The Serotonergic Agonists Quipazine, CGS-12066A, and α-Methylserotonin Alter Motor Activity and Induce Hindlimb Stepping in the Intact and Spinal Rat Fetus.

The effects of serotonergic agonists were examined in intact and spinal fetuses, using an in vivo fetal rat preparation. On Gestational Day 20, fetuses were prepared with a midthoracic or sham spinal transection. Dose-response curves were obtained for quipazine (nonselective 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT] agonist; 1.0-10.0 mg/kg), CGS-12066A (5-HT1B agonist; 1.0-30.0 mg/kg), and α-methylserotonin (α-Me-5-HT; 5-HT? agonist; 0.2-15.0 mg/kg). During a 10-min test, each of the agonists (delivered via intraperitoneal injection) influenced fetal behavior: They increased the occurrence of head movements, mouthing, and hindlimb stepping. Quipazine and α-Me-5-HT also promoted hindlimb activity in spinal fetuses. Thus, stimulation of the fetal 5-HT system modulates motor activity at multiple levels of the developing central nervous system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are biologically engineered proteins designed to bind to antigens emanating from tumor cells. Selected radioactive isotopes are fused with MoAbs to allow radioimmunodetection of external imaging of metastatic deposits in patients with colon cancer. For the past 10 years, radiolabeled MoAbs have improved tumor localization techniques and influenced the clinical management of surgical patients. Intraoperatively, surgeons use appropriately shielded, handheld, gamma detection probes to locate radiolabeled MoAbs and corresponding colon cancers (ie, residual, recurrent tumors). Using gamma detection probes intraoperatively, surgeons can localize nonpalpable occult tumors and disease not suspected from external antibody scans or other traditional diagnostic methods. This success confirms the need for complete tumor resections, thorough scanning of entire tumor beds, and ex vivo scanning of surgical specimens to assess for potential nodal metastases.     

Capillary electrophoresis/laser-induced fluorescence detection of fluorescein as a groundwater migration tracer

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been applied to the determination of the groundwater migration tracer dye fluorescein based on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection and compared to determinations obtained with traditional spectrofluorimetry. Detection limits of injected dye in the low parts per trillion (ppt) ranges have been accomplished with both CE/LIF based on the Ar ion laser and with a spectrofluorimeter. This approach was used for a real-world problem in determining groundwater migration between adjacent Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Superfund sites by the Environmental Sciences Division in response to regional needs and as application of new analytical tools under development. Fluorescent dye was injected into source wells and then was determined in monitoring wells by extracting pads that adsorbed the dye or by directly determining the dye in the water using solid-phase extraction (SPE), a preconcentration technique. The approaches based on CE/LIF exhibits increased specificity over existing approaches due to the separation and unique migration time of the dye. Additional studies were aimed at achieving sub-ppt levels in the water using solid-phase extraction and field-amplified injection techniques.     

Theory and Techniques for Automatic Generation of Vulnerability-Based Signatures

In this paper, we explore the problem of creating emph{vulnerability signatures}. A vulnerability signature is based on a program vulnerability, and is not specific to any particular exploit. The advantage of vulnerability signatures is that their quality can be guaranteed. In particular, we create vulnerability signatures which are guaranteed to have zero false positives. We show how to automate signature creation for any vulnerability that can be detected by a runtime monitor. We provide a formal definition of a vulnerability signature, and investigate the computational complexity of creating and matching vulnerability signatures. We systematically explore the design space of vulnerability signatures. We also provide specific techniques for creating vulnerability signatures in a variety of language classes. In order to demonstrate our techniques, we have built a prototype system. Our experiments show that we can, using a single exploit, automatically generate a vulnerability signature as a regular expression, as a small program, or as a system of constraints. We demonstrate techniques for creating signatures of vulnerabilities which can be exploited via multiple program paths. Our results indicate that our approach is a viable option for signature generation, especially when guarantees are desired.     

Schizophrenic and depressed mothers: Relational deficits in parenting.

Schizophrenic (n?=?53), depressed (n?=?25), and well women (n?=?23) were studied to determine the quality of their parenting and its affect on their 3-month to 5-year-old child's social and intellectual development. Most of the women were single parents; all were poor and Black. Parenting behavior was studied with observations in the lab and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment inventory. Children's behavior was measured with an IQ test and social competence observation. Quality of parenting was lowest in schizophrenic women, and more variable in depressed women. Certain parenting practices significantly predicted children's IQ scores and social behavior. The mother's parenting practices, and not her diagnostic status per se, accounted for much of children's intellectual and social competence, supporting an interactional model for transmission of psychopathology from mother to child. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of elemental compositions from mass peak profiles of the molecular ion (m) and the m + 1 and m + 2 ions

The relative abundances of M + 1 and M + 2 ions help to identify the elemental composition of the molecular ion (M). But scan speed, sensitivity, and resolution limitations of mass spectrometers have impeded determination of these abundances. Mass peak profiling from selected ion recording data (MPPSIRD) provided faster sampling and enhanced sensitivity, which permitted use of higher resolution. M + 2 profiles having only a few percent of the ion abundance of M were monitored at 20?000 resolution. The relative abundances, exact masses, and shapes of M, M + 1, and M + 2 mass peak profiles were determined. By applying five criteria based on these quantities, elemental compositions were determined even for ions too large (up to 766 Da) to be uniquely assigned from their exact mass and accuracy limits alone. A profile generation model (PGM) was written to predict these resolution-dependent quantities by considering all M + 1 and M + 2 ions for each candidate composition. The model also provided assurance that no other compositions were possible. Characterization of the M + 1 and M + 2 profiles by MPPSIRD and the PGM greatly expanded the practical ability of high-resolution mass spectrometry to determine elemental compositions.     

IEMP Studies of a Dielectric-Filled Cavity: A Comparison of Experiment and Theory

The electromagnetic response of a dielectric-filled finite-length cylindrical cavity, exposed end-on at the Hermes II radiation facility, is experimentally and theoretically examined. Loop sensors were used to obtain azimuthal magnetic field related signals, and a dipole grid sensor was employed to acquire axial electric field related signals. The favorable comparison achieved between the experimentally obtained signals and the theoretically predicted results lends credence to the theoretical model developed.     

Apple Fruit Infested with Codling Moth are More Attractive to Neonate Codling Moth Larvae and Possess Increased Amounts of (E,E)-α-Farnesene

Apple fruit artificially infested with codling moth larvae attracted significantly more neonate larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella than uninfested fruit. A greater number of larvae responded to odor in an olfactometer from codling moth-infested cold-stored Red Delicious thinning apples than uninfested apples. Immature Granny Smith, Red Delicious, or Golden Delicious apples that were infested on the tree for five days by codling moth larvae were more attractive to neonate codling moth larvae than similar but uninfested fruit of the same varieties. Apples infested on the tree and sampled five days later also contained significantly greater amounts of the larval attractant (E,E)--farnesene, compared to uninfested apples. Other types of injury to apple fruit did not produce results similar to that from codling moth infestation, either in increased attractiveness to codling moth larvae or in increased quantities of (E,E)--farnesene. These results are consistent with the reported attractiveness of (E,E)--farnesene to neonate codling moth larvae.