cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis Presenting with Necrotic Skin Lesions

Classical lesions associated with subacute bacterial endocarditis include petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, Osler's modes and Janaway lesions. We describe a patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis, whose sole cutaneous findings were bullous necrotic lesions of the lower extremities. The superficial vessels were occluded by acidophilic material and coccal bacteria were identified in the vessels. Immunofluorescent studies revealed Igm and C3 in the vessel walls.
The effect of hyper and hypothyroidism, hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy on phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase, phosphatidyldimethyl-ethanolamine methyltransferase and choline phosphotransferase of rat liver microsomes

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of hyper- and hypothyroid, hypophysectomy and adrenalectomy on phosphatidylcholine biosynthetic enzymes, phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine methyltransferase and choline phosphotransferase of liver microsomes was measured in rats. 2. 2. There was a significant increase in the specific activity of phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase in the hyperthyroid rats. There was a significant reduction in the specific activity of phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase and phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine methyltransferase in the hypothyroid states. The choline phosphotransferase increased significantly in the hyperthyroid state and decreased in the hypothyroid animals. 3. 3. Hypophysectomy resulted in a significant increase in specific activity of choline phosphotransferase. A reduction in the specific activity of the phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase occurred after 28 days of hypophysectomy. 4. 4. Adrenalectomy resulted in a significant stimulation of the specific activity of phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase and choline phosphotransferase in liver microsomes.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide induces postsynaptically expressed potentiation in the intra-amygdala circuit.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic neuropeptide expressed in the brain, where it may act as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter contributing to different behavioral processes and stress responses. PACAP is highly expressed in the amygdala, a subcortical brain area involved in both innate and learned fear, suggesting a role for PACAP-mediated signaling in fear-related behaviors. It remains unknown, however, whether and how PACAP affects neuronal and synaptic functions in the amygdala. In this study, we focused on neurons in the lateral division of the central nucleus (CeL), where PACAP-positive presynaptic terminals were predominantly found within the amygdala. In our experiments on rat brain slices, exogenous application of PACAP did not affect either resting membrane potential or membrane excitability of CeL neurons. PACAP enhanced, however, excitatory synaptic transmission in projections from the basolateral nucleus (BLA) to the CeL, while inhibitory transmission in the same pathway was unaffected. PACAP-induced potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic responses persisted after the washout of PACAP and was blocked by the VPAC1 receptor antagonist, suggesting that VPAC1 receptors might mediate synaptic effects of PACAP in the CeL. Moreover, potentiation of synaptic transmission by PACAP was dependent on postsynaptic activation of protein kinase A and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, as well as synaptic targeting of GluR1 subunit-containing AMPA receptors. Thus, PACAP may upregulate excitatory neurotransmission in the BLA–CeL pathway postsynaptically, consistent with the known roles of PACAP in control of fear-related behaviors.
Channels and order of report in dichotic memory

Experiments were conducted in which Ss received to-be-remembered sequences of two, three, or four simultaneous pairs of digits. Both digits of each pair were recorded by the same male speaker and both were presented binaurally, thus eliminating cues of spatial location and voice by which Ss could “channel” their reports. Even in the absence of these stimulus channels, Ss reported the digits sequentially. High bias ratings in the first experiment suggested the possibility that sequential reports were induced by uncontrolled stimulus characteristics (e.g., temporal synchrony, intensity, and pitch). Pulse-coded speech stimuli, which provided greater control over nonlinguistic stimulus features, were used in the terminal experiment. Bias ratings were reduced, but the majority of Ss continued to report sequentially. These results suggest that the presence of stimulus channels is not a necessary condition for the occurrence of sequential reporting.
Notch-1 signaling regulates intestinal epithelial barrier function, through interaction with CD4+ T cells, in mice and humans

Background & Aims Interactions between lymphocytes and intestinal epithelial cells occur in the subepithelial space of the gastrointestinal tract. Normal human lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) induce differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells. The absence of LPLs in mice, such as in RAG1 −/− mice, results in defects in epithelial cell differentiation. We investigated the role of lymphoepithelial interactions in epithelial differentiation and barrier function. Methods We used adoptive transfer to determine if CD4 + T cells (CD4 + CD62L + CD45Rb Hi and/or CD4 + CD62L + CD45Rb Lo ) could overcome permeability defect (quantified in Ussing chambers). Immunofluorescence staining was performed to determine expression of cleaved Notch-1, villin, and claudin 5 in colon samples from mice and humans. Caco-2 cells were infected with a lentivirus containing a specific Notch-1 or scrambled short hairpin RNA sequence. Tight junction assembly was analyzed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses, and transepithelial resistance was monitored. Results Expression of cleaved Notch-1, villin, or claudin 5 was not detected in RAG1 −/− colonocytes; their loss correlated with increased intestinal permeability. Transfer of CD45Rb Hi and/or CD45Rb Lo cells into RAG1 −/− mice induced expression of cleaved Notch, villin, and claudin 5 in colonocytes and significantly reduced the permeability of the distal colon. Loss of Notch-1 expression in Caco-2 cells correlated with decreased transepithelial resistance and dysregulated expression and localization of tight junction proteins. Levels of cleaved Notch-1 were increased in colonic epithelium of patients with Crohn's disease. Conclusions LPLs promote mucosal barrier function, which is associated with activation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway. LPLs maintain intestinal homeostasis by inducing intestinal epithelial cell differentiation, polarization, and barrier function.
Tunnelling without barriers in curved space-time

Abstract The evolution in curved space-time of quantum fields in theories with relatively flat potentials is considered. It is known that bubble nucleation, a quantum mechanical tunneling process, may occur in flat space-time even if V(φ) has no barrier. It is shown that bubble nucleation can also occur in curved space-time even though there is no bounce solution in the standard formalism for the bubble nucleation rate in curved space-time. Some implications for inflationary scenarios are discussed.
RECONSIDERING THE WHITEHEADIAN CRITIQUE OF HUAYAN TEMPORAL SYMMETRY IN LIGHT OF FAZANG'S VIEWS

As interest in Huayan thought among Western scholars has grown over the last few decades, a number of individuals have noted similarities between A. N. Whitehead’s ideas of reality as a process of arising actual occasions and Huayan doctrines concerning the interdependent arising of dharmas. Comparisons of the two systems do show striking similarities, but as Steve Odin has pointed out, one area of noteworthy difference may be their views of temporal passage. 1 There seems to be clear agreement among Whitehead scholars that his view requires temporal asymmetry such that the present arises as a creative advance toward an open future. In contrast, Huayan is well known for advocating a symmetrical view of reality, and the Huayan view of time, it has been argued, is no exception. On this basis some have suggested that in accounting for and even requiring an open future, Whitehead’s views effectively allow for a free advance of becoming that may not be possible within the context of Huayan views. But is this the case? By examining sections of Fazang’s works that specifically deal with tense and temporal passage, we will see that the typical view of Huayan as advocating a temporally symmetrical notion of passage is only partially accurate. Even further, it is apparent in light of that material that the Whiteheadian critique of Huayan is partly inaccurate as well. It is this latter point that may mean Huayan views allow for a type of becoming that Whitehead’s cannot. To see how this is the case, it will be helpful to briefly summarize the Whiteheadian critique before focusing on key elements of Fazang’s view.
Splenic Artery Embolization as a Treatment Option for Chronic Pancytopenia Secondary to Hypersplenism: A Case Report and Review of Literature

It is well known that splenectomy is the standard of care in the management of clinically significant hypersplenism; however, some patients are found to be unacceptably high risk to tolerate open or even laparoscopic surgery. We present a 62-year-old female with significant comorbidities who was declared a very high risk for any open surgical intervention. She underwent splenic artery embolization with remarkable improvement of her platelet count. Her postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the fifth hospital day.
Selective Self-Organization of Colloids on Patterned Polyelectrolyte Templates

Submicron-sized colloidal particles have been self-organized into patterned arrangements on a substrate using a novel technique. At the substrate, a polyelectrolyte multilayer film has been deposited onto a chemically patterned surface; subsequently, the polyelectrolyte surface is immersed in an aqueous colloidal suspension of bare SiO2 microspheres or functionalized polystyrene latex particles. The colloids self-organize at the surface, driven by the spatially varied electrostatic and secondary interactions between the colloid and the substrate. The polyelectrolyte platform provides a strong bond to the colloids, imparting mechanical robustness which enables postprocessing of the patterned assemblies. An important advantage to this approach is that the use of a polyelectrolyte multilayer platform opens up the possibility of introducing functionality into the underlying layers. We have demonstrated control over the density and selectivity of particle adsorption. Three mechanisms have been used to control ...
Empirical Bayes analysis of a microarray experiment

Microarrays are a novel technology that facilitates the simultaneous measurement of thousands of gene expression levels. A typical microarray experiment can produce millions of data points, raising serious problems of data reduction, and simultaneous inference. We consider one such experiment in which oligonucleotide arrays were employed to assess the genetic effects of ionizing radiation on seven thousand human genes. A simple nonparametric empirical Bayes model is introduced, which is used to guide the efficient reduction of the data to a single summary statistic per gene, and also to make simultaneous inferences concerning which genes were affected by the radiation. Although our focus is on one specific experiment, the proposed methods can be applied quite generally. The empirical Bayes inferences are closely related to the frequentist false discovery rate (FDR) criterion.
The Persistence of Marketing Effects on Sales

Are marketing efforts able to affect long-term trends in sales or other performance measures? Answering this question is essential for the creation of marketing strategies that deliver a sustainable competitive advantage. This paper introduces persistence modeling to derive long-term marketing effectiveness from time-series observations on sales and marketing expenditures. First, we use unit-root tests to determine whether sales are stable or evolving trending over time. If they are evolving, we examine how strong this evolution is univariate persistence and to what extent it can be related to marketing activity multivariate persistence. An empirical example on sales and media spending for a chain of home-improvement stores reveals that some, but not all, advertising has strong trend-setting effects on sales. We argue that traditional modeling approaches would not pick up these effects and, therefore, seriously underestimate the long-term effectiveness of advertising. The paper concludes with an agenda for future empirical research on long-run marketing effectiveness.
Comparing MDI and DPI Aerosol Deposition Using In Vitro Experiments and a New Stochastic Individual Path (SIP) Model of the Conducting Airways

Deposition characteristics of MDI and DPI aerosols were compared throughout the conducting airways for the first time using a combination of in vitro experiments and a newly developed stochastic individual path (SIP) model for different inhalation profiles. In vitro experiments were used to determine initial particle distribution profiles and to validate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model results for a MDI and DPI delivering the same dose of drug in a geometry of the mouth-throat and tracheobronchial airways. The validated CFD model was then used to predict the transport and deposition of the drug using correct and incorrect inhalation profiles for each inhaler. The MDI delivered approximately two times more drug to the tracheobronchial region compared with the DPI for both correct and incorrect inhalation profiles. Errors in inhalation reduced the deposited tracheobronchial dose by approximately 30% for both inhalers. The DPI delivered the largest dose to the mouth-throat (~70%) and the MDI delivered the largest dose to the alveolar airways (~50%). The developed in silico model provides new insights into the lung delivery of pharmaceutical aerosols and can be applied in future studies in combination with pharmacokinetic analysis to establish bioequivalence between devices.
Opiates modulate insulin action in vivo in dogs

To investigate the influence of opiates on insulin action in vivo, we induced mild physiological hyperinsulinaemia (15–20 mU/l) in five trained conscious dogs in the absence or presence of ongoing infusion with the opiate agonist D-met2-pro5-enkephalinamide (DMPE, 0.5 μg·kg-1· min-1), or the opiate antagonist naloxone (1.25 mg followed by 1 μg· kg-1·min-1). The effects on glucose production and glucose utilization were measured by isotope dilution using 3-3H-glucose. Glucose fell similarly over 30 min in response to insulin in controls (0.021±0.003 mmol·1-1· min-1), and both the DMPE and naloxone studies (0.016±0.002 mmol · 1-1 · min-1 and 0.017±0.003 mmol·1-1 ·min-1, respectively). In control dogs, insulin lowered glucose by transiently suppressing production by 0.028 ±0.006 mmol·kg-1·min-1 at 20–30 min without changing utilization. In contrast, in both the DMPE and naloxone studies insulin lowered glucose by markedly raising utilization at 20 min by 0.094 ±0.017 and 0.139±0.022 mmol·kg-1·min-1, respectively. Furthermore, insulin failed to suppress production in both DMPE and naloxone studies and, as plasma glucose fell, production rose in both treatment groups at 20 min by 0.045 ±0.012 and 0.089 ±0.022 mmol · kg-1 · min-1 respectively. The counter-regulatory hormone glucagon was transiently suppressed by insulin at 20 min in controls, but not in the treatment groups; cortisol and adrenaline rose at 30 and 45 min respectively in the naloxone group only. No other changes were noted in counterregulatory hormones. Thus hormonal changes do not appear to account for the early pronounced rise in glucose utilization leading to the fall in glucose in the DMPE and naloxone studies. We conclude that the morphine-like agent DMPE and high doses of the opiate antagonist naloxone modulate insulin-induced glucose fluxes in vivo, promoting both glucose utilization and production. These effects may be direct or indirect, and may serve a function in the redistribution of glucose during stress responses.
SU-FF-I-08: What Is the Best Way of Measuring An Image Quality Index From CT Data?

Purpose: To investigate how tissuecontrast and noise correlate with the size of patients undergoing chest CT examinations. Method and Materials: We used 572 chest CT examinations obtained with a standard protocol for subjects participating in a lung cancer‐screening project. Measurements were made of the mean CT number (HU), and corresponding noise level (standard deviation), in liver and blood in the descending aorta. Data on patient size included the patient weight (kg), body dimensions (Anterior‐Posterior [AP] and lateral [L]), as well as the body mass index (BMI) obtained as the ratio of the body weight (kg) divided by the square of the patient height (m). Results: Visual inspection of the CTimages shows the expected increase in imagenoise with increasing patient size. Mean CT numbers for liver showed a modest decrease with increasing patient weight (r2 = 0.18), whereas blood showed no correlation with patient size (r2 < 0.01). There was good correlation between noise and patient mass for the liver (r2 = 0.65) and for blood (r2 = 0.54). Compared to noise alone, contrast to noise ratios for both tissues showed a reduced correlation with patient mass. The correlation between noise and patient size was similar for body weight and three measures of patient size (i.e., (AP + L), (AP × L)0.5, and (ln[AP × L]0.5), but was significantly poorer with BMI. Conclusion: The most suitable image quality metric from CT data is noise, with no useful benefit obtained from consideration of tissuecontrast. Weight and patient dimensions are equally satisfactory for predicting how noise varies with patient size, and are superior to the use of BMI.
MATING SYSTEM DYNAMICS OF OCOTEA TENERA (LAURACEAE), A GYNODIOECIOUS TROPICAL TREE

Progeny arrays of Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae), a gynodioecious tree endemic to Costa Rica, were electrophoretically surveyed for allozyme variation to estimate the outcrossing rate in the overall population and to test for differences in outcrossing rates between hermaphroditic and female trees. Multilocus outcrossing rate estimates across 3 yr indicated O. tenera predominantly outcrosses. However, significant heterogeneity in single-locus outcrossing rates was found among loci. Two loci (FeZ, Fe2) gave high outcrossing estimates, and a third locus (Gdh) gave much lower outcrossing estimates. Heterogeneity in Gdh pollen allele frequencies, consanguineous matings, and selection against homozygous zygote genotypes at the FeZ and Fe2 loci are factors contributing to the discrepancy in outcrossing rate estimates among loci. There were no differences in the mating systems of hermaphroditic and female trees, which suggests that factors beyond prevention of selffertilization may have also promoted the evolution of gynodioecy in O. tenera.
MESOZOIC PALEOGEOGRAPHY AND EARLY ANGIOSPERM HISTORY

During the Early Cretaceous, ocean-floor spreading gradually opened up the tropical Atlantic and the Indian Ocean basin widened as the eastern segments of Gondwanaland were conveyed farther apart. At the same time, epeiric seas were advancing on all continents, reaching maximum extent during the Cenomanian. The resultant trend to widespread, more equable climate favored the invasion into the lowlands of angiosperms whose postulated origin was in mild uplands at low latitudes during pre-Cretaceous times. As tropical and subtropical lands were rafted farther apart by ocean-floor spreading following Albian-Cenomanian times, new taxa (species, genera, tribes, families) evolved in isolation. This accounts in part for the increasing richness of the three major tropical floras following the Cretaceous. Changes in Mesozoic paleogeography also appear to clarify several other puzzling aspects of early angiosperm history and distribution, including their early appearance at middle latitudes.
Should exhaled nitric oxide measurement be part of routine asthma management

t P g g 1 w o t s Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous regulatory molecule widely distributed throughout the body as a messenger in many biologic processes. It is produced from L-arginine by the NO synthase enzymes. It activates cytosolic guanylate cyclase, which converts guanosine triphosphate to cyclic guanosinemonophosphate. It is a highly reactive molecule in the tissues but is fairly stable in the gas phase. In the respiratory tract, NO is present in the epithelial cells, and its production increases in the presence of inflammatory processes, particularly eosinophilic inflammation.
Investigating the Structure‐Property Relationships at Grain Boundaries in MgO Using Bond‐Valence Pair Potentials and Multiple Scattering Analysis

We describe the use of bond–valence analysis to investigate the segregation of calcium atoms at an MgO [001] tilt grain boundary. For small deviations away from the equilibrium metal-oxide bond length, the bond–valence parameter approximates well to a Born–Mayer-type pair potential. Therefore, by starting with a structural model determined from an atomic resolution Z-contrast image, compositional and cation valence state information obtained from electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) can be incorporated into a comprehensive model for the grain boundary. For the boundary under investigation here, it is found that specific sites for preferential segregation can be identified, resulting in 0.3–0.4 monolayers of calcium in the boundary plane.
Have We Underestimated the Effects of Sodium Excess on the Health of the Public

Americans consume a diet with a salt content up to 10 times that recommended for optimal health. This excess intake results in high rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease that do not occur in cultures with lower sodium intakes. Although the effects of excess sodium on population health have been demonstrated across study designs, proposals to reduce sodium content in commercially available foods continue to be met with opposition despite findings that reducing the content of salt in many foods does not reduce palatability. Development of a public health policy is supported by recommendations for dietary sodium reduction from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. Nursing will play an essential role in this policy initiative by using strategies at the public health level including surveillance, educational programs, liaison work with the food industry, and evaluation of programs and outcomes.
What, if anything, is a Darwinian anthropology?

Des differents appels a la creation d'une anthropologie explicitement 'darwinienne', aucun n'est particulierement satisfaisant. Dans cet article, je passe en revue cinq appels de ce genre, examinant leurs defauts a la lumiere de la connaissance anthropologique. Ceux-ci sont (i) l'appel a modeliser la variation culturelle comme etant genetique; (ii) l'appel a interpreter tout comportement social comme visant a 'maximiser des aptitudes'; (iii) la theorie des 'memes'; (iv) la modelisation du comportement humain sur celui des chimpanzes; et (v) le darwinisme comme ideologie evangelique. Je termine en exposant un programme pour une anthropologie inclusive et scientifique qui serait compatible avec la biologie darwinienne.
Riders on the Storm: Selective Tidal Movements Facilitate the Spawning Migration of Threatened Delta Smelt in the San Francisco Estuary

Migration strategies in estuarine fishes typically include behavioral adaptations for reducing energetic costs and mortality during travel to optimize reproductive success. The influence of tidal currents and water turbidity on individual movement behavior were investigated during the spawning migration of the threatened delta smelt, Hypomesus transpacificus, in the northern San Francisco Estuary, California, USA. Water current velocities and turbidity levels were measured concurrently with delta smelt occurrence at sites in the lower Sacramento River and San Joaquin River as turbidity increased due to first-flush winter rainstorms in January and December 2010. The presence/absence of fish at the shoal-channel interface and near the shoreline was quantified hourly over complete tidal cycles. Delta smelt were caught consistently at the shoal-channel interface during flood tides and near the shoreline during ebb tides in the turbid Sacramento River, but were rare in the clearer San Joaquin River. The apparent selective tidal movements by delta smelt would facilitate either maintaining position or moving upriver on flood tides, and minimizing advection down-estuary on ebb tides. These movements also may reflect responses to lateral gradients in water turbidity created by temporal lags in tidal velocities between the near-shore and mid-channel habitats. This migration strategy can minimize the energy spent swimming against strong river and tidal currents, as well as predation risks by remaining in turbid water. Selection pressure on individuals to remain in turbid water may underlie population-level observations suggesting that turbidity is a key habitat feature and cue initiating the delta smelt spawning migration.
Buffering databse operations for enhanced instruction cache performance

As more and more query processing work can be done in main memory access is becoming a significant cost component of database operations. Recent database research has shown that most of the memory stalls are due to second-level cache data misses and first-level instruction cache misses. While a lot of research has focused on reducing the data cache misses, relatively little research has been done on improving the instruction cache performance of database systems.We first answer the question "Why does a database system incur so many instruction cache misses?" We demonstrate that current demand-pull pipelined query execution engines suffer from significant instruction cache thrashing between different operators. We propose techniques to buffer database operations during query execution to avoid instruction cache thrashing. We implement a new light-weight "buffer" operator and study various factors which may affect the cache performance. We also introduce a plan refinement algorithm that considers the query plan and decides whether it is beneficial to add additional "buffer" operators and where to put them. The benefit is mainly from better instruction locality and better hardware branch prediction. Our techniques can be easily integrated into current database systems without significant changes. Our experiments in a memory-resident PostgreSQL database system show that buffering techniques can reduce the number of instruction cache misses by up to 80% and improve query performance by up to 15%.
IDENTIFYING CHANGES IN THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRIME: EVIDENCE FROM A REFEREE EXPERIMENT IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Between the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 seasons, the National Football League (NFL) repositioned one of its officials in order to prevent injuries among officials. This creates a quasi-experiment for studying how a change in the extent of policing affects detection of offenses. Using play-by-play data from the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 NFL season, I estimate how the detection of offensive holding changes when the positioning of an official changes. I find that there is approximately a 20 increase in the number of offensive holding penalties called after the NFL repositioned the official. Penalties called on defensive linemen fell as a result of the repositioning. Overall, there was no change in the total number of penalties called. Using the estimated change in the probability of a penalty, I estimate the probability of an official calling a penalty. I infer that NFL officials detect approximately 60% of crimes committed on the field. (JEL K4, Z0, D0)
Pathways for uptake of fluorescently labeled liposomes by alveolar type II cells in culture

Isolated alveolar type II cells are shown in real time to internalize 1-palmitoyl-2-[12-[(7 nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]dodecanoyl] phosphatidyl choline (C12-NBD-PC)-labeled liposomes in an intact manner with the use of fluorescence microscopy. Cells isolated from rat lungs, cultured on plastic for 24 h, are exposed at 37 degrees C to liposomes on the microscope stage, using a microperfusion system. Liposomes composed of a self-quenching concentration of fluorophore (25 mol% C12-NBD-PC) do not dequench at the level of the plasma membrane; rather, they appear to fuse with intracellular lipids primarily in vesicular structures consistent with lamellar bodies. Temperature and energy dependence of this uptake mechanism is demonstrated by the lack of uptake of maximally fluorescent liposomes (15 mol% C12-NBD-PC) at 4 degrees C or when depleted of ATP. Inhibition of the coated-pit endocytic pathway by hypertonic media reduces fluorescent lipid uptake by 50%, suggesting a separate, clathrin-independent endocytic pathway for intact internalization of liposomes by type II cells. Uptake is inhibited by cytochalasin D by 49%, suggesting a dependence on action, and by 88% with combined cytochalasin D and hypertonicity, or nearly the same level as ATP depletion. The evidence is consistent with the existence of two separate endocytic pathways for lipids in type II cells: one clathrin dependent and the other actin dependent.
Thermal assessment of RF integrated LTCC front end module (FEM)

The thermal performance of Front End Module (FEM) incorporating Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substrate is investigated. An Infrared Microscope System was used to measure device surface temperature with both RF and DC power at various duty cycles (25 to 100%). The maximum junction temperature (/spl sim/112/spl deg/C) occurs at the second stage. By powering the module with DC only, he comparison between numerical and experimental data indicates good agreement, with less than 10% difference in the peak temperature values. When replacing the common 2-layer organic substrate with a 14-layer LTCC substrate and silver paste metallization, the peak junction temperature reaches 130.1/spl deg/C, /spl sim/51% higher than before. However, by increasing the silver paste thermal conductivity from 90 to 350 W/mK, a significant drop in peak temperatures occurs, indicating the impact on module's overall thermal performance. The top metal layer thickness (10 vs. 30 microns) only contributed to 5-8% changes in peak junction temperature. An improved FEM design incorporates a higher thermal conductivity silver paste material (300 W/mK) with new thermal via array structure (25 vias, 150 microns in diameter each) in the LTCC substrate. The module junction temperature reaches 96/spl deg/C (based on 25/spl deg/C reference temperature, 100% duty cycle), corresponding to a junction-to-substrate (R/sub js/) thermal resistance of 14/spl deg/C/W. Further study reveals that 20% voiding placed at the die center has no impact on FEM thermal performance, while the voiding placed at the die comer (under the heat dissipating stages) increases the stage peak temperature significantly by more than 40/spl deg/C. Last part of the study focuses on design optimization: two particular designs provide the optimal thermal performance when reducing the thermal via number/costs by almost 40%.
Effects of foliar herbivory by insects on the fitness of Raphanus raphanistrum: damage can increase male fitness.

Abstract: Generally, effects of herbivory on plant fitness have been measured in terms of female reproductive success (seed production). However, male plant fitness, defined as the number of seeds sired by pollen, contributes half of the genes to the next generation and is therefore crucial to the evolution of natural plant populations. This is the first study to examine effects of insect herbivory on both male and female plant reproductive success. Through controlled field and greenhouse experiments and genetic paternity analysis, we found that foliar damage by insects caused a range of responses by plants. In one environment, damaged plants had greater success as male parents than undamaged plants. Neither effects on pollen competitive ability nor pollinator visitation patterns could explain the greater siring success of these damaged plants. Success of damaged plants as male parents appeared to be due primarily to changes in allocation to flowers versus seeds after damage. Damaged plants produced more ...
The use of biological agents for the treatment of fungal asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a virulent manifestation of the Th2 asthma endotype that includes asthma with fungal sensitization, raising the feasibility of biological therapies targeting Th2 pathway molecules or cells. The first molecule amenable to clinical intervention with a biological was IgE. Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody (Mab), targets the same epitope on the IgE CH3 region that binds to and crosslinks high-affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils, thereby initiating the allergic inflammatory cascade. Omalizumab is licensed for allergic asthma and has been beneficial in uncontrolled studies of ABPA, reducing exacerbations and steroid requirements. Trials of several Mabs directed against the Th2 cytokine IL-5 show clinical benefit in patients with a severe refractory eosinophilic asthma phenotype, while a Mab against IL-13 is effective in asthma patients with a Th2-high endotype. Immunodulation is also feasible with small molecule biologicals, such as antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and cholecalciferol. Controlled trials of Th2-inhibiting biologicals in patients with ABPA and severe asthma with fungal sensitization appear warranted.
Sequence stratigraphy of tidally influenced deposits in a salt-withdrawal minibasin: Upper sandstone member of the Potrerillos Formation (Paleocene), La Popa basin, Mexico

The Potrerillos minibasin of the La Popa basin, Mexico, is defined by the Carroza syncline and bounded by the El Gordo anticline and the La Popa salt weld. Stratigraphic geometries and facies distribution of the upper sandstone member of the Potrerillos Formation within the minibasin indicate that diapirism, shortening, and deposition were simultaneous and complexly interrelated during the Paleocene. The upper sandstone member is a regressive succession of marginal marine, siliciclastic deposits. Wave-dominated shoreface deposits consist of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone and are interpreted to represent offshore to upper shoreface environments. Tide-dominated environments are heterogeneous and grouped into four broad classes based on the energy of the depositional environment. Lower delta-plain deposits range from mudstone to sandstone and are interpreted to represent channel, flood-plain, and lagoonal environments. Sedimentary structure orientations indicate asymmetrical, bidirectional paleocurrents with a dominant southeast trend parallel to regional structural trends. Unconformity-bounded strata onlap the El Gordo anticline, indicating syndepositional folding and control of the depositional system by detachment fold trends in the basin.The strata of the upper sandstone member are interpreted to contain six systems tracts that record three successive fourth-order eustatic cycles. These strata represent the deposits of a prograding, ebb-dominated deltaic system confined to the Carroza syncline. Maximum stratal accumulation in the synclinal hinge caused the migration of underlying salt into flanking structures. A balance between salt withdrawal and subsidence stabilized the position of both the synclinal hinge and the shoreline, leading to a positive deposition-subsidence feedback loop. During regional regression, the structural basin defined by the syncline formed a paleogeographic embayment and controlled shoreline evolution.
Ion implant technology for 6H-SiC MESFET's digital ICs

SiC devices are capable of operating at very high temperature. Since MESFETs do not suffer from oxide degradation issues, they are suitable for high temperature electronics. However, conventional mesa isolation structures used in these devices make it difficult for circuit designs in high-density integration schemes. MESFETs fabricated on high resistivity 6H-SiC substrate have demonstrated good RF performance. Our group has also investigated the possibility of creating a highly resistive layer by ion implantation. In this paper, we describe a planar MESFET technology used to fabricate digital logic circuits.
Influence of Selected Fungicides on Efficacy of Clethodim and 2,4-DB

Abstract A range of fungicides and herbicides can be applied to control pests and optimize peanut yield. Experiments were conducted in North Carolina to define biological and physicochemical interactions when clethodim and 2,4-DB were applied alone or with selected fungicides. Pyraclostrobin consistently reduced large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] control by clethodim. Chlorothalonil and tebuconazole plus trifloxystrobin reduced large crabgrass control by clethodim in two of four experiments while prothioconazole plus tebuconazole and flutriafol did not affect control. Palmer amaranth [Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats] control by 2,4-DB was not affected by these fungicides. Although differences in spray solution pH were noted among mixtures of clethodim plus crop oil concentrate or 2,4-DB and fungicides, the range of pH was 4.40 to 4.92 and 6.72 to 7.20, respectively, across sampling times of 0, 6, 24, and 72 h after solution preparation. Permanent precipitates were formed when clethodim, crop oi...
Threshold and spectral characteristics of quantum dot lasers fabricated by selective area epitaxy

The threshold and spectral characteristics of patterned quantum dot lasers fabricated by selective area MOCVD crystal growth are presented Full three-dimensional confinement of carriers in an engineered quantum structure is demonstrated.
Synthesis and Characterization of pH- and Temperature-Sensitive Poly(methacrylic acid)/Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Interpenetrating Polymeric Networks

Hydrogels of an interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) composed of the temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and the pH-sensitive poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) were prepared by a sequential UV polymerization method. The IPN hydrogels were characterized for their temperature- and pH-responsive behavior by equilibrium swelling studies, oscillatory swelling studies, and differential scanning calorimetry. The permeability of these IPNs has been investigated under various pH and temperature conditions. The results showed that these hydrogels exhibited a combined pH- and temperature-sensitivity at a temperature range of 31−32 °C and a pH value of approximately 5.5. Permeation study results indicate a significant size exclusion behavior while model drugs with different sizes permeate through the IPN membranes. The permeability of the IPN membrane can be significantly affected by varying the pH and temperature conditions.
Taurine and the renal system

Taurine participates in a number of different physiologic and biologic processes in the kidney, often reflected by urinary excretion patterns. The kidney is key to aspects of taurine body pool size and homeostasis. This review will examine the renal-taurine interactions relative to ion reabsorption; renal blood flow and renal vascular endothelial function; antioxidant properties, especially in the glomerulus; and the role of taurine in ischemia and reperfusion injury. In addition, taurine plays a role in the renal cell cycle and apoptosis, and functions as an osmolyte during the stress response. The role of the kidney in adaptation to variations in dietary taurine intake and the regulation of taurine body pool size are described. Finally, the protective function of taurine against several kidney diseases is reviewed.
Conductive heat transport across rough surfaces and interfaces between two conforming media

Abstract Conductive heat transport across an isothermal three-dimensional irregular surface into a semi-infinite conductive medium and heat transport across the interface between two semi-infinite conductive media are considered by asymptotic and numerical methods. The temperature profile far from the surface or interface varies in a linear manner with respect to distance normal to the mean position of the surface or interface, and is displaced by a constant with respect to the linear profile corresponding to the flat geometry. The displacement constant amounts to a macroscopic temperature drop or discontinuity that depends on the geometry of the irregularities and on the media conductivities. An asymptotic expansion for the jump is derived by the method of domain perturbation for small-amplitude, doubly-periodic corrugations, and an integral formulation is developed for finite-amplitude corrugations. Numerical results based on the boundary element method for three-dimensional wavy corrugations with square or hexagonal pattern show that the asymptotic results are accurate when the ratio of the vertical span to the wavelength of the corrugations is less than roughly 0.5. Illustrations of the flux distribution over the corrugated surfaces show explicitly a considerable enhancement or reduction at the crests or troughs, even for moderate-amplitude irregularities.
Extent and distribution of linkage disequilibrium in the Old Order Amish.

Knowledge of the extent and distribution of linkage disequilibrium (LD) is critical to the design and interpretation of gene mapping studies. Because the demographic history of each population varies and is often not accurately known, it is necessary to empirically evaluate LD on a population-specific basis. Here we present the first genome-wide survey of LD in the Old Order Amish (OOA) of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, a closed population derived from a modest number of founders. Specifically, we present a comparison of LD between OOA individuals and US Utah participants in the International HapMap project (abbreviated CEU) using a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) map. Overall, the allele (and haplotype) frequency distributions and LD profiles were remarkably similar between these two populations. For example, the median absolute allele frequency difference for autosomal SNPs was 0.05, with an inter-quartile range of 0.02–0.09, and for autosomal SNPs 10–20kb apart with common alleles (minor allele frequencyZ0.05), the LD measure r 2 was at least 0.8 for 15 and 14% of SNP pairs in the OOA and CEU, respectively. Moreover, tag SNPs selected from the HapMap CEU sample captured a substantial portion of the common variation in the OOA (� 88%) at r 2 Z0.8. These results suggest that the OOA and CEU may share similar LD profiles for other common but untyped SNPs. Thus, in the context of the common variant-common disease hypothesis, genetic variants discovered in gene mapping studies in the OOA may generalize to other populations. Genet. Epidemiol. 34:146–150, 2010. r 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Development of an in situ temperature stage for synchrotron X-ray spectromicroscopy

In situ characterization of micro- and nanoscale defects in polycrystalline thin-film materials is required to elucidate the physics governing defect formation and evolution during photovoltaic device fabrication and operation. X-ray fluorescence spectromicroscopy is particularly well-suited to study defects in compound semiconductors, as it has a large information depth appropriate to study thick and complex materials, is sensitive to trace amounts of atomic species, and provides quantitative elemental information, non-destructively. Current in situ methods using this technique typically require extensive sample preparation. In this work, we design and build an in situ temperature stage to study defect kinetics in thin-film solar cells under actual processing conditions, requiring minimal sample preparation. Careful selection of construction materials also enables controlled non-oxidizing atmospheres inside the sample chamber such as H2Se and H2S. Temperature ramp rates of up to 300 °C/min are achieved, with a maximum sample temperature of 600 °C. As a case study, we use the stage for synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectromicroscopy of CuIn(x)Ga(1-x)Se2 (CIGS) thin-films and demonstrate predictable sample thermal drift for temperatures 25-400 °C, allowing features on the order of the resolution of the measurement technique (125 nm) to be tracked while heating. The stage enables previously unattainable in situ studies of nanoscale defect kinetics under industrially relevant processing conditions, allowing a deeper understanding of the relationship between material processing parameters, materials properties, and device performance.
Environmentally Robust Rhodamine Reporters for Probe-based Cellular Detection of the Cancer-linked Oxidoreductase hNQO1

We successfully synthesized a fluorescent probe capable of detecting the cancer-associated NAD(P)H:quinoneoxidoreductase isozyme-1 within human cells, based on results from an investigation of the stability of various rhodamines and seminaphthorhodamines toward the biological reductant NADH, present at ∼100–200 μM within cells. While rhodamines are generally known for their chemical stability, we observe that NADH causes significant and sometimes rapid modification of numerous rhodamine analogues, including those oftentimes used in imaging applications. Results from mechanistic studies lead us to rule out a radical-based reduction pathway, suggesting rhodamine reduction by NADH proceeds by a hydride transfer process to yield the reduced leuco form of the rhodamine and oxidized NAD+. A relationship between the structural features of the rhodamines and their reactivity with NADH is observed. Rhodamines with increased alkylation on the N3- and N6-nitrogens, as well as the xanthene core, react the least with ...
Anti-Chinese Discrimination in Twentieth Century America: Perceptions of Chinese Americans During the Third Bubonic Plague Pandemic in San Francisco, 1900-1908

iv Acknowledgments v Map Plague diffusion in Western Guangdong, 1867-1900 vi Map Plague diffusion through the Xiamen regional-city trading system.........vii Illustration “The Nigger Must Go,” and “The Chinese Must Go” viii Illustration Darwin’s Theory Illustrated—The Creation of Chinaman and Pig.........ix Preface 1 Chapter 1 Chinese Immigration in 19 Century America 7 Chapter 2 The Origins of the Bubonic Plague During the Third Pandemic 39 Chapter 3 The 1900-08 Bubonic Plague Epidemics in San Francisco 63 Conclusion 95 Works Cited 99
Are Extreme Right Parties Really on the Right? A Dimensional Approach

This article develops a dimensional conception of political competition, which it applies to the study of extreme right political parties, contributing to the debate on extreme right party positioning. Using multiple data sources, the article observes that economic positioning of extreme right parties differs widely. While party experts tend to place extreme right parties on the extreme economic right, extreme right voters espouse more centrist economic positions that are occasionally on the left of socialist parties. This finding is not just surprising. It challenges some basic postulates of classical spatial theory, including the assumption that voters support parties which are closest to their ideal position. To make sense of this puzzle, this article turns to a dimensional conception of political competition and argues that this discrepancy results from the dimensional nature of political competition not usually captured by spatial models. To test these propositions, the article combines quantitative analyses of electoral manifestos, expert placement of political parties and voter preferences together with qualitative assessment of extreme right parties in seven Western European party systems.