cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE OCULAR SECRETIONS OF THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS

A viscous ocular secretion streams from the eyes of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatuss, removed from the water. The chemical composition and environmentally adaptive implications of this substance continue to perplex curators and scientists. Secretions from three dolphins were examined for deviations from literature values for normal human and terrestrial mammalian tear film components. Osmolality (x= 470 mOsm/kg), pH (x= 8.44) and glucose (x= 26.58 mg/100 ml) were significantly greater than human and terrestrial mammalian tear film values; while lysozyme (x= 0.005 mg/ml) and total cholesterol (x= 0.17 μg/μ1) were significantly less. Refractive index, sodium ion concentration, and potassium tear to plasma ratios in the dolphin ocular secretion did not deviate significantly from human or terrestrial mammalian tears. Electrophoresis of dolphin tears yielded four major protein bands (probably lactoferrin, serum albumin, teat specific prealbumin, and lysozyme) and high molecular weight glycoproteins similar to human tears. The chemical composition of the T. truncatus ocular secretion suggests that the circumorbital conjunctival gland may be analogous (relative to refractive index, electrolytes, and component protein) to the terrestrial lachrymal gland. At the functional level the T. truncatus ocular secretion may reduce hydrodynamic resistance on the cornea and protect it from bacterial invasion.
Premenstrual tension syndrome: the development of research diagnostic criteria and new rating scales

Research diagnostic criteria for premenstrual tension syndrome (PMTS) are developed using data collected from a study of 42 women who were suffering from severe PMTS but were well at other times. Two specific scales are also devised for rating the severity of PMTS, a 36-item self-report questionnaire and a 10-item scale for use by therapist/researcher. It is proposed that after further evaluation and validation, these instruments may permit more useful comparisons of data on the etiology and treatment of this disorder.
Immunoprecipitation with two-dimensional pools as a hybridoma screening technique: production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against adenovirus 2 proteins.

Abstract A screening technique based on immunoprecipitation has been developed and used to select α-adenovirus monoclonal antibodies. This immunoprecipitation procedure can be used as a rapid primary screening method for virtually any antibody—antigen system. This method employs in vivo [ 35 S]methionine-labeled proteins as antigens and two-dimensional pools of hybrid culture supernatants as antibody, thus allowing identification of the specificity of a given well in the first screen. The α-adenovirus hybrids that have been cloned to date to yield stable, ascites fluid-producing tumors include two α-hexon clones, three α-fiber clones, one α-protein IX clone, and one clone that precipitates hexon plus two proteins of molecular weights 100,000 and 95,000 daltons. The α-protein IX clone as well as an α-hexon clone and an α-penton base clone were chosen for characterization of their specificities by immunoprecipitation analysis. The hybrid cell line secreting antibody against hexon, the major virion capsid protein, was characterized as being reactive with hexon trimers, both free in solution and assembled in groups of nine (“ninemers”). The α-hexon monoclonal antibody did not precipitate the monomer form of hexon, prepared by in vitro translation, or intact mature virions. These characteristics, as well as the ability to precipitate hexons prepared from all adenovirus serotypes tested to date, are the same characteristics exhibited by group-specific hexon serum. The monoclonal antibody specific for penton base, the virion protein found at the vertices of the icosohedral capsid, immunoprecipitated the monomer form of penton base prepared by in vitro translation or denaturation of mature virions. It was not reactive with the 10 S complete penton form of penton base assembled with fiber, nor did it precipitate mature virions. The α-protein IX antibody was reactive with the monomer form of protein IX as well as denatured protein IX. All three of the antibodies were also tested for the ability to neutralize virus infectivity and were found to be negative in this assay. In addition, infected cells were stained by indirect immunofluorescence using these antibodies. The α-hexon and α-penton base antibodies gave the expected pattern of bright nuclear fluorescence, while the α-protein IX antibody gave rise to an unusual pattern of bright nuclear sparkles.
The Effect of Flow Rate of Very Dilute Sulfuric Acid on Xylan, Lignin, and Total Mass Removal from Corn Stover

Flowing compressed hot water through cellulosic biomass enhances removal of total mass, xylan, and lignin and increases cellulose digestibility compared to batch operations at otherwise identical c...
Melanocortin activity in the amygdala controls appetite for dietary fat

The amygdala is rich in melanocortin 4 receptors. Because the reduction in dietary fat intake after enterostatin is injected in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is blocked by a melanocorti...
Functional Brain Network Characterization and Adaptivity during Task Practice in Healthy Volunteers and People with Schizophrenia.

Abstract: Cognitive remediation involves task practice and may improve deficits in people suffering from schizophrenia, but little is known about underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. In people with schizophrenia and controls, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to examine accuracy and practice-related changes in parameters indexing neural network structure and activity, to determine whether these might be useful assays of the efficacy of cognitive remediation. Two MEG recordings were acquired during performance of a tone discrimination task used to improve the acuity of auditory processing, before and after ~2.5 hours of task practice. Accuracy before practice was negatively correlated with beta band cost efficiency, a graph theoretical measure of network organization. Synthetic aperture magnetometry was used to localize brain oscillations with high spatial accuracy; results demonstrated sound and sensorimotor modulations of the beta band in temporo-parietal regions and the sensorimotor cortex respectively. High-gamma activity also correlated with sensorimotor processing during the task, with activation of auditory regions following sound stimulation, and activation of the left sensorimotor cortex preceding the button press. High-gamma power in the left frontal cortex was also found to correlate with accuracy. Following practice, sound-induced broad-band power in the left angular gyri increased. Accuracy improved and was found to correlate with increased mutual information between sensors in temporal-parietal regions in the beta band but not global cost efficiency. Based on these results, we conclude that hours of task practice can induce meso-scale changes such as increased power in relevant brain regions as well as changes in mutual information that correlate with improved accuracy.
Surface changes during polypropylene photo-oxidation: A study by infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy

The surface oxidation of polypropylene films which occurs during ultraviolet irradiation in air was found to result in extensive surface restructuring. This restructuring was detected by changes in surface infrared spectra, as measured by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, and by electron microscopy. The 997 cm−1/974 cm−1 absorbance ratio of the film surfaces increased steadily during ultraviolet degradation and was interpreted as an increase in helical ordering which resulted from backbone scission during irradiation. This scission probably also results in the increase in crystallinity detected by density changes. Electron microscopy of direct surface replicas and replicas of material detached from the oxidized film surfaces showed that surface cracking resulted during photo-oxidation, and that this oxidation penetrated selectively into the polymer structure. The replicas of detached, oxidized material showed periodic structures related to the interior morphology of the films. The observed restructuring is believed to be entirely responsible for the decrease in percentage elongation at break which results from photodegradation.
Novel xenograft and cell line derived from an invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas give new insights into molecular mechanisms.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is a clinically well-described entity of cystic pancreatic tumors.1,2 Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have become a clinically important issue because they are increasingly diagnosed and account for approximately 10% to 20% of all pancreatic resections.3-7 Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are characterized by mucin-producing cells, cystic dilation of the pancreatic duct system, and intraductal papillary growth.8 Histologically, IPMNs may demonstrate a wide spectrum of cellular atypia ranging from mucinous metaplastic epithelium to invasive adenocarcinoma. Similar to conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), patients with IPMNs often present between the sixth and eighth decades of life, with lesions located predominantly in the head of the pancreas.1,3 However, compared with PDAC, IPMNs have a less aggressive biological behavior.9 Lesions are frequently detected incidentally before malignancy develops,4 and even when the lesion is associated with invasive carcinoma (intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma [IPMC]), patients have fewer lymph node metastases, relatively limited local tumor spread, and a significantly better prognosis than those with PDAC.6,10-16 Whereas patients with PDAC have 5-year survival rates of less than 25% after curative resection,17-19 patients who undergo surgery for IPMC have a 5-year survival of more than 60%.14,20-23 Consequently, many authors believe that IPMCs have distinct genetic and biological origins and therefore display a different clinical behavior from PDAC.2,24 Although there is evidence for significant genetic differences between IPMC and PDAC,24,25 the pathological and, in particular, genetic backgrounds underlying this hypothesis remain to be defined. To better understand the molecular mechanisms playing a role in neoplastic development, cell culture and xenograft models are widely used.26 However, to our knowledge, there are no established molecular models for IPMNs currently available. In this paper, we report the creation of IPMC xenograft tumor and cell lines derived from a 57-year-old man who was found to have a pT3 N1 M0 G2 adenocarcinoma arising in a main duct IPMN. These novel IPMC xenograft model and cell line culture may give us new insights into the molecular mechanisms of IPMC and provide a new murine model for future preclinical investigation of malignant IPMNs.
Algorithm 911: Multiple-Precision Exponential Integral and Related Functions

This article describes a collection of Fortran-95 routines for evaluating the exponential integral function, error function, sine and cosine integrals, Fresnel integrals, Bessel functions, and related mathematical special functions using the FM multiple-precision arithmetic package.
A comparison of systolic architectures for matrix multiplication

Systolic architectures for matrix multiplication are compared in terms of the maximum speedup which can be achieved with increased processor count in a monolithically integrated circuit. The comparison process integrates the architectural characteristics and the technological parameters. The optimum systolic architecture is found for different limiting factors including switching delay, power dissipation, I/O bandwidth, and clock skew. The interplay between limiting factors is studied through the implementation of an inner-product step processor using 3- mu m CMOS technology and its down-scaled version. For a given chip size and technology there is a critical level of heat extraction which separates a power-dissipation-limited case from a switching-delay limited case. >
Clinical-pathological correlation in massive periretinal proliferation

In the owl monkey, proliferation of pigment epithelial and glial cells occurred in varying degrees in nearly all eyes with retinal detachments. These cells grew and formed membranes on all available intraocular structures in the posterior part of the eye, such as vitreous structures and inner and outer retinal surfaces. Clinically, this process covered a wide variety of lesions, including fixed retinal folds. Depending on the location, size, and extent of the pigment epithelial or glial membrane, different types of fixed folds occurred. In an exaggerated end stage of this proliferative process, a clinical picture may develop identical to what has been called massive vitreous retraction or massive preretinal retraction in humans. To emphasize the importance and ubiquity of cellular proliferations, we called this entity massive periretinal proliferation.
Identification of key elements that are responsible for heme-mediated induction of the avian heme oxygenase-1 gene.

Abstract Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the conversion of heme to biliverdin with the release of iron and carbon monoxide. HO-1 is highly inducible by a large number of physical and chemical factors. In recent work, we had identified a metalloporphyrin-responsive element (MPRE) that localized at −3.7 kb upstream of the transcription start site of the chick HO-1 gene. Here, we identify four additional heme-responsive elements (HeREs), which are “expanded” AP-1 sites, in the 5′-flanking region of the chick HO-1 gene. These sites, located at −4675, −4599, −3660, and −3625 bp from the transcription start site of the gene, were necessary and sufficient for up-regulation of luciferase reporter gene expression in the presence of heme and cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), but not several other metalloporphyrins. Site-directed mutagenesis was carried out using pcHO7.1Luc or pcHO7.1-4.6Luc as templates. Single and multiple mutations of HeREs and MPRE significantly abrogated the heme- and CoPP-dependent up-regulation of reporter gene expression in transient or stable transfection experiments. Conclusions : The chick HO-1 promoter region contains “expanded” AP-1 sites that are important for up-regulation of the gene by heme and CoPP, but not other metalloporphyrins. These key regulatory elements consist of consensus AP-1 binding sites that have been extended by three base pairs.
The Egyptian Enlightenment and Mann, Freud, and Freund

In her article "The Egyptian Enlightenment and Mann, Freud, and Freund" Rebecca C. Dolgoy discusses various ways in which ancient Egypt is used in three works from the 1930s: Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers, Sigmund Freud's Moses and Monotheism, and Karl Freund's film The Mummy. By showing the similarities and differences in how these works use Egypt, Dolgoy develops the concept that memory is the way in which the past is used. Dolgoy follows the structure of a cinematic shot casting: The Mummy as the long shot which both sets up the general Egyptomania characteristic of the 1930s and situates Freund's film in post-World War I memory culture, Moses and Monotheism as the medium shot because Freud goes to the past in order to dredge specific narrative strains, and Dolgoy focuses on the detail and narrative richness of Mann's Joseph tetralogy as the close-up. Mann's take on creating mythological origin stories that both resonate with modern readers and implicate them in the piecing together of these stories in order to create meaning emerges as relevant for contemporary cultural memory studies. Rebecca C. Dolgoy, "The Egyptian Enlightenment and Mann, Freud, and Freund" page 2 of 8 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 15.1 (2013):
Integration of MEMS phase shifters with CMOS control circuitry

A CMOS digital microcircuit, utilizing sub-micron technology, was designed for the purpose of providing integrated control circuitry to an array of high-voltage micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switch based phase shifter devices. The grid of MEMS phase shifters is part of a phased array antenna system. The phase of each element of the array is controlled via the CMOS microcircuit. This paper presents the design, physical layout, and the measured test results for CMOS digital control circuit that has been fabricated using the MOSIS Integrated Circuit Fabrication Service. The circuit converts serial data to parallel outputs to reduce number of control lines and lower the cost of wiring the phased array. In addition, discrete digital control circuitry for loading phase shifts into each MEMS device is presented.
A novel cause of pneumocephalus.

Abstract Background Pneumocephalus is rare, mostly arising as a complication of surgery, trauma, infection, or neoplasm. Objective Our aim was to briefly discuss the etiology and Emergency Department evaluation of patients with pneumocephalus. Case Report We present a case of a spontaneous esophageal-arachnoid fistula in a patient with stage IV non–small cell carcinoma leading to spontaneous pneumocephalus with resulting meningitis and death. Conclusions Although usually asymptomatic, pneumocephalus can lead to tension pneumocephalus, a potentially fatal condition, or septic meningitis, if it is the result of infection from gas-producing bacteria.
Regulation by S-nitrosylation of protein post-translational modification

Protein post-translational modification by S-nitrosylation conveys a ubiquitous influence of nitric oxide on signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. The wide functional purview of S-nitrosylation reflects in part the regulation by S-nitrosylation of the principal protein post-translational modifications that play a role in cell signaling, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation and related modifications, palmitoylation, and alternative Cys-based redox modifications. In this minireview, we discuss the mechanisms through which S-nitrosylation exerts its broad pleiotropic influence on protein post-translational modification.
Food deprivation facilitates hypothalamic drinking.

Abstract Rats were implanted with chronic electrodes in the lateral hypothalamic drinking area and were maintained on ad lib water. One to three days of food deprivation slightly decreased the minumum amout of current necessary to induce the water-satiated rats to drink. It is proposed that food deprivation exerts a facilitatory effect on the neural substrate governing water intake, but that this effect is usually obscured by the fact that food-deprived animals need less water to maintain their normal body-fluid balance.
Dual-route processing of complex words: new fMRI evidence from derivational suffixation.

Many behavioral models of the comprehension of suffixed words assume a dual-route mechanism in which these words are accessed sometimes from the mental lexicon as whole units and sometimes in terms of their component morphemes (such as happi+=ness). In related neuropsychological work, Ullman et al. (1997) proposed a dual-route model for past tense processing, in which the lexicon (used for access to irregularly inflected forms) corresponds to declarative memory and a medial temporal/ parietal circuit, and the rule system (used for computation of regularly inflected forms) corresponds to procedural memory and a frontal (including Broca’s area)/basal ganglia circuit. We used functional MRI and a memory encoding task to test this model for derivationally suffixed words, comparing those words that show evidence of decompositional processing in behavioral studies (-ness, -less, and -able words) with derived words that do not show decomposition effects (-ity and -ation words). By examining Broca’s area and the basal ganglia as regions of interest, we found that “decomposable” derived and inflected words showed increases in activity relative to nondecomposable suffixed words. Results support a dual-route model of lexical access of complex words that is consistent with the Ullman et al. proposal.
Is a drill-less dental filling possible?

Abstract Dental caries, a bacterial process that results in the acidic destruction of tooth structure, has historically been managed by the mechanical excavation of diseased tooth structure and then restoration with a synthetic material. The mechanical excavation of the infected site is most commonly achieved by a dental handpiece, or “drill”; this handpiece may induce stress and anxiety in many patients. Alternatively, a drill-less filling will involve the utilization of silver diamine fluoride (38%) to arrest and prevent dental caries, followed by restoration with a bonded filling material to achieve adequate seal at the lesion margins. This is a minimally invasive procedure that addresses both microbial and mechanical issues posed by dental caries.
Avoidance behavior and plasma prolactin levels in lergotrile mesylate treated rats.

Abstract We have previously shown that psychological factors play a major role in control of prolactin (PRL) secretion, and that PRL increases during shock-motivated avoidance conditioning. In the present studies, we examined whether we could attenuate acquisition performance by suppressing the PRL increase during avoidance testing. Rats were tested daily in a shuttle box. They were presented with a light stimulation followed by an electric footshock. During each trial, the rats were given the opportunity to escape the footshock by moving to a safe side of the box. Movement to the appropriate location after the warning signal (light) begins, but before the onset of the footshock, constitutes a conditioned avoidance response (CAR). Experimental rats were fitted with an intreperitoneal osmotic minipump which delivered lergotrile mesylate (LM), 0.69 mg/kg/day. Blood samples were collected from an indwelling cannula and analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Administration of LM blocked the PRL increase that occurred during early avoidance testing, but did not alter the acquisition of a CAR. These data do not support the idea that PRL acts to facilitate acquisition of avoidance behavior.
Design and Application of Lighted Display and Control

This paper reviews the past seven years' developments and trends evident in the design and use of lighted display and control as a new and distinct tool for man's communication with today's elaborate military systems. It discusses essentials of good design practice, and notes the capabilities of signaling and command available in today's devices. Note is taken of major design considerations and the impact of certain decisions made in design and in application of the performance of these components.
Hepatic function is preserved in the absence of mature microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through partial or complete complementarity with target messenger RNAs. The function of miRNAs in normal liver physiology is largely unknown. We address the role of Dicer1 in the differentiated liver. We derived mice lacking Dicer1 function in hepatocytes and assessed the loss of mature miRNA via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression microarray analysis was performed on liver RNA from mutant and control mice. Liver sections from mutant and control mice were examined and liver function tests were performed. Mice lacking Dicer1 function in hepatocytes appeared and behaved normally. Despite the loss of mature miRNAs, hepatic function was maintained, as reflected by normal blood glucose, albumin, cholesterol, and bilirubin. However, mutant mice between 2 and 4 months of age exhibited progressive hepatocyte damage with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Liver mass was increased in mutant mice, as were cellular markers of both proliferation and apoptosis. Microarray analysis indicated large-scale changes in gene expression, with increased expression of many miRNA targets, particularly imprinted genes. Conclusions: Loss of miRNA processing in the liver at late gestation has a remarkably mild phenotype, suggesting that miRNAs do not play an essential role in hepatic function. However, miRNA deficiency results in hepatocyte apoptosis, hepatocyte regeneration, and portal inflammation. Finally, microarray analysis of gene expression in the mutant liver supports a previously hypothesized role for Dicer1 in the repression of imprinted genes. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Heavy-Ion-Induced, Gate-Rupture in Power MOSFETs

A new, heavy-ion-induced, burnout mechanism has been experimentally observed in power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). This mechanism occurs when a heavy, charged particle passes through the gate oxide region of n- or p-channel devices having sufficient gate-to-source or gate-to-drain bias. The gate-rupture leads to significant permanent degradation of the device. A proposed failure mechanism is discussed and experimentally verified. In addition, the absolute immunity of p-channel devices to heavy-ion-induced, semiconductor burnout is demonstrated and discussed along with new, non-destructive, burnout testing methods.
Postoperative Fatigue negatively impacts the daily lives of patients recovering from hysterectomy

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess, from the patient’s perspective, the prevalence and impact of postoperative fatigue after hysterectomy and to increase understanding of physician–patient communications before and after surgery regarding recovery and diminished postoperative energy level. METHODS: We completed a telephone survey of 300 women aged 25–50 who had undergone a hysterectomy or myomectomy within the past 2 years. The patients were recruited randomly from two national, random samples of households: 1) women aged 25–50, and 2) women taking hormone replacement therapy in the target age range. Patients were asked a series of questions about their postoperative fatigue after surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 74% of patients experienced moderate-to-severe fatigue within the first few weeks after surgery. Fatigue occurred more frequently and persisted twice as long as pain, the next most frequent symptom, which was experienced by 63% of patients overall. Fatigue was the symptom that most interfered with daily activities (37%) and also contributed to feelings of frustration (52%), to depression (37%), and to difficulty in concentrating (42%). Patients employed at the time of surgery missed an average of 5.8 weeks of work; 69% of those surveyed required 2 or more weeks of caregiver assistance. Postoperative fatigue was discussed by 68% of patients’ physicians before surgery, and 57% of patients discussed postoperative fatigue with their physicians after surgery. Oral iron therapy and dietary supplements were the most frequently recommended treatments; 52% of patients were not offered any treatments or recommendations to alleviate their fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is a highly prevalent posthysterectomy and myomectomy symptom and has substantial negative physical, psychosocial, and economic effects on patients during recovery.
The biology and morphology of the marine harpacticoid copepod Heteropsyllus nunni Coull, during encystment diapause

Heteropsyllus nunni Coull, a meiobenthic harpacticoid copepod is the only marine crustacean to undergo a state of diapause within a cyst. A 12 month field study indicated H. nunni adults reached peak population densities in winter, with nauplii maturing in the spring, becoming adults by April or May. At the last stage of development, a mature but unmated adult, they begin to prepare for encystment diapause. The copepods remain within their cyst in a state of diapause for 3-4 months during the summer only. Studies on the effects of temperature and photoperiod suggested that these two environmental cues are not crucial for induction or termination of diapause. Low temperature delayed development and time to encystment, while high temperatures accelerated development, making the time to encystment shorter. There were more males than females in the cysts in laboratory experiments. Upon excystment, the copepods mate, and females begin egg production within one week. Adults that have excysted and mated die after a few weeks of active reproductive effort. Nauplii go on to mature and begin the univoltine diapause/reproductive cycle. The copepods prepare for dormancy in two ways : they begin to produce and store two types of secretory products to be used in cyst construction ; then they produce large quantities of lipid to be used as a nutrient supply throughout diapause. Histochemistry of the cyst-building material indicated the lower urosome is full of two chemically different products. Dorsally, there is a storage sac of proteinaceous material. The ventral sac of secretory product is a mucopolysaccharide. The copepod builds the spherical cysts in a matrix of small and large sand grains. The cysts fit tightly around the ventral portion of the animal in the its flexed position : however, there is a large space between the cyst and the sides of the copepod. Biochemical analysis of the cyst showed it is composed of an amino acid complex similar to collagenous material. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a complex of large cuticular pores located in the lower urosome and caudal rami. There are specific pores for secretion of the two cyst-building products.
Quantum theory of photon-drag transport phenomena in solids and its application to tellurium crystal

Starting with the density-matrix equation, we obtain the transport equation for the photon-drag effect arising from an optical interband transition. Using this transport equation, the current induced by the photon-drag effect is derived. The temperature dependence of the photon-drag current predicted by the theory agrees quite well with the experimental result in tellurium crystal.
Direct imaging of planetary systems around nearby stars

It is shown that by utilizing a space-borne telescope it may be possible to directly image planetary systems around the nearest stars. Direct imaging, while limited to the nearest stars, would provide a great deal of information on the planet, over and above the planet's orbital elements - estimates of the planet's size and rotation rate, and the presence or absence of an atmosphere are all possible if light from the planet can be separated from light from the star. It is shown that a Jupiter-like planet would be detectable around several of the nearest stars.
A Vague Relational Model and Algebra

Imprecision and uncertainty in data values are pervasive in real-world environments and have received much attention in the literature. Several methods have been proposed for incorporating uncertain data into relational databases. However, the current approaches have many shortcomings and have not established an acceptable extension of the relational model. In this paper, we propose a consistent extension of the relational model to represent and deal with fuzzy information by means of vague sets. We present a revised relational structure and extend the relational algebra. The extended algebra is shown to be closed and reducible to the fuzzy relational algebra and further to the conventional relational algebra.
Innate immunity: impact on the adaptive immune response

For many years, innate immunity has been considered as a separate entity from the adaptive immune response and has been regarded to be of secondary importance in the hierarchy of immune functions. For the past few years, however, interest in innate immunity has grown enormously, so that now it is studied intensively in many laboratories that seek to integrate these two distinct types of immune function. Our intent in this review is to point out the similarities and differences in these two types of host response to infection, and to indicate our present level of understanding of how these can be integrated into a more complete description of the immune response.
Isolation of High and Low Molecular Weight Components from Chicken Sera That Have Rous Sarcoma Virus Neutralizing Activity

Abstract Blood sera components from Arkansas regressor line (R-line) and progressor line (Pr-line) chickens are compared for the first time for Rous sarcoma virus neutralizing activity. Sera was fractionated by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration into a high molecular weight fraction I (HMW-I) and a low molecular weight fraction II (LMW-II) component (HMW-I > 14,000 daltons, LMW-II Both HMW-I (principally antibodies) and LMW-II neutralized RSV when obtained from hyperimmune R-chickens and Pr-chickens with large progressing tumors. However, HMW-I and LMW-II obtained from R- or Pr-chickens before challenge contain no RSV neutralizing activity. The novel low molecular weight fraction II disappeared from the sera of R-line chickens 2 weeks after tumor regression, whereas the HMW-I persisted after tumor regression.
5-L-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoate potentiates the human neutrophil degranulating action of platelet-activating factor.

Platelet-activating factor (AAGPC) and two of its structural analogues degranulated human neutrophils with respective potencies that were increased up to 100 to 1000-fold by 16 nM to 5 μM of 5- L -hydroxyeicosatetraenoate (5- L -HETE). 5- rac -HETE had similar actions but 8- rac -HETE was without effect. Furthermore, 5- L -HETE did not influence the degranulating actions of C5a, A23187 or a formalated oligopeptide chemotactic factor and none of the HETEs, by themselves, caused degranulation. Thus, 5- L -HETE and AAGPC selectively interact to induce degranulation. Since these products rapidly form in stimulated PMNs, they may serve as potentiator and agonist, respectively, to transduce biological signals into cell function.
Data quality enhancement and knowledge discovery from relevant signals in acoustic emission

Abstract The increasing popularity of structural health monitoring has brought with it a growing need for automated data management and data analysis tools. Of great importance are filters that can systematically detect unwanted signals in acoustic emission datasets. This study presents a semi-supervised data mining scheme that detects data belonging to unfamiliar distributions. This type of outlier detection scheme is useful detecting the presence of new acoustic emission sources, given a training dataset of unwanted signals. In addition to classifying new observations (herein referred to as “outliers”) within a dataset, the scheme generates a decision tree that classifies sub-clusters within the outlier context set. The obtained tree can be interpreted as a series of characterization rules for newly-observed data, and they can potentially describe the basic structure of different modes within the outlier distribution. The data mining scheme is first validated on a synthetic dataset, and an attempt is made to confirm the algorithms’ ability to discriminate outlier acoustic emission sources from a controlled pencil-lead-break experiment. Finally, the scheme is applied to data from two fatigue crack-growth steel specimens, where it is shown that extracted rules can adequately describe crack-growth related acoustic emission sources while filtering out background “noise.” Results show promising performance in filter generation, thereby allowing analysts to extract, characterize, and focus only on meaningful signals.
ZEA-TDMA: design and system level implementation of a TDMA protocol for anonymous wireless networks

Wireless sensor network used in military applications may be deployed in hostile environments, where privacy and security is of primary concern. This can lead to the formation of a trust-based sub-network among mutually-trusting nodes. However, designing a TDMA MAC protocol is very challenging in situations where such multiple sub-networks coexist, since TDMA protocols require node identity information for slot assignments. This paper introduces a novel distributed TDMA MAC protocol, ZEA-TDMA (Zero Exposure Anonymous TDMA), for anonymous wireless networks. ZEA-TDMA achieves slot allocation with strict anonymity constraints, i.e. without nodes having to exchange any identity revealing information. By using just the relative time of arrival of packets and a novel technique of wireless collision-detection and resolution for fixed packetsizes, ZEA-TDMA is able to achieve MAC slot-allocation which is described as follows. Initially, a newly joined node listens to its one-hop neighborhood channel usage and creates a slot allocation table based on its own relative time, and finally, selects a slot that is collision free within its one-hop neighborhood. The selected slot can however cause hidden collisions with a two-hop neighbor of the node. These collisions are resolved by a common neighbor of the colliding nodes, which first detects the collision, and then resolve them using an interrupt packet . ZEA-TDMA provides the following features: a) it is a TDMA protocol ideally suited for highly secure or strictly anonymous environments b) it can be used in heterogeneous environments where devices use different packet structures c) it does not require network time-synchronization, and d) it is insensitive to channel errors. We have implemented ZEA-TDMA on the MICA2 hardware platform running TinyOS and evaluated the protocol functionality and performance on a MICA2 test-bed.
A study of the TRH test in a family with psychiatric illness: A reflection on the TRH test as a state-trait marker

The discovery that about 30% of depressed patients exhibit a blunted thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (Loosen and Prange 1982) has led to a number of strategies to investigate the significance of this marker. Currently, a major issue is whether the TRH test is state-dependent or is a trait marker. There is evidence to support both possibilities. Kirkegaard (1981) and Targum (1984) have noted that some TSH blunters change to nonblunters with recovery. Loosen et al. (1977) and Linkowski et al. (1981) have reported clear instances in which the blunted TSH response persists after remission. These observations suggest that the TSH response in some cases is a state marker and in others a trait marker. However, there is little information on whether or not a blunted TSH response is present prior to an affective episode. One method to test this is to study populations at risk for affective disorders, such as fam-
Potential roles of protease inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease

Recently, protease inhibitors have been recognized as potential contributors to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this role, they could mediate an exaggerated regenerative response in the brain, participate as acute phase reactants, or be involved in the aberrant proteolytic processing of the amyloid proteins. Protease inhibitors are, therefore, attractive targets for drug intervention in Alzheimer's disease.
Treatment of Takayasu's arteritis.

Excerpt To the editor: The prospective analysis by Shelhamer and colleagues (1) of 20 patients seen at the National Institute of Health is a valuable contribution to the study of Takayasu's arterit...
Slow Scan SIT Detector for X-Ray Diffraction Studies Using Synchrotron Radiation

A TV-type X-ray detector using a SIT vidicon has been used for biological diffraction studies at the EMBL outstation at DESY, Hamburg, Germany. The detector converts the two-dimensional diffraction pattern to a charge pattern on the vidicon target, which is read out in the slow-scan mode. This detector has high DQE, no count-rate limit, and is simple and inexpensive to construct. Radiation from the storage ring DORIS was used to study the structure of live muscle at various phases of contraction. Typically the "count-rate" on the detector was 106 X-rays/sec and a total exposure of a few seconds was needed to record the weak diffraction from muscle. This compares with usual exposure times of several hours using a rotating anode generator and film.
p63 Deficiency: A Failure of Lineage Commitment or Stem Cell Maintenance?

A critical role for p63 in the development of stratified epithelia, such as the epidermis, has been recognized since the generation of mice lacking p63 expression. The molecular role of p63 in epidermal morphogenesis, however, remained controversial. The epidermal phenotype of p63-/- mice, which are born with a single-layered surface epithelium instead of a fully stratified epidermis, suggested that p63 could have a role in stem cell maintenance or in the commitment to stratification. In this review, we discuss evidence suggesting that p63 is required for the commitment to stratification, making p63 the earliest known gene expressed in the developing epidermis that is specific for the keratinocyte lineage.
P6C-5 Information Theoretic Design of Breast Sonography

Assessing and optimizing diagnostic performance of medical imaging technology is important and challenging. We have extended an information theoretic approach based on the ideal observer for the discrimination of breast lesions in sonography to discover system configurations optimized for specific lesions features. The focus in this work is to examine the effects of various beamforming strategies on the discrimination of lesion boundary features.
Host Immune Response To Hepatitis A Virus

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. The virus crosses through the gastrointestinal tract by an uncharacterized mechanism and travels to the liver, where it replicates in hepatocytes. It is released into the bloodstream and is simultaneously present in the bile and shed in the feces. Fecal shedding and viremia are maximal at the onset of liver fonction abnormalities and terminate about the time humoral immunity is detected, ∼28 days after exposure. IgM, IgA, and IgG anti-HAV antibodies are usually present at onset of symptoms. Although the IgM response becomes undetectable usually within 6 months, IgG responses frequently persist for life, providing protection against reinfection. Pre- and postexposure immunization with pooled human serum immunoglobulin (ISG) is ∼90% effective in preventing hepatitis A. Recipients of ISG have very low levels of detectable anti-HAV antibodies, and vaccines that elicit anti-HAV levels comparable with those produced by ISG should confer similar protection
Increased Funding for Stroke Research

It is an exciting time for stroke research. Over the last couple of years with the use of tPA, and now at the most recent International Stroke and Cerebral Circulation Conference meeting, the announcement of 2 promising new thrombolytic agents (Ancrod and Pro-urokinase) for acute stroke treatment, it is an exciting time indeed. Neuroprotective agents are still being investigated, and while an effective neuroprotective agent has not yet been identified in humans, almost assuredly one will come to light soon. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) is making significant efforts to provide dollars for stroke research for both clinical and basic science areas. The AHA/ASA for 1997–98 provided some $6 million for stroke-specific research, with a projection for the year 2001 of $11.3 million. Another $33.7 million was provided for research that was related in some way to stroke. In addition, there is a very exciting new commitment …
Atlantic Ocean baroclinic heat flux at 24 to 26° N

The spatially varying, interior geostrophic baroclinic heat flux component of the total meridional oceanic heat flux near 24°N in the Atlantic Ocean is examined using four transatlantic hydrographic sections including the October 1957 DISCOVERY II IGY section, the September 1981 ATLANTIS section, the August 1992 HESPERIDES section, the February 1998 RONALD H. BROWN section and the 1982 Levitus and the Lozier, Owens, Curry climatologies. The 1992 section is complemented by shorter western boundary sections obtained concurrently during the Trident cruise. We find an average southward baroclinic heat flux of 0.9±0.3 PW with an annual cycle amplitude of ±0.3 PW. More than 90% of the annual cycle is captured within 30° of the western boundary.
The Interlibrary Loan Interview

Methodologie de l'entretien prealable au pret interbibliotheque de documents: presentation des questions de l'utilisateur et du bibliothecaire souhaitables pour satisfaire la demande d'information
DNA methylation in plants

Higher plant DNA is extensively methylated, but the two methylated sequences (CpG and CpNpG) show different characteristics. Using sequence analysis techniques, we demonstrate that while CpG methylation follows the existing models for cytosine methylation in animals, CpNpG methylation does not. Although there is evidence to support the suggestion that the low CpG frequency has arisen from deaminational conversion of 5-methylcytosine to thymidine, there appears to be no comparable conversion of 5-methylcytosine in the CpNpG configuration. It therefore appears that between the evolution of CpG and CpNpG cytosine methylation systems, a mechanism evolved for the correction of CT conversion, probably using the methylated strand to direct the repair in the correct direction.
Compared with stearic acid, palmitic acid increased the yield of milk fat and improved feed efficiency across production level of cows.

Abstract The effects of dietary palmitic and stearic acids on feed intake, yields of milk and milk components, and feed efficiency of dairy cows were evaluated in an experiment with a crossover arrangement of treatments with a covariate period. Cows with a wide range of milk production (38 to 65kg/d) were used to determine if response to fat supplementation varied according to production level. Thirty-two Holstein cows (143±61d in milk) were assigned randomly to a treatment sequence within level of milk production. Treatments were diets supplemented (2% of diet dry matter) with palmitic acid (PA; 97.9% C16:0) or stearic acid (SA; 97.4% C18:0). Treatment periods were 21d and cows were fed a nonfat supplemented diet for 14d immediately before the first treatment period. The final 4d of each period were used for sample and data collection. Milk production measured during the covariate period (preliminary milk yield) was used as the covariate. No interactions were detected between treatment and preliminary milk yield for the production response variables measured. Compared with SA, the PA treatment increased milk fat concentration (3.66 vs. 3.55%) and yield (1.68 vs. 1.59kg/d), and 3.5% fat-corrected milk yield (47.5 vs. 45.6kg/d). Treatment did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk protein yield, body weight, or body condition score. Milk protein concentration was lower for PA compared with SA treatment (3.24 vs. 3.29%). The PA treatment increased feed efficiency (3.5% fat-corrected milk yield/dry matter intake) compared with SA (1.48 vs. 1.40). The increase in milk fat yield by PA was entirely accounted for by a 24% increase in 16-carbon fatty acid output into milk. Yields of de novo (3.2%) and preformed fatty acids (2.9%) were only slightly decreased by PA relative to SA. The PA treatment increased plasma concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (96.3 vs. 88.2μEq/L) and glucose (56.6 vs. 55.7mg/dL) compared with SA, but insulin and β-hydroxybutyrate were not altered by the treatments. Results demonstrate that palmitic acid is more effective than stearic acid in improving milk fat concentration and yield as well as efficiency of feed conversion to milk. Responses were independent of production level and without changes in body condition score or body weight. Further studies are required to test the consistency of these responses across different types of diets.