origin of neuropeptide Y in human colon, specimens of aganglionic and ganglionic colon were obtained from patients with Hirschsprung's disease. Immunoreactive neuropeptide Y in human gut was present in highest concentrations in the muscularis externa of the stomach and in lowest concentrations in the muscularis externa of the ileum and descending colon. Neuropeptide Y in the stomach was present in higher concentrations in the muscularis externa than in the mucosa-submucosa, but in the descending colon there were lower concentrations of neuropeptide Y in the muscularis externa than in the mucosa-submucosa. In Hirschsprung's disease, concentrations of neuropeptide Y were increased in aganglionic colon in both the muscularis externa and the mucosa-submucosa, compared to corresponding layers from proximal ganglionic colon. Extracts of the gastric muscularis externa and the colonic mucosa-submucosa were separated by C18 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. One major immunoreactive species was identified by radioimmunoassay which eluted in a position similar to synthetic human neuropeptide Y. These results demonstrated both regional and layer differences in concentrations of neuropeptide Y in human gut. Increased concentrations of neuropeptide Y in aganglionic colon from Hirschsprung's disease most likely result from enlargement of neuropeptide Y-containing extrinsic nerve fibers in both the mucosa-submucosa and the muscularis externa.
Formins regulate the actin-related protein 2/3 complex-independent polarization of the centrosome to the immunological synapse.

T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated cytoskeletal reorganization is considered to be actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex dependent. We therefore examined the requirement for Arp2/3- and formin-dependent F-actin nucleation during T cell activation. We demonstrated that without Arp2/3-mediated actin nucleation, stimulated T cells could not form an F-actin-rich lamellipod, but instead produced polarized filopodia-like structures. Moreover, the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC, or centrosome), which rapidly reorients to the immunological synapse through an unknown mechanism, polarized in the absence of Arp2/3. Conversely, the actin-nucleating formins, Diaphanous-1 (DIA1) and Formin-like-1 (FMNL1), did not affect TCR-stimulated F-actin-rich structures, but instead displayed unique patterns of centrosome colocalization and controlled TCR-mediated centrosome polarization. Depletion of FMNL1 or DIA1 in cytotoxic lymphocytes abrogated cell-mediated killing. Altogether, our results have identifed Arp2/3 complex-independent cytoskeletal reorganization events in T lymphocytes and indicate that formins are essential cytoskeletal regulators of centrosome polarity in T cells.
High spatial resolution secondary ion imaging and secondary ion mass spectrometry of aluminium‐lithium alloys

SUMMARY Samples of aluminium-lithium alloys have been observed by scanning ion microscopy and analysed by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The high signal-to-noise ratio of the positive secondary lithium ion opens up the possibility of both high resolution imaging and microanalysis of lithium distributions in aluminium and other materials. Some of the problems encountered due to sample preparation are discussed and ion images of both the artefacts and the true lithium distribution are shown.
Using multiple perspectives to suppress information and complexity

Dissemination of battlespace information involves getting information to particular warfighters that is both useful and in a form that facilitates the tasks of those particular warfighters. There are two issues which motivate this problem of dissemination. The first issue deals with disseminating pertinent information to a particular warfighter. This can be thought of as information suppression. The second issue deals with facilitating the use of the information by tailoring the computer interface to the specific tasks of an individual warfighter. This can be thought of as interface complexity suppression. This paper presents a framework for suppressing information using an object-based knowledge representation methodology. This methodology has the ability to represent knowledge and information in multiple perspectives. Information can be suppressed by creating a perspective specific to an individual warfighter. In this way, only the information pertinent and useful to a warfighter is made available to that warfighter. Information is not removed, lost, or changed, but spread among multiple perspectives. Interface complexity is managed in a similar manner. Rather than have one generalized computer interface to access all information, the computer interface can be divided into interface elements. Interface elements can then be selected and arranged into a perspective-specific interface. This is done in a manner to facilitate completion of tasks contained in that perspective. A basic battlespace domain containing ground and air elements and associated warfighters is used to exercise the methodology.
Network Autocorrelation Models Some Monte Carlo Results

For network effects models of network autocorrelation we use Monte Carlo methods to study the relative properties of three estimation methods. The methods are the iterative maximum likelihood estimation (Ord, 1975; Doreian, 1981), ordinary least squares, and a regression-based “quick and dirty” substitution for iterative MLE. Of the three, OLS is clearly the inferior estimation method and MLE the superior method. We recommend the use of the maximum likelihood method when network autocorrelation models are to be estimated.
Planar, twisted, and trans-bent: conformational flexibility of neutral diborenes.

The potassium graphite reduction of R‘BBr3 (R‘ = :C{N(2,4,6-Me3C6H2)CH}2) in Et2O led to the isolation of 3 (R‘(H)BB(H)R‘) and 4 (R‘(H)2B−B(H)2R‘), with BB double and B−B single bonds, respectively. These compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H and 11B NMR, and elemental analyses. Neutral diborene 3 exhibits polymorphic planar (3a), twisted (3b), and trans-bent (3c) geometries in the solid state.
Radial measurement of hydrodynamically generated concentration profiles for molecular weight determination

Hydrodynamically generated concentration gradients, obtained by injecting a plug of sample in a straight cylindrical tube, are manipulated changing flow rate and tube length. The ratio of axial velocity to radial velocity experienced by the analyte due to the combined effect of diffusion and convection in the flow through tube dictates the shape of the concentration profile. The radial concentration gradient is sensitively measured by a refractive index gradient (RIG) detector
Restructuring Dermatology Education at Cleveland Medical Centers Affiliated With Case Western Reserve University

We describe our response to the changing needs for dermatologic education and training at Cleveland medical centers affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU) located in Cleveland, Ohio. Our departmental plan for change is a multifaceted approach that alters the number of dermatology residents we train and also the way we interact with and educate our generalist colleagues. Like many other dermatologists, 1-3 we have both idealistic and practical reasons for increasing our involvement in interdisciplinary education. One of our primary objectives is maximizing quality of care for dermatologic patients in our community. Traditionally, the majority of skin care in the United States has been provided by nondermatologists, and with the growth of managed care, this proportion is increasing. 4,5 This has motivated us to increase our medical student teaching activities and to support the American Academy of Dermatology in its current efforts to develop a dermatology core curriculum for students. We should also be involved in the education of generalist physicians, since prior studies have suggested that their knowledge of dermatology needs improvement. 6-16 Our goals should be both to improve the direct patient care skills of primary care physicians and to teach clinically appropriate referral thresholds. The American Academy of Dermatology has recently issued guidelines for the referral of dermatology patients in managed care settings to help ensure that our specialty has input into this process. 17 In addition, teaching gatekeeper physicians to use appropriate referral criteria is important to many dermatologists in capitated managed care systems who often prefer limited as opposed to unrestricted access to their services.
On feature extraction in pattern recognition

Abstract This paper proposes the concept of equivocation from information theory as a criterion for feature selection. An expression for equivocation is derived in terms of class conditional probabilities. By making the assumption that the patterns in each class are normally distributed, a transformation matrix that minimizes the equivocation in the reduced dimension is obtained. Furthermore, a relationship between the equivocation and the expected divergence between any pair of classes is presented.
Effects of dietary aflatoxin in aflatoxin-resistant and control lines of chickens.

Abstract The resistance to a single oral dose (12 mg of aflatoxin per kg of BW) and 4 wk of dietary aflatoxin (2.5 mg per kg of feed) were investigated in chicks selected for five generations for resistance to acute aflatoxicosis (AR) and unselected control (C) chicks. The AR chicks were more resistant to a single oral dose of aflatoxin and had significantly decreased sodium pentobarbital sleeping time compared to C chicks. Four-weeks exposure to dietary aflatoxin did not result in any significant change in BW or feed conversion ratios of chicks from either the C or AR line. However, more sensitive indicators of aflatoxicosis including plasma total protein, albumin, cholesterol concentrations, and gamma glutamyl transferase activity were significantly altered in C chicks but not in AR chicks fed aflatoxin. Percentages of liver lipid and liver hyperplasia score were also significantly altered as a result of dietary aflatoxin treatment in C but not AR chicks. These data indicate that selection-associated differences exist between the C and AR lines of chickens that convey resistance to not only a single oral dose of aflatoxin but also to a more chronic dietary exposure to aflatoxin.
A simplified and effective method for freezing and storage of chick embryo fibroblasts at −79°C*

Summary A simple method has been worked out forfreezing and storage of chick embryo fibroblastic cells. Cell suspensions were shelf-frozen at −75°C to −79°C, stored in the growth medium, and supplemented with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide in polypropylene tubes. More than 90% of the cells which were stored for 220 days were still viable after thawing.
Beta-secretase as a target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Finding inhibitors of the first step of the amyloid cascade, Aβ42 generation, is a major goal of Alzheimer's disease drug development. Two target protease activities, β-and γ-secretase, were detected more than 10 years ago but progress in this area has been slow because the enzymes were not identified. Using an expression cloning strategy we have identified a novel membrane bound aspartic protease, BACE1, as β-secretase. The enzyme has been characterized in detail. The X-ray crystal structure, which is critical for rational inhibitor design, has been solved and shown to be similar to that of other pepsin family members. Our recent knockout studies show that BACE1 is critical for Aβ generation, but the knockout mice show an otherwise normal phenotype, raising the possibility that therapeutic BACE1 inhibition could be accomplished without major mechanism based toxicity. Target-mediated toxicity of β-secretase inhibition cannot be ruled out, however, as long as the major substrates of this enzyme are unknown. Although various peptidic β-secretase inhibitors have been published, the key challenge now is the generation of more drug-like compounds that could be developed for therapeutic purposes. The focus of this review is progress in the β-secretase field from the identification of the enzyme in 1999 to the most recent publications. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In vivo radiation-induced thymine residue release from E. coli DNA

Abstract Cells of E. coli C thy − 321 are examined for thymine residue release from DNA following gamma-irradiation from 5 to 15 krad. Experimental conditions are designed to inhibit enzyme activity that might promote base residue release. Enzyme action is restricted in order to assess the physicochemical action of radiation on cellular DNA, and to this end irradiation is done under O 2 , N 2 , and N 2 O saturating conditions. Both thymine and thymidine release from bacterial DNA are detected and quantitated, and three oxygen effects are noted in comparing yields of these products. No difference in effect is observed between N 2 and N 2 O gassing conditions, suggesting that the hydroxyl radical has little effect on thymine or thymidine release from irradiated DNA in vivo .
Chronic ethanol consumption causes increased glucuronidation of morphine in rabbits.

1. Male rabbits were given an i.p. injection of 15 mg/kg morphine and plasma concentrations of morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) were simultaneously quantified by h.p.l.c. After 14 days of 10% ethanol in the rabbits' drinking water, a second injection of morphine was administered and plasma concentrations were determined again. 2. Morphine plasma clearance increased significantly by 42% after ethanol treatment. The area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) for morphine decreased by 23% while the AUC for the glucuronide increased by 22%. 3. The ratio of the AUCs (glucruonide/morphine) increased by 72%. These results demonstrate that chronic ethanol treatment of rabbits results in increased clearance of morphine after an i.p. dose. The increase in clearance is most likely due to induction of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isozymes by ethanol.
Measurement of liquid metal viscosity by rotational technique

The rotational measurement technique has been developed to measure the dynamic viscosity of liquid metals. A special procedure is accomplished to eliminate both end and eccentricity effects. The technique was calibrated and tested with liquids of known rheology. The apparent viscosity of low melting alloy composite is measured by means of the technique.
Joint Angles Similarities and HOG2 for Action Recognition

We propose a set of features derived from skeleton tracking of the human body and depth maps for the purpose of action recognition. The descriptors proposed are easy to implement, produce relatively small-sized feature sets, and the multi-class classification scheme is fast and suitable for real-time applications. We intuitively characterize actions using pairwise affinities between view-invariant joint angles features over the performance of an action. Additionally, a new descriptor for spatio-temporal feature extraction from color and depth images is introduced. This descriptor involves an application of a modified histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) algorithm. The application produces a feature set at every frame, and these features are collected into a 2D array which then the same algorithm is applied to again (the approach is termed HOG2). Both feature sets are evaluated in a bag-of-words scheme using a linear SVM, showing state-of-the-art results on public datasets from different domains of human-computer interaction.
Dispersal, Deterrence, and Damage

Dispersal of alert bombers to large-city airfields has been proposed as a way of improving deterrence by increasing the targets that an enemy first strike would have to destroy, without the cost of constructing new bases. It does, however, make urgent targets out of population centers that might otherwise not be attacked. The improvement in deterrence has to be weighted against the greater damage the enemy would be required to inflict in the event he otherwise could not afford, or would not choose, to hit cities. This choice cannot be made without giving quantitative weights to alternative outcomes of war, and evaluating alternative probabilities of successful deterrence. The underlying strategic issue is whether general war, if it occurs, necessarily has to be unlimited, indiscriminate, and exhaustive.
Radioprotection in mice following oral administration of WR-1065/PLGA nanoparticles.

Purpose: N-(2-mercaptoethyl)1,3-diaminopropane (WR-1065), is the active metabolite of amifostine, a broad spectrum cytoprotective agent used in conjunction with both chemo- and radiotherapy of certain cancers. This report describes for the first time an oral formulation of WR-1065 and follows on from our earlier report of a similar oral formulation of amifostine.Materials and methods: The nanoparticles of WR-1065 were prepared by spray drying technique using poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) as the polymer matrix. Radioprotection was determined by measuring reductions in radiation-induced: (i) 30-day survival; (ii) bone marrow suppression; and (iii) intestinal injury following 9 Gray (Gy) whole body gamma irradiation in mice. All treatments were given 1 hour pre-irradiation and WR-1065 was tested at the dose of 500 mg/kg.Results: The WR-1065/PLGA nanoparticles were smooth and spherical with the average diameter of 206 nm and contained 21.7% (w/w) WR-1065. While irradiation markedly reduced 30-day survival ...
Chemical Analysis of the C'l Fraction of Human Complement.∗

SummaryA tabulation of the elementary, (partial) amino acid, and carbohydrate composition of the preparation of C'l is presented in Table I. The figure for hydroxy amino acid content of the C'l preparation (23.4%) compares favorably with the value of 21.3% obtained for a β-globulin concentrate by Brand, Kassel, and Saidel,2 and with the value of 22.5% obtained by these authors for γ-globulin.
Processing Effects on the Behavior of Titanate Waste Forms in Aqueous Solutions

Titanate processing parameters including temperature, waste loading, redox conditions, and additives used to promote specific phases were evaluated with respect to their effect on leaching of Cs, Mo, Ca, Sr, Ba, U, Gd, and Ti in the range of 22°-150°C in leachates which included deionized water, acidic (pH 2), and basic (pH 12) solutions. Surface analyses and microstructural characterization were used to relate observed leaching behavior to processing parameters. Redox conditions were found to be very important with respect to Cs (and Mo) retention. Two Cs-bearing phases were found in titanate prepared under oxidizing conditions. One had a hollandite structure and the other contained Cs, Mo, Ca, and Fe as major constituents. The latter phase, which was more susceptible to leaching, was not observed in titanates prepared using adequate reducing conditions. Where applicable, a reference glass (PNL 76–68) was included in the leaching tests. Comparative leach rates for elements common to both waste forms were generally one to four orders of magnitude lower for the titanates within the range of conditions used.
Mechanically Driven Alloying and Magnetic Properties in Immiscible Mn80Bi20 Nanocrystalline Powders

The paper has described the formation of nanocrystalline Mn80Bi20 powders by mechanical alloying and studied the changes of structure and magnetic properties of the powders during the process of ball milling by using X-ray diffraction and saturation magnetization σs measurements. The solid solubility of bismuth in manganese increases with milling time and tends to a stable value after 80h milling. The σs of Mn80Bi20 increases abruptly with milling time at the early stage and begins to decrease after 15h. At the time of 15h, the σs reaches a maximum, which is about 7Am2/kg. The result shows an interesting information that the antiferromagnetic Mn and the diamagnetic Bi produce ferromagnetic Mn80Bi20 in process of mechanical alloying.