cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The world wide telecom web browser

As the number of telephony voice applications grow, there will be a need for a browser to surf the Web of interconnected voice applications (called as VoiceSites). These VoiceSites are accessed through a telephone over an audio channel. We present the concept and architecture of T-Web Browser, a World Wide Telecom Web browser that enables browsing the Web of voice applications through an ordinary phone. This browser will support rich browsing features such as history and bookmarking.
Asthma incidence: data from the National Health Interview Survey, 1980-1996.

Objective. To obtain historical estimates of US asthma incidence from 17 years of health survey data. Methods. The 1980 through 1996 National Health Interview Survey contained a question asking about the time of asthma onset in persons with asthma. Annual past year incidence estimates were calculated from self-reports of asthma status. Results. Incidence increased from 2.5 per 1,000 (SE 0.37) in 1980 to 6.0 per 1,000 (SE 0.75) in 1996. Incidence increased faster in children than in adults and increased in females but not in males during this time. Conclusion. These findings suggest that increasing asthma incidence contributed to the increasing prevalence during this time.
Pioneers of ecological restoration: the people and legacy of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum

On the shores of Lake Wingra, in the heart of Wisconsin's capital, and just a short walk from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's sprawling campus, five square kilometers of restored prairie, for...
Molecular Regulation of Vertebrate Early Endoderm Development

Abstract Detailed study of the ectoderm and mesoderm has led to increasingly refined understanding of molecular mechanisms that operate early in development to generate cellular diversity. More recently, a number of powerful studies have begun to characterize the molecular determinants of the endoderm, a germ layer previously neglected in developmental biology. Work in diverse model systems has converged on an integrated transcriptional and signaling pathway that serves to establish the vertebrate endoderm. A T-box transcription factor identified in Xenopus embryos, VegT, appears to function near the top of an endoderm-specifying transcriptional hierarchy. VegT activates and reinforces Nodal -related TGFβ signaling and also induces expression of essential downstream transcriptional regulators, Mix-like paired-homeodomain and GATA factors. These proteins cooperate to regulate expression of a relay of HMG-box Sox-family transcription factors culminating with Sox 17, which may be an obligate mediator of vertebrate endoderm development. This review synthesizes findings in three vertebrate model organisms and discusses these genetic interactions in the context of the progressive acquisition of endodermal identity early in vertebrate development.
Cannel Coal Pendants: Types and Distribution

This article reviews the occurrence of cannel coal pendants on archaeological sites in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and northern Maryland. A table lists the sites, drainages, and the types and numbers of pendants found in Pennsylvania; weights and measurements are provided for pendants found at four sites: Bunola, Crow, McJunkin, and Mapletown. As part of the research, two types of pendants, imitation bear canines and imitation elk canines, were replicated using Butler County, Pennsylvania cannel coal. Results about the study of manufacturing techniques and the patterns of wear from drilling and use are presented. The article concludes with discussions about the distribution of the pendants and comments on the cultural affiliation of their makers.
Substituted tryptophans at amyloid-β(1-40) residues 19 and 20 experience different environments after fibril formation.

Abstract Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is the principal component of the neuritic plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. The predominant Aβ morphology in the plaques is fibrillar which has prompted substantial in vitro work to better understand the molecular organization of Aβ fibrils. In the current study, tryptophan substitutions were made at Aβ(1–40) position 19 (F19W) or 20 (F20W) to ascertain environmental differences between the two residues in the fibril structure. Kinetic studies revealed similar rates of fibril formation between Aβ(1–40) F19W and F20W and both peptides formed typical amyloid fibril structures. Aβ(1–40) F19W fibrils displayed a significant tryptophan fluorescence blue-shift in λmax (33 nm) compared to monomer while Aβ(1–40) F20W fibrils had a much smaller shift (9 nm). Fluorescence quenching experiments with water-soluble acrylamide and KI demonstrated that both W19 and W20 were much less accessible to quenching in fibrils compared to monomer. Lipid-soluble TEMPO quenched the fluorescence of Aβ(1–40) F19W fibrils more effectively than F20W fibrils in agreement with the fluorescence blue-shift results. These findings demonstrate distinct environments between Aβ(1–40) residues 19 and 20 fibrils and indicate that while W20 accessibility is compromised in Aβ fibrils it resides in a much less hydrophobic environment than W19.
MALS: an efficient strategy for multiple site-directed mutagenesis employing a combination of DNA amplification, ligation and suppression PCR

Background Multiple approaches for the site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) have been developed. However, only several of them are designed for simultaneous introduction of multiple nucleotide alterations, and these are time consuming. In addition, many of the existing multiple SDM methods have technical limitations associated with type and number of mutations that can be introduced, or are technically demanding and require special chemical reagents.
Kin Financial Support: Receipt and Provision Among Unmarried Mothers

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,039), we investigate how social resources influence unmarried mothers' provision and receipt of financial support within their social networks and whether patterns of financial support vary by race and ethnicity. Multinomial regression results indicate that relative to neither giving nor receiving, more advantaged mothers have higher odds of providing others with financial help, yet less advantaged mothers do not have consistently higher odds of receiving help. Tests for interactions indicate that financial support may be less available for Blacks in need than for other groups. Our findings provide evidence that because of its unpredictable nature and unequal availability among disadvantaged groups, informal financial support cannot be expected to fill gaps in the public safety net.
A fast test for unique decipherability based on suffix trees (Corresp.)

The classical algorithm for testing unique decipherability of codes is improved by using McCreight's algorithm for constructing suffix trees. The complexity of the algorithm is O(nm) where n is the number of codewords and m is their total length. Efficiency is gained by avoiding repeatedly comparing subwords of the codewords.
Some Observations of Articulation during Labial Sensory Deprivation

Photographic measurement techniques were used to study labial movement under normal speaking conditions and when sensory feedback from the lips was reduced by trigeminal nerve-block anesthesia. Lip...
Distinct developmental growth patterns account for the disproportionate expansion of the rostral and caudal isocortex in evolution

In adulthood, the isocortex of several species is characterized by a gradient in neurons per unit of cortical surface area with fewer neurons per unit of cortical surface area in the rostral pole relative to the caudal pole. A gradient in neurogenesis timing predicts differences in neurons across the isocortex: neurons per unit of cortical surface area are fewer rostrally, where neurogenesis duration is short, and higher caudally where neurogenesis duration is longer. How species differences in neurogenesis duration impact cortical progenitor cells across its axis is not known. I estimated progenitor cells per unit of ventricular area across the rostro-caudal axis of the isocortex in cats (Felis catus) and in dogs (Canis familiaris) mostly before layers VI-II neurons are generated. I also estimated the ventricular length across the rostro-caudal axis at various stages of development in both species. These two species were chosen because neurogenesis duration in dogs is extended compared with cats. Caudally, cortical progenitors expand more tangentially and in numbers in dogs compared with cats. Rostrally, the cortical proliferative zone also expands more tangentially in dogs compared cats. However, the tangential expansion in the rostral cortical proliferative zone occurs without a concomitant increase in progenitor cell numbers. The tangential expansion of the ventricular surface in the rostral cortex is mediated by a reduction in cell density. These different developmental growth patterns account for the disproportionate expansion of the rostral (i.e., frontal cortex) and caudal cortex (e.g., primary visual cortex) when neurogenesis duration lengthens in evolution.
A unique glycoprotein containing GR-mouse mammary tumor virus peptides and additional peptides unrelated to viral structural proteins

Abstract A glycoprotein of molecular weight 130,000 (gP130) has been precipitated from the cytoplasm of GR-strain mouse mammary tumor (GR-MMT) cells by a rabbit antiserum (anti-MMTV) to GR-strain mouse mammary tumor virus (GR-MMTV). This protein was not precipitated by antisera specific for detergent-disrupted C3H-strain MMTV (C3H-MMTV); C3H-MMTV glycoproteins; C3H-MMTV nonglycosylated proteins; GR-MMTV p25 or p12; RIII strain (milk) MMTV proteins; or Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) proteins; nor was it precipitated by normal rabbit serum. Two-dimensional thin layer analysis of 35 S-methionine-containing tryptic peptides revealed that five of nine gp33 peptides and one of seven gp55 peptides are shared by gP130 and gPr76 env . The envelope protein precursor, gPr76 env , contains all of the gp33 peptides and six of seven gp55 peptides. One peptide in gPr76 env , possibly a gp55-gp33 junction peptide, is also apparently present in gP130. Six of ten p25 peptides and four more gag -related peptides are shared by Pr78 gag and gP130. Protein gP130 also contains several tryptic peptides not found in gPr76 env or in the core protein precursors Pr78 gag , Pr110 gag or Pr180 gag-pol . Radioimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that gP130 could be precipitated from extracts of GR-MMTV cells with anti-MMTV serum even after antibodies to the known MMTV structural proteins had been removed from the serum by absorption. Both gP130 and a second protein, p30, were found in immunoprecipitates of detergent-disrupted isotopically labeled GR-MMTV treated with the absorbed anti-MMTV serum. These results suggest that antibodies to gP130 in the anti-MMTV serum are capable of recognizing those protein sequences unique to gP130; that is, those protein sequences which are not related to viral structural proteins. In light of these data and data published previously, gP130 is apparently a polyprotein containing juxtaposed components translated from the 5′ and 3′ end of the MMTV genome and protein components not previously identified as virus-specific.
Characterization of Water Vapor Transmission Rate Through Fuel Cell Components

An instrument capable of measuring vapor transmission rates under any desired gradient of concentration and pressure is described. The test temperature, pressure, humidity and flow rates are precisely controlled and accurately measured. The instrument is completely automated to obtain objective and accurate results and minimal involvement of the operator. Using this instrument a variety of materials, including a fuel cell component, have been successfully investigated.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Computer Security Practices and Perceptions of the Next Generation of Corporate Computer Use

The purpose of this article is to present the results of an empirical study of the computer security practices and perceptions of the next generation of corporate computer users, undergraduate university students. The authors surveyed undergraduate university students who represented 42 different majors. The findings relate to the studentsâ€™ usage of antivirus programs, firewalls, password security, and security patches. Student perceptions of computer security and its importance are also reported. Research in this area is important for two reasons. First, potential employers may find the results useful in assessing their vulnerability to unsafe practices from entry level employees. Secondly, research in this area can give those responsible for providing computer security education a better understanding of studentsâ€™ computer security training needs.
Laser-induced ocular hypertension in albino CD-1 mice.

Animal models of glaucoma are important tools for elucidating pathogenic mechanisms and for testing potential therapeutic modalities.1–5 Each model system has unique strengths and limitations. Nonhuman primate eyes are anatomically most similar to human eyes, yet experimentation with monkeys is limited by its high cost and is not well suited for studies requiring large numbers of animals. Among rodent models commonly used in glaucoma research, mouse models offer the distinct advantage of enabling genetic manipulation. Although DBA/2J is the best-characterized mouse model of glaucoma,6 the penetrance of glaucomatous damage is incomplete, and the onset of disease in individual animals cannot be precisely defined. Furthermore, the analysis of gene function requires extensive breeding of mutant alleles into the inbred DBA/2J background. In this study, we sought to develop and characterize a laser-induced experimental model in CD-1 mice based on several rationales. First, CD-1 is an albino outbred stock whose genetic heterogeneity more closely mimics the variability of human population than do inbred strains.7 Second, because of superior breeding performance, CD-1 is widely used by investigators to maintain mutant mouse strains. The addition of a CD-1 model to the repertoire of available glaucoma models would, therefore, facilitate the genetic analysis of this complex disease. Third, although laser photocoagulation has previously been described in pigmented mice,8–11 there are no published reports of such work in albino mice. Given that the absence of melanin dramatically alters the absorption of laser energy by ocular tissues, a distinct set of operative parameters must be established for the successful induction of glaucoma. Fourth, the lack of pigmentation in CD-1 mice facilitates visualization of ocular vasculature, thus enabling better targeting of laser power. Here we describe our studies of the induction of ocular hypertension in CD-1 mice using laser photocoagulation of limbal and episcleral veins. Major pathologic responses in this model consisted of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon damage and the loss of RGC molecular markers in cell somas, similar to findings in DBA/2J glaucomatous mice. Using the precise onset of ocular hypertension in this laser model, we placed these key pathologic events in an approximate temporal sequence. The earliest detectable morphologic sign of damaged occurred in RGC axons at the optic nerve head (ONH) and included both degenerative changes and a previously undocumented phenomenon of axon reactive plasticity and aberrant growth.
Influence of Taxonomy, Ecology, and Seasonality in River Stage on Fish Contamination Risks in Floodplain Swamps of the Lower Mississippi River

We compared contamination levels in fish from contaminated and uncontaminated floodplain swamps of the lower Mississippi River to assess differences in contamination risks between swamps, across different taxonomic and ecological groupings of fishes within and between swamps, and with seasonality in river stage. Fish tissue levels of inorganic contaminants were substantially lower than environmental levels in both swamps, suggesting either that fish were not uptaking these contaminants, or they were effectively eliminating the contaminants from their bodies. Tissue levels of organic contaminants were high relative to environmental levels, suggesting that these contaminants were bioaccumulating. Organic contaminants were significantly higher in fish from the contaminated swamp (Devil's Swamp) than in fish from a reference swamp up river (Tunica Swamp). Because the organic contaminants were largely confined to sediments, we expected bottom-oriented fishes to have higher concentrations than pelagic fishes. Assuming that uptake was primarily through the food chain, we expected top predators to exhibit higher concentrations than low-level consumers. We also expected year- round swamp residents to exhibit higher accumulations than more transitory users of backswamp habitat. However, organic contaminant levels did not differ in the directions expected for any of these groupings. We did observe differences in organic contaminant levels within and between swamps for different taxonomic groupings of fishes (species and genera). Some taxa occupying low to middle positions in the food web (e.g., gizzard shad, Lepomis spp.) exhibited higher concentrations than taxa near the top of the food web. Within Devil's Swamp, organic contaminant levels were significantly higher at low river stage, when fish were confined to the swamp, than at high river stage, when fish were free to move between the river and the swamp. We caught more species and more fish per unit effort in Devil's Swamp than in Tunica Swamp, contrary to expectations if contaminants in the former were negatively impacting population and community structure. Species richness differences between swamps were a consequence of catch differences, with higher catch corresponding to inclusion of more rare species. The lower catch in Tunica Swamp may have resulted from physical modifications of its waterways to support agriculture and hunting. The results of this study underscore the importance in factoring information on the taxonomy and ecology of organisms, and seasonal changes in environmental conditions, into assessments of contamination risks.
Development of a new model for rotator cuff pathology : the rabbit subscapularis muscle

Background and purpose The New Zealand white rabbit subscapularis tendon passes under a bony arch to insert on the lesser tubercle of the humerus in a manner analogous to the supraspinatus tendon in humans. We assessed whether this unique anatomy may provide a new animal model of the shoulder to improve our understanding of rotator cuff pathology.Methods The dimensions of the rotator cuff insertions (subscapularis, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus) were measured on 10 fresh frozen cadaveric New Zealand white rabbit shoulders. Mechanical testing was performed on 8 fresh frozen subscapularis insertions (4 matched pairs). Video analysis of the gait cycle was performed on 2 live animals.Results The origins, insertions, and innervations of the rabbit rotator cuff musculature are analogous to those in humans. However, the rabbit acromion is a rudimentary structure with only the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles passing beneath. Furthermore, at the point where the infraspinatus passes under the arch, it is m...
The Stream of Consciousness: XXIII. James Contra the Intellectualists (First Part):

James distinguished the states of consciousness that successively constitute a stream of consciousness from how they appear to inner awareness. For one thing, the stream has a discrete temporal structure whereas its basic durational components inwardly seem continuous, each with the next one: partly because the stream never abruptly changes in all of the features of its content. States of consciousness that James called “transitive” apprehend objective relations existing between items apprehended successively. The Intellectualists claimed that states of the mundane Jamesian qualitative kind cannot provide awareness of relations and they introduced purely conceptualizing mental states to do the job from on high. James formulated a number of cogent opposing arguments: some of these are discussed in the present article. These arguments may well prove useful, too, against an understanding of consciousness that has been advanced recently in a neuro-psychological context. More extremely than the Intellectualist...
Geographic limits to global labor market flexibility: The human resources paradox of the cruise industry

Abstract The cruise industry enjoys arguably the most flexible and globalized of all labor markets. Yet, in an apparent paradox, cruise lines face a potential labor shortage, despite the fact that the bulk of their labor is sourced from the Global South where a large labor surplus would seemingly make recruitment a simple process. This paper examines this paradox in greater detail with a focus on the tension that exists between the industry’s demand for a flexible labor force, and the need for workers who maintain the skills required of a cruise ship job. It is argued that the contemporary geography of global labor recruitment is constrained by the particular political, economic and cultural circumstances of individual source countries that make certain cohorts less attractive or available as a workforce. In practice the need for skill and flexibility are not always reconcilable and cruise lines have found that there is a geographic limit to labor market flexibility. The article is based on interviews with various stakeholders involved in either working on cruise ships or in recruiting workers. Special emphasis is placed on Filipino cruise ship workers and labor recruiters as a means to discuss labor recruitment for the entire industry.
SCT: an approach for testing and configuring nanoscale devices

Molecular electronics-based devices are assumed to include at least 10 gate-equivalents/cm and defect densities as high as 10%; novel test strategies are necessary to efficiently test and diagnose these nanoscale devices. Configuration time, test time and defect map size are among the major challenges for these new devices. In this paper, we propose a new approach that simultaneously configures and tests nano devices. A new built-in self-test (BIST) scheme for testing and defect tolerance of nanoscale devices is proposed. The proposed procedure is based on testing reconfigurable nanoblocks at the time of implementing a function of a desired application on that block. This simultaneous configuration and test (SCT) procedure considerably reduces the test and configuration time. It also eliminates the need for storing the location of the defects in the defect map on/off-chip. The presented probabilistic analyses results show the effectiveness of this process in terms of test and configuration time for architectures with rich interconnect resources.
A retrospective cohort study of mortality among children with birth defects in New York State, 1983–2006

BACKGROUND Birth defects, which occur in about 3% of live births in the United States each year, have remained the leading cause of infant mortality, although the infant mortality rate in the United States has decreased significantly over the past decades. The objective of this study was to conduct a retrospective cohort study with long-term follow-up of the children in New York State Congenital Malformations Registry (CMR) for up to 24 years on their mortality status to evaluate the mortality risk of children with birth defects by age at death, birth defect category and other possible contributing factors. METHODS Children born in 1983–2006 with reportable birth defects were included in the study cohort. A sub-cohort was also constructed containing children born in 1983–2006 with selected major birth defects that are relatively severe congenital conditions identified at birth. New York State live births in 1983–2006 were used as the comparison population. The deaths among the study cohort were identified through linking CMR cases to the death certificate files. A Poisson regression model was used to calculate mortality rate ratios (mortality risk) adjusting for selected infant and maternal risk factors. RESULTS Compared to children without birth defects, the overall mortality risk was 6.7 times higher for children with any of the reportable birth defects and 23.6 times higher for children with selected major birth defects. The mortality risk decreased with increasing age of children. The top 5 most significantly high mortality risks were found among infants in neonatal period with anencephaly (RR = 200.5, 95% CI:180.6–222.5) and renal agenesis/dysgenesis (RR = 69.5, 95% CI:64.2–75.2), and among children aged 1–2 years with Trisomy 18 (RR = 206.4, 95% CI:28.5–331.6), Trisomy 13 (RR = 157.3, 95% CI:83.5–296.4), and hypoplastic left heart (RR = 161.5, 95% CI:20.1–217.2). Low birth weight and gestational age, multiple malformations and high lethality of anomalies involved were the major contributors to the high risk of mortality among children with selected major birth defects compared to those without birth defects. CONCLUSIONS Using the state-wide, population-based birth defects surveillance data to conduct a long-term follow-up of a large cohort of New York children, we were able to examine mortality and survival experience of the affected children during infancy and childhood period by individual birth defects of interest. As expected, children born with birth defects had a higher risk of mortality compared to children without birth defects. The magnitude of the risk varied by children's age, birth and maternal characteristics and the lethality of the specific birth defects involved. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The relationship between cannabis use disorders and social anxiety disorder in the National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

Background Cannabis use disorders (CUD) are highly comorbid with social anxiety disorder (SAD), and SAD may be a risk factor for cannabis dependence. This study explored these relationships in several ways. First, we examined whether SAD was more likely to be related to cannabis dependence than abuse. Second, we examined the temporal relations between CUD and SAD. Third, we examined whether SAD was related to faster transition from age of first cannabis use to CUD onset relative to other anxiety disorders. Fourth, we tested whether having both disorders was associated with greater impairment and psychiatric comorbidity.
Physiological Characteristics of Turkey Semen 1. Effect of Type of Diluent and Degree of Dilution on Duration of Motility in Turkey Spermatozoa

Abstract ACCORDING to Mann (1948), the monosaccharide sugar, fructose, is found in the semen of many animals. In some species it is evidently an indispensable source of energy for the spermatozoa. It is found in the seminal fluid of man, ram, bull, boar, stallion, rabbit, rat, and others. Until the present work was carried out, nothing had been reported concerning fructose in turkey semen. The spermatozoa “in vivo” are thought to take up fructose readily by diffusion (Mann, 1948). In the cell, it goes through an elaborate series of reactions known as fructolysis ending in an accumulation of lactic acid. Fructolysis is initiated and maintained by the influence of sperm enzymes and coenzymes, and is a feature of both the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of semen. In the investigations reported here, quantitative analyses for fructose in turkey semen have been made. An attempt has also been made to ascertain the role . . .
Production of complex syntax in normal ageing and alzheimer's disease

Abstract Word-finding difficulties are among the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but most AD patients retain the ability to produce well-formed sentences until the late stages of their disease. This dissociation has been used to argue for a modular distinction between grammar and the lexicon. In this paper, we offer an alternative view. First, we show that grammatical production is impaired in AD patients when grammar is assessed under highly constrained conditions in a film description task. Furthermore, these grammatical deficits are comparable in some respects to the patterns of lexical impairment observed in this and other studies of AD; specifically, patients do not produce frank lexical or grammatical errors, but they do find it difficult to access the “best fit” between meaning and form. We propose that differences in the onset time for lexical and grammatical symptoms in AD are due not to a disconnection between modules, but to fundamental differences in the automaticity and/or acce...
Seaward-dipping reflectors offshore the southeastern United States: Seismic evidence for extensive volcanism accompanying sequential formation of the Carolina trough and Blake Plateau basin

Deep-penetration multichannel seismic reflection profiles off the southeastern United States reveal widespread seaward-dipping reflectors (SDRs). Similar features have been imaged and sampled on other North Atlantic rifted margins, where voluminous volcanism has accompanied continental breakup. Beneath the Carolina trough are two sets of SDRs, one along a basement hinge zone and another seaward of the East Coast magnetic anomaly axis. The hinge SDRs lie beneath, and apparently developed prior to, a flood basalt that erupted at 184 ± 3 Ma and is marked by a prominent reflector, J. Beneath the northern Blake Plateau basin, only the hinge SDRs are observed, but they developed after J. We suggest that the inferred north-to-south age difference of SDR emplacement implies a heretofore unrecognized time-transgressive breakup of northwest Africa and North America during the early Middle Jurassic.
Urinary Prostaglandin F2α Is Generated from the Isoprostane Pathway and Not the Cyclooxygenase in Humans

Prostaglandins (PGs) derived from the enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid by the cyclooxygenases (COXs) are potent lipid mediators involved in human physiology and pathophysiology. Structurally similar compounds, the isoprostanes (IsoPs), are generated from the free radical-catalyzed oxidation of arachidonic acid independent of COX. IsoPs exhibit significant bioactivity and play a role in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with oxidant injury. As one of the major PGs, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is present in human urine in significant concentrations and is presumed to be derived from COX activity. We determined, however, that levels of putative PGF2α in urine cannot be suppressed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, suggesting that it is generated via another mechanism(s). An important difference between COX-derived PGF2α and the IsoPs is that the former is an optically pure compound, whereas IsoPs are racemic. Utilizing a rodent model of oxidative stress, we now show that significant amounts of compounds identical in all respects to PGF2α and its enantiomer, ent-PGF2α, are formed in equal amounts esterified in tissue phospholipids, suggesting that these compounds are derived via the IsoP pathway. Further, employing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, the vast majority of putative PGF2α in human urine is derived from the free radical-initiated peroxidation of arachidonate independent of COX and is composed of PGF2α and its enantiomer, although the latter compound is ∼2-fold more abundant. Thus, quantification of urinary PGF2α actually reflects oxidative stress status as opposed to COX activity. Indeed, levels of this compound are elevated in urine from cigarette smokers and in humans with hypercholesterolemia, two conditions associated with oxidant stress. The elucidation that urinary PGF2α in humans is derived from the IsoP pathway has implications regarding PG formation and inhibition in vivo.
Rotating flow past a short, sliced cylinder at finite Rossby number

Abstract Flow past a short obstacle in a rotating reference frame generates a wake that is crucial to the overall flow structure if the Rossby number is of the order of the quarter power of the Ekman number. We present here a theory for such flows for the case when the obstacle's top is an oblique, planar surface. The results arise from a combination of asymptotic analysis and numerical computation, and show that even weak asymmetry generates significant global effect on the entire flow-field. Comparisons with the experiments reported by Foster and Davies (1996) are generally good when the high edge is at 90° to the oncoming flow.
Community policing: Variations on the western model in the developing world

As countries in the developing world struggle to move from authoritarian policing to democratic policing, they have searched for models to adopt. This paper uses four case studies in Latin America and Africa to explore how the concept of community policing has been adapted to local environments. Our case studies reveal that efforts to introduce community policing in developing countries frequently run into serious difficulties, often hindered by low levels of professionalism of police agencies, public disrespect for law enforcement, lack of community organization, and other contextual factors. Focusing on Brazil, Haiti, Uganda, and South Africa, we have found that there is no single uniform model of community policing. Each example illustrates how influential the local context and history are in shaping the development of community-policing programs and in the eventual success of each application.
Optical techniques for diagnosis of cervical precancers: a comparison of Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies

In vivo fluorescence measurements were followed by in vitro NIR Raman measurements on 36 human cervical biopsies, 18 with suspected cervical dysplasia. Fluorescence spectra collected at 337 and 460 nm excitation were used to develop a diagnostic algorithm to differentiate between normal and dysplastic tissues. Using a fluorescence algorithm optimized on another much larger data set, a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 67% were observed for differentiating squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) from all other tissues for the 36 samples. In general, inflammation and metaplasia samples were misclassified at SILs in the larger sample set. A sensitivity and specificity of 57% and 100% were achieved for differentiating high grade from low grade SILs using a second fluorescence algorithm developed with a larger sample set. Using Raman scattering peaks observed at 626 and 1070 cm-1, SILs could be separated from other tissues with a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 100% in an algorithm optimized on the data set consisting of the 36 samples from this study. In addition, inflammation and metaplasia samples are correctly separated from the SILs. The band at 1656 cm-1 could differentiate both SILs from all other tissues as well as high grade from low grade lesions with a sensitivity of 91% and 88% and specificity of 86% and 100%, again using an algorithm optimized on the set of 36 samples. However, these encouraging results must be considered preliminary because of the small sample size. Performance of the fluorescence algorithm to differentiate SILs from squamous normals (sensitivity equals 84%, specificity equals 82%) was higher than was observed with a smaller data set when tested retrospectively on a larger prediction set of 237 samples.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Critical Assessment of Detecting Asphalt Pavement Cracks under Different Lighting and Low Intensity Contrast Conditions Using Emerging 3D Laser Technology

AbstractAfter decades of research and development, a fully automated system for pavement crack detection with an intensity-based two-dimensional (2D) imaging data acquisition system under different lighting and low intensity contrast conditions still remains a challenge. With the advances of sensor technology, a three-dimensional (3D) laser technology that can collect high-resolution 3D continuous transverse pavement profiles for detecting cracks on the basis of their 3D elevation rather than 2D intensity has become available. This study, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Research Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) program, evaluates the feasibility of using emerging 3D laser technology to detect cracks under different lighting and poor intensity contrast conditions. For this purpose, 3D surface data from laboratory tests on cracks ranging from 1 to 5mm wide and tests on the actual pavement cracks of different widths and depths and under different lighting conditions wer...
Effects of the route of infection on immunoglobulin G subclasses and specificity of the reovirus-specific humoral immune response.

Reovirus serotype 1, strain Lang (T1/L), a well characterized enteric virus, elicits humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Although orally and intradermally induced infections generate comparable reovirus-specific serum antibody titers, little is known about the effects of the route of infection on the systemic immunoglobulin G (IgG) response. To assess whether the route of exposure affects virus-specific humoral immunity, we infected various strains of mice with reovirus T1/L by the oral or intradermal routes. At day 10 following infection, virus-specific serum antibody titers and IgG subclasses were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies were detected in all mouse strains independent of the route of infection. Mice of the H-2d haplotype that received an intradermal infection also had high levels of reovirus-specific serum IgG1. This dichotomy of responses was not associated with differences in the types of cytokine produced by draining peripheral lymph nodes. However, peripheral lymph node lymphocytes from C3H mice produced significantly higher levels of gamma interferon than did BALB/c, C57BL/6, and B10.D2 mice. Additionally, peripheral lymph node lymphocytes from all strains of mice produced only low levels of interleukin-5, with no detectable level of interleukin-4 or interleukin-6. Analysis of specific antibody at inductive sites of the immune response showed that orally infected Peyer's patches produced predominantly IgA and intradermally infected peripheral lymph nodes produced predominantly IgG2a. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis showed that virus-specific IgA, IgG1, and IgG2a reacted with reovirus structural proteins. These data suggest that the route of infection affects the isotype and IgG subclasses, but not the antigen specificity, of the local antibody response. In addition, virus-specific IgG1 generated following an intradermally induced infection is linked to the H-2d major histocompatibility complex haplotype.
Morphology of polymers precipitated from a supercritical solvent

The precipitation of polymers via the rapid expansion of a supercritical chlorodifluoromethane solution to ambient conditions across a fine diameter capillary has been studied experimentally. The morphology of the polymers precipitated—polycaprolactone, poly(methyl methacrylate) and a styrene/methyl methacrylate block copolymer—is influenced strongly by conditions of the expansion process. Conditions of high temperature, high polymer concentration, low pressure or low capillary L/D ratio enhance the formation of high aspect ratio fibers, while opposite conditions favor the formation of spherical particles of micron size. Each of the conditions favoring fiber formation favors precipitation farther upstream in the expansion process. Based on one-dimensional compressible flow calculations using a virial equation of state for pure solvent, it is proposed that fiber formation occurs when a polymer-rich phase is rejected from solution in the entry region to the capillary. The location of precipitation is shown to be crucial in determining the characteristic time scale for the density reduction process, which may be as small as 10−7 s.
Changes in the structure of the outer radiation zone associated with the magnetic storm of September 30, 1961

Change in boundary of outer radiation zone following magnetic storm of september 30, 1961 - explorer vii data on trapped electron intensities
Static multipole polarizability of hydrogen-like atoms in an arbitrary bound S state

It is shown that the static multipole polarizability of hydrogen-like atoms can be obtained as the static limit of the dynamic multipole polarizability previously given by the author. Recent criticism by Jhanwar and Meath that this static limit leads to wrong results is unfounded.
Dietary consistency and the midline sutures in growing pigs.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of reduced masticatory function on midline suture growth and morphology in growing pigs.
Variation in Clinical Phenotype of Human Infection Among Genetic Groups of Blastomyces dermatitidis

BACKGROUND Blastomyces dermatitidis, the etiologic agent of blastomycosis, has 2 genetic groups and shows varied clinical presentation, ranging from silent infections to fulminant respiratory disease and dissemination. The objective of this study was to determine whether clinical phenotype and outcomes vary based on the infecting organism's genetic group. METHODS We used microsatellites to genotype 227 clinical isolates of B. dermatitidis from Wisconsin patients. For each isolate, corresponding clinical disease characteristics and patient demographic information were abstracted from electronic health records and Wisconsin Division of Health reportable disease forms and questionnaires. RESULTS In univariate analysis, group 1 isolates were more likely to be associated with pulmonary-only infections (P 1 month (P < .0001), older age at diagnosis (P < .0001), and current smoking status (P = .0001) remained predictors for group 2 infections. CONCLUSIONS This study identified previously unknown associations between clinical phenotype of human infection and genetic groups of B. dermatitidis and provides a framework for further investigations of the genetic basis for virulence in B. dermatitidis.
Expression profiling using random genomic DNA microarrays identifies differentially expressed genes associated with three major developmental stages of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major.

To complete its life cycle, protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmaniaundergo at least three major developmental transitions. However, previous efforts to identify genes showing stage regulated changes in transcript abundance have yielded relatively few. Here we used expression profiling to assess changes in transcript abundance in three stages: replicating promastigotes and infective non-replicating metacyclics, which occur in the sand fly vector, and in the amastigote stage residing with macrophage phagolysosomes in mammals. Microarrays were developed containing 11,484 PCR products that included a number of known genes and 10,464 random 1 kb genomic DNA fragments. Arrays were hybridized in triplicate and genes showing two-fold or greater changes in 2/3 experiments were scored as differentially expressed. Remarkably, only about one percent of the DNAs expression varied by this criteria, in either stage comparison. Northern blot analysis confirmed the predicted change in mRNA abundance for most of these (68%). This set of genes included most of those previously identified in the literature as differentially regulated as well as a number of novel genes. Notably, Leishmania maxicircle transcripts showed strong up-regulation in metacyclic and amastigote parasites, probably associated with changes in parasite energy metabolism. However, current data suggest that expression profiling using shotgun DNA libraries significantly underestimates the extent of regulated transcripts. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A Preliminary Checklist of Lichens at Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina, USA

Abstract. A total of 34 species representing 22 genera of lichens were found during a one-day foray at Fort Macon State Park, North Carolina; collections focused on the fort and surrounding maritime forest. This checklist supplements that of the nearby Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area (managed by the State Park), which was surveyed during the 12th Tuckerman Workshop in 2003. Noteworthy is the abundance of Diploschistes actinostomus and the recently described Xanthomendoza weberi (=Xanthomendoza fulva auct.), both found on capstones throughout the fort.
Surgical Relief of Diffuse Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

Direct surgical relief of diffuse subvalvular aortic stenosis has been accomplished in two cases by open operation through a left ventriculotomy.
Code bubbles: a practical working-set programming environment

Our original work on the Code Bubbles environment demonstrated that a working-set based framework for software development showed promise. We have spent the past several years extending the underlying concepts into a fully-functional system. In our demonstration, we will show the current Code Bubbles environment for Java, how it works, how it can be used, and why we prefer it over more traditional programming environments. We will also show how we have extended the framework to enhance software development tasks such as complex debugging, testing, and collaboration. This paper describes the features we will demonstrate.
Thinking critically about data consumption: Creating the data credibility checklist

As STEM areas increasingly rely on pre-existing data, either to validate or extend the scientific body of knowledge, students who have baseline knowledge of how to find, evaluate, and access data will have an advantage. Accordingly, undergraduate STEM curricula is increasingly focused on research-based group projects that develop professional skills, building the professional portfolio needed for early career scientists, technologists, and engineers. This project works to develop new tools to implement basic data skills within the undergraduate disciplinary curricula. The first step in this process was to identify the competencies that are likely to be needed by those seeking data for reuse. Using competencies identified in the literature and via brainstorming, formatted similarly to the traditional model used by librarians to teach assessment of publication quality, a data credibility checklist was developed as the first tool in an emerging toolkit.
Aldosterone potentiates 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 action in renal thick ascending limb via a nongenomic, ERK-dependent pathway.

Recently, we demonstrated that aldosterone inhibits HCO3- absorption in the rat medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) via a nongenomic pathway blocked by inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulate...
Familial ophthalmoplegia-plus syndrome with corneal endothelial disorder

The authors report two brothers with an ophthalmoplegia-plus syndrome characterized by chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia associated with hypogonadism, primary testicular failure, neural deafness, cone-rod degeneration and mild optic atrophy. One brother, the proband, was a daily soft contact lens wearer who developed persistent epithelial and stromal edema of the right cornea and had bilaterally thickened corneas by ultrasonic pachymetry. Endothelial studies of both brothers revealed marked polymegathism, and pleomorphism. Stressing the inherently abnormal endothelium with contact lens wear may have resulted in further endothelial compromise and corneal edema in the proband.Endothelial abnormalities may be another clinical finding within the spectrum of ophthalmoplegia-plus syndrome and should be searched for before fitting these individuals with contact lenses.