cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MATERNAL IMMUNIZATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF RSV INFECTIONS: A GUINEA PIG MODEL. • 991

RSV is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants. Higher titers of transplacentally derived maternal antibodies are associated with a relative protection aganist severe RSV disease in young infants. We investigated the use of guinea pigs (Gp) for the study of maternal immunization for the control of RSV infections. Gps were attractive for use in these studies because like humans they have a prenatal transfer of antibodies to their offspring and Gps are susceptible to infections with RSV. Two groups of 35-45 day gestation Gps were immunized intranasally with either 106 PFU A2 strain virus (group A, 3 females) or mock infected preparation (group B, 2 females). Newborns in both groups were challenged with 106 PFU A2 virus intranasally at < 48 hours of age. At 5 days post challenge, viral titers in lung tissue (PFU/gm) were determined. No virus was detected in the lungs of the 8 group A pups (mean log titer ± SD = 1.69 ± 0 with 1.69 representing the lower limit of detection), whereas virus was detected in the lungs of 5 of 6 group B pups (mean log titer ± SD = 3.42 ± 0.9; p = 0.0002 for group A vs B). For the group A animals, serum RSV ELISA antibody titers (mean ± SD) were 3.9 ± 0.4 for the mothers and 3.9 ± 0.2 for the pups. No antibody was detected in group B mothers or pups. These data show that there was a transfer of protective immunity from RSV immunized females to their pups. The Gp model should be useful for the investigation of maternal immunization for protection against RSV infections in infancy.
What is “biochemical failure” in prostate cancer?

Abstract Increases in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are often used as a surrogate endpoint (e.g., for mortality) when evaluating potential benefits of therapy for cancer of the prostate (CaP). In this context, different definitions of “failure” have evolved for each type of treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation), leading to potential confusion when physicians and patients evaluate data on outcomes. Our purpose was to compare existing, and evaluate a new, definition(s) of PSA failure. Patients were from an ongoing study of 1320 men diagnosed with CaP in the New England Veterans Affairs Healthcare System during 1991–1995. To ensure an adequate spectrum of CaP, a random sample of 125 men with CaP who died were first identified, and 125 age-matched men with CaP who were still alive were selected from the same VA sites. Data regarding baseline characteristic and post-treatment PSA (4–9 year follow-up) were collected. Proportions of men with PSA failure and median time to PSA failure were determined, regardless of actual therapy received, based on criteria a) after prostatectomy (any detectable PSA); b) after radiotherapy, as per the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) (three consecutive rises after a nadir PSA); and c) applying a threshold for PSA slope (1 ng/mL/year). Among 250 men, 12 (4.8%) were excluded (e.g., unavailable records). For the remaining 238 patients, surgical failure was evident in 165 (69.3%), whereas ASTRO classified 86 (36.1%) as having failed; kappa statistic for concordance = 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.38), indicating “poor” agreement. The median time to PSA failure also varied widely: 4.5 months for surgery vs. 37.6 months per ASTRO. Failure based on PSA slope identified 112 men (47.1%); the median time to failure (22.7 months) was also intermediate between the existing approaches. Currently used definitions of treatment failure in CaP can produce substantially different results when assessing the same clinical phenomena. A new definition of PSA failure, based on slope of PSA, is easy to use and applicable regardless of type of treatment. This research can improve the ability of providers (and their patients) to make informed and appropriate decisions regarding treatment for prostate cancer.
Array of Carbon Nanotubes Integrated with Plasmonic Particles Offering Enhanced Characteristics

The performance of array of carbon nanotubes antenna integrated with plasmonic materials is investigated. It is shown that using plasmonic particles inside CNT dipoles gaps one can enhance the current distribution of the composite system.
Function Field Sieve Method for Discrete Logarithms over Finite Fields

We present a function field sieve method for discrete logarithms over finite fields. This method is an analog of the number field sieve method originally developed for factoring integers. It is asymptotically faster than the previously known algorithms when applied to finite fields Fpn, where p6?n.
Novel Animal Models of Acute and Chronic Cancer Pain: A Pivotal Role for PAR2

Targeted therapy to prevent the progression from acute to chronic pain in cancer patients remains elusive. We developed three novel cancer models in mice that together recapitulate the anatomical, temporal, and functional characteristics of acute and chronic head and neck cancer pain in humans. Using pharmacologic and genetic approaches in these novel cancer models, we identified the interaction between protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and serine proteases to be of central importance. We show that serine proteases such as trypsin induce acute cancer pain in a PAR2-dependent manner. Chronic cancer pain is associated with elevated serine proteases in the cancer microenvironment and PAR2 upregulation in peripheral nerves. Serine protease inhibition greatly reduces the severity of persistent cancer pain in wild-type mice, but most strikingly, the development of chronic cancer pain is prevented in PAR2-deficient mice. Our results demonstrate a direct role for PAR2 in acute cancer pain and suggest that PAR2 upregulation may favor the development and maintenance of chronic cancer pain. Targeting the PAR2-serine protease interaction is a promising approach to the treatment of acute cancer pain and prevention of chronic cancer pain.
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority: A Smart Growth Machine?

Molotch, Stone, and others demonstrated that business leaders exercise major influence in American urban politics. Business leaders with local economic interests have long promoted growth in American cities. This article discusses the historical influence of Atlanta's business leaders in the city's economic growth and focuses on their role in the policy shifts in the 1990s, from unfettered growth to “smart growth.” In response to Atlanta's worsened image for attracting business and the restrictions imposed by the EPA in using federal money, Atlanta's business leaders led the political process that created the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. The implications of this process for the theories of urban politics and the future directions for regional governance are discussed.
Detergency evaluation. I. Wash test methods

Soil removal data were developed for five laboratory methods and one practical wash test method, utilizing a single standardized soil test fabrie. The degree of correlation between the methods is good considering the variety of machines and procedures used. Better correlation between methods was obtained in hard than in soft water, attributable to the higher solution concentration used in the hard water tests.
Globalization of an Aquatic Pest: Economic Costs, Ecological Outcomes, and Positive Applications of Zebra Mussel Invasions and Expansions

The development of trade and tourism has been as important as the biological adaptations of zebra mussels and quagga mussels in mediating the historic spread of these organisms in Europe and their invasion of North America. Canals and increased commerce mediated the spread of zebra mussels in Europe at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and facilitated their introduction to North America near the end of the 20th century. However, recreational boating is the most likely vehicle for the more recent intracontinental invasions of alpine and subalpine lakes in Europe and the recent leap of these freshwater mussels across the Continental Divide in North America. Although viewed as pests due to their biofouling effects, their economic costs to drinking water and electrical power plant companies have been smaller than once feared, and their negative impacts on other organisms have been smaller than predicted in the more than 20 years since the start of their invasion of North America. This review of recent publications reveals that positive outcomes of the presence of zebra mussels and quagga mussels have begun to be apparent, which help ameliorate the economic costs and negative ecological outcomes that have accompanied the globalization of this aquatic pest.
Nature, extent and implications of belief in Kikombe cha babu and other herbal HIV cures in Tanzania.

This study's objective was to describe awareness of, access to, belief in, and utilization of the healing tea Kikombe cha babu and other alternative treatments for HIV in Tanzania. Associations with HIV testing, treatment, and prevention behaviors are also explored. A survey with questions about alternative medicine was administered to a sample in Tanzania using a stratified, multistage random selection method. Adults were interviewed face-to-face. Items concerning alternative HIV treatments addressed awareness, access, beliefs, and treatment-seeking behaviors. Questions about HIV prevention and treatment were also asked. Results showed participants indicated a high awareness of alternative treatments available in Tanzania, with 95.3% of 2313 adults having heard of these treatments. Of those, 6.0% had actually sought the treatment, and 46.8% had an acquaintance seek it. However, 81.0% indicated these treatments were not easily accessible. There is a high level of belief in the ability of these alternative...
Temperature Distribution in a Porous Surface

Temperature and fluid distribution in porous solid subjected to large suction, convective heating and radiative cooling on one surface
Soil and Water Chemistry

MICHAEL E. ESSINGTON. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL. 2004. Hardbound, 534 pp. $69.95. ISBN 0-8493-1258-2. Environmental science has grown rapidly in the last few decades and is now a major research and educational focus at universities around the world. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of
Composite magnetic monopoles for SU(N) spontaneously broken to U(1)

Abstract The point monopole solution found by Corrigan, Olive, Fairlie and Nuyts for SU(3) broken down to U(2) by an octet Higgs field is shown to survive when the symmetry is further broken to U(1), and therefore is a magnetic monopole in the traditional sense. The demonstration exploits a singular transformation from the Abelian gauge with a Dirac string, to a non-singular gauge in which the vector field has a manifest rotational symmetry. The procedure is generalized to SU(N) broken to U(1), always yielding the smallest strength monopole consistent with the Dirac quantization condition, and in some cases higher-strength monopoles as well. The manifest symmetry of the vector field corresponds to an angular momentum J 0 , different in general from the physical charge-pole angular momentum J . The latter generates a symmetry of the whole system of Higgs and vector fields. Even that symmetry fails for the interior of a finite-energy solution unless J and J 0 coincide, which happens only for the minimal monopole coupled to a charge in an SU(2) subgroup of SU(N). If SU(N) is not broken all the way to U(1), there can be solutions with exact J 0 symmetry whose possible significance is discussed. A theorem of Georgi and Glashow is used to show that SU(3) → U(1) could occur in a natural way if there were two Higgs fields.
Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Spinal Inflammation Impairs Respiratory Motor Plasticity by a Spinal p38 MAP Kinase-Dependent Mechanism

Inflammation is characteristic of most clinical disorders that challenge the neural control of breathing. Since inflammation modulates neuroplasticity, we studied the impact of inflammation caused by prolonged intermittent hypoxia on an important form of respiratory plasticity, acute intermittent hypoxia (three, 5 min hypoxic episodes, 5 min normoxic intervals) induced phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF). Because chronic intermittent hypoxia elicits neuroinflammation and pLTF is undermined by lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation, we hypothesized that one night of intermittent hypoxia (IH-1) elicits spinal inflammation, thereby impairing pLTF by a p38 MAP kinase-dependent mechanism. pLTF and spinal inflammation were assessed in anesthetized rats pretreated with IH-1 (2 min hypoxia, 2 min normoxia; 8 h) or sham normoxia and allowed 16 h for recovery. IH-1 (1) transiently increased IL-6 (1.5 ± 0.2-fold; p = 0.02) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (2.4 ± 0.4-fold; p = 0.01) mRNA in cervical spinal homogenates, (2) elicited a sustained increase in IL-1β mRNA (2.4 ± 0.2-fold; p < 0.001) in isolated cervical spinal microglia, and (3) abolished pLTF (-1 ± 5% vs 56 ± 10% in controls; p < 0.001). pLTF was restored after IH-1 by systemic NSAID administration (ketoprofen; 55 ± 9%; p < 0.001) or spinal p38 MAP kinase inhibition (58 ± 2%; p < 0.001). IH-1 increased phosphorylated (activated) p38 MAP kinase immunofluorescence in identified phrenic motoneurons and adjacent microglia. In conclusion, IH-1 elicits spinal inflammation and impairs pLTF by a spinal p38 MAP kinase-dependent mechanism. By targeting inflammation, we may develop strategies to manipulate respiratory motor plasticity for therapeutic advantage when the respiratory control system is compromised (e.g., sleep apnea, apnea of prematurity, spinal injury, or motor neuron disease).
Further results on geometry of invariant algebraic sets

We investigate geometry of different forms of invariant algebraic sets. Properties of these sets, which we present, are crucial for investigation of controllability properties for a large class of polynomial discrete-time systems. The results presented here generalize results on invariant algebraic sets that were recently proved in the literature.
Long-term storage of functional, isolated nerve endings by slow freezing and rapid thawing

Nerve endings (synaptosomes) were isolated from homogenized rat brain corpora striata following centrifugation on discontinuous sucrose gradients. The synaptosomes (in 0.8 M sucrose) were (i) slowly frozen by placing the tube containing the suspension in a freezer at -10 degrees C for 1 h followed by (ii) swirling in a mixture of acetone and dry ice for 15 min and (iii) were stored in liquid nitrogen for up to 6 weeks. Freshly isolated synaptosomes and synaptosomes from the same preparation that were frozen for 2, 4, or 6 weeks and rapidly thawed in a water bath at 37 degrees C were re-equilibrated with a physiological salt solution and assayed for their ability to accumulate Ca and to release transmitter (dopamine) upon depolarization in high K medium. K-dependent Ca uptake gradually declined to approximately 1/3 the value observed with freshly isolated synaptosomes after 6 weeks of storage. K-stimulated dopamine release (only from intact synaptosomes) was normal over the entire period of storage. It is concluded that synaptosomes retain their physiological properties when stored frozen for a few weeks and that cold storage may be a useful technique for experiments requiring lengthy or repeated assays or accumulation of material.
The Effect of Self-Brand Connection and Self-Construal on Brand Lovers' Word of Mouth (WOM)

This study examines the impact of self-construal on the relationship between self–brand connection and brand lovers’ positive word of mouth (WOM). Our sample was composed of U.S. and Korean consumers who reflected on hospitality brands that they claim to love. The results demonstrate that the effect of self–brand connection on brand lovers’ positive WOM is stronger for consumers with an independent self-construal compared with those with a more interdependent notion of self. Moreover, we show that emotional attachment is a psychological mechanism explaining the effect of self–brand connection on consumer’s WOM. Our findings have several important managerial implications for hospitality operators.
Effect of γ‐Vinyl GABA on Interictal Spikes and Sharp Waves in Patients with Intractable Complex Partial Seizures

The effect of gamma-vinyl GABA (GVG) on the interictal electroencephalogram (EEG) was studied in 13 patients with intractable complex partial seizures who participated in a single-blind, add-on, multicenter clinical trial of GVG. Precise operational definitions of epileptiform paroxysms were used to evaluate records before and after 3 months and 1 year of treatment with GVG. After 3 months of treatment, six patients exhibited reduction of both epileptiform paroxysms and seizure frequency, four had no change in seizure frequency nor in the EEG, and three had a reduction in seizure frequency but no concomitant reduction of epileptiform paroxysms in the EEG. Ten patients remained in the study after 1 year of treatment. In 4 patients both seizure frequency and EEG epileptiform paroxysms continued to decrease, in 1 patient both seizure frequency and number of EEG paroxysms increased, and in the remaining 3 there was no correlation between seizure frequency and EEG changes.
Detection of Sub-ng/L Actinides in Industrial Wastewater Matrices by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure ng/L quantities of uranium in solution. Pneumatic nebulization and ultrasonic nebulization were compared. The spectral integration period was varied to study the effects of counting statistics. Analyte detection at m/z 238 was found to be blank limited. Under optimal conditions (i.e., with the use of ultrasonic nebulization and an 11-s integration period per m/z), uranium detection limits (3σ) at m/z 234 (not blank limited) were found to be 0.1 ng/L in 18-MΩ water. The uranium detection limit at m/z 234 was 0.5 ng/L when a 2.5-g/L NaNO3 solution was nebulized. Normalized instrument response for uranium in 18-MΩ water agreed well with that in 2.5-g/L NaNO3.
Modeling growth factor activity during proinflammatory stress: Methodological considerations in assessing cytokine modulation of IGF binding proteins released by cultured bovine kidney epithelial cells

The present research was conducted to model potential mechanisms through which IGFBPs might be affected by a key proinflammatory response initiating cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)-alpha. Madin-Darby bovine kidney epithelial (MDBK) cells, known to release IGFBPs in response to several stimuli, were grown under several conditions and challenged with forskolin (F) or recombinant TNF-alpha for 24h. Forskolin increased IGFBP-3 gene expression and media content of BP-3 protein. TNF-alpha increased basal and augmented F-mediated IGFBP-3 gene expression. However, TNF-alpha effects on the measurable media content of IGFBPs were influenced by culture conditions; in the absence of added protease inhibitors (PIs) or sufficient media albumin concentration (high BSA, 1mg/ml), the effect of TNF-alpha was to decrease (P<0.02) measurable IGFBPs. In the presence of PI and high BSA, media IGFBP-3 levels were shown to be increased by TNF-alpha consistent with the gene expression data. Changes in media IGFBP-3 protease activity were examined further to explain the observed effects of TNF-alpha on production and destruction of IGFBPs in media. When recombinant human IGFBP-3 (500 ng/ml) was added to PI-free, low BSA 100 microg/ml) media from TNF-treated MDBK cells, less than 10% of the BP-3 was recognizable by Western blot in 30 min; conversely, inclusion of High BSA and PI in media resulted in attenuation of the protease effect on the IGFBPs. The data suggest that the MDBK model of cellular response to proinflammatory stimulus is affected by culture conditions and that TNF-alpha affects media content of IGFBPs through effects on IGFBP gene expression coupled with degradation of IGFBPs via enhanced proteolytic enzyme release.
Familiarity and Recollection in Heuristic Decision Making

Heuristics involve the ability to utilize memory to make quick judgments by exploiting fundamental cognitive abilities. In the current study we investigated the memory processes that contribute to the recognition heuristic and the fluency heuristic, which are both presumed to capitalize on the byproducts of memory to make quick decisions. In Experiment 1, we used a city-size comparison task while recording event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the potential contributions of familiarity and recollection to the 2 heuristics. ERPs were markedly different for recognition heuristic-based decisions and fluency heuristic-based decisions, suggesting a role for familiarity in the recognition heuristic and recollection in the fluency heuristic. In Experiment 2, we coupled the same city-size comparison task with measures of subjective preexperimental memory for each stimulus in the task. Although previous literature suggests the fluency heuristic relies on recognition speed alone, our results suggest differential contributions of recognition speed and recollected knowledge to these decisions, whereas the recognition heuristic relies on familiarity. Based on these results, we created a new theoretical framework that explains decisions attributed to both heuristics based on the underlying memory associated with the choice options.
On the error exponent of the wideband relay channel

We investigated the error exponent of the wideband relay channel. By computing the random coding error exponent of three different relay strategies, i.e., amplify-and-forward (AF), decode-and-forward (DF) and block Markov code (BMC), we found that relayed transmission can enhance the wireless link reliability significantly in the wideband regime compared to direct transmission. We also studied optimal power allocation and relay placement by maximizing the reliability function. Analytical and numerical results show, for DF and BMC relays, placing the relay node in the middle of source and destination provides the best link reliability. But for the AF relay scheme, the optimal relay placement depends on the path-loss exponent; for large path-loss exponents, half-way relay placement is also optimal.
QUANTITATIVE TRACKING OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION IN CELL CULTURE WITH CFSE

Immunofluorescence-based assays have been developed to detect and quantitate Cryptosporidium parvum infection in cell culture. Here, we describe a method that tracks and quantifies the early phase of attachment and invasion of C. parvum sporozoites using a fluorescent dye. Newly excysted sporozoites were labeled with the amine-reactive fluorescein probe carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl esters (CFSE) using an optimized protocol. The initial invasion of cells by labeled parasites was detected with fluorescent or confocal microscopy. The infection of cells was quantified by flow cytometry. Comparative analysis of infection of cells with CFSE-labeled and unlabeled sporozoites showed that the infectivity of C. parvum was not affected by CFSE labeling. Quantitative analysis showed that C. parvum Iowa and MD isolates were considerably more invasive than Cryptosporidium hominis isolate TU502. Unlike immunofluorescent assays, CFSE labeling permitted the tracking of the initial invasion of C. parvum. Such ...
A high-efficiency, dual-mode, dynamic, buck-boost power supply IC for portable applications

Integrated power supplies are critical building blocks in state-of-the-art portable applications, where they efficiently and accurately transform a battery supply into various regulated voltages, as required by their loads. This paper presents a novel low voltage, dual-mode, buck-boost converter IC targeted for dynamic supplies of linear RF power amplifiers (PAs) in wireless handsets. Maintaining high efficiency of the converter over a wide loading range is critical for improving battery life in such systems. The use of a novel, supply-voltage adaptive, on time control for pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) mode achieves an accurate output ripple voltage, not to mention higher efficiency under light loads. In the high-power mode, the converter is operated in a modified pulse-width-modulation (PWM) control, where its operation is changed adaptively between buck, buck-boost, and boost regions, thereby saving unnecessary switching losses. Appropriate circuit topologies are developed and designed to overcome the challenges of a low supply voltage environment requiring a wide dynamic range converter. The converter is designed and simulated using a 0.5-/spl mu/m n-well CMOS process for a supply voltage range of 1.4-4.2 V, which is compatible with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries (2.7-4.2 V), and alternate power sources, e.g. NiCd and NiMH batteries. Simulation results show that the converter generates an output voltage of 0.5-5 V while delivering up to 0.5 A of load current with a maximum ripple of 40 mV. The converter exhibits efficiency of 60-93% in PWM mode and 80% in PFM mode. A 0.9-1 V transient control-step response in PWM mode, which refers to a change in output voltage of 4.5-5 V, from an input supply of 1.4 V, is less than 200 /spl mu/sec.
What clients of couple therapy model developers and their former students say about change, part I: model-dependent common factors across three models.

Some researchers have hypothesized that factors common across therapy models are largely responsible for change. In this study we conducted semi-structured, open-ended qualitative interviews with three different MFT model developers (Dr. Susan M. Johnson, Emotionally Focused Therapy; Dr. Frank M. Dattilio, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy; and Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, Internal Family Systems Therapy), Dr. Johnson and Dr. Schwartz’s former students, and each of their former clients who had terminated therapy successfully. We examined possible common factors in our qualitative data analysis. Common factors fell into two main categories of model-dependent factors and model-independent factors. This article—the first of two—reviews the model-dependent common factors, common elements found across three distinct therapies. They include common conceptualizations, common interventions, and common outcomes, each with several subcategories. We discuss the clinical, training, and research implications of the results.
Gas exchange rates in small Canadian Shield lakes1

A method for determining the transfer rate of gases between water and the atmosphere in the ocean, using the isotope pair /sup 226/Ra and /sup 222/Rn, is extended to small lakes in northwestern Ontario. Three independent experiments from 1971 through 1972 have established the gas exchange velocity in these lakes to be 0.2 +- 0.1 m day/sup -1/ (corresponding to a ''boundary layer'' of about 600 ..mu..). This rate is one of the lowest observed in natural waters to date--less than a tenth of oceanic values and several times less than in the U.S. Great Basin lakes. A compilation of diverse gas exchange results, where wind velocity has been measured, indicates that the results of laboratory experiments comparing wind velocity with gas transfer conform fairly well with the natural situation. (auth)
Neck Dissections in the United States from 2000 to 2006: Volume, Indications, and Regionalization

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in neck dissection and regionalization. Methods. This cross-sectional and longitudinal study used the years 2000, 2004, and 2006 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Chi-square tests compared trends for total neck dissections and specific subsites. To test regionalization, we examined the distribution of procedures across hospital and procedure volume quartiles. Results. From 2000 to 2006, the number of neck dissections increased from 18,112 to 22,918. Three-fourths of the total increase was associated with thyroid and parathyroid gland or skin neoplasms. There was an increase in neck dissections for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) subsites and no decline for the oropharynx and tongue base. Regionalization occurred as high-volume hospitals and providers performed a greater proportion of neck dissections over time. Conclusion. Neck dissections increased from the year 2000 to 2006. There were no decreases in neck dissections for certain subsites with a greater role for primary chemoradiotherapy. Regionalization has occurred. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
Structural Maxent Models

We present a new class of density estimation models, Structural Maxent models, with feature functions selected from a union of possibly very complex sub-families and yet benefiting from strong learning guarantees. The design of our models is based on a new principle supported by uniform convergence bounds and taking into consideration the complexity of the different sub-families composing the full set of features. We prove new data-dependent learning bounds for our models, expressed in terms of the Rademacher complexities of these sub-families. We also prove a duality theorem, which we use to derive our Structural Maxent algorithm. We give a full description of our algorithm, including the details of its derivation, and report the results of several experiments demonstrating that its performance improves on that of existing L1-norm regularized Maxent algorithms. We further similarly define conditional Structural Maxent models for multi-class classification problems. These are conditional probability models also making use of a union of possibly complex feature subfamilies. We prove a duality theorem for these models as well, which reveals their connection with existing binary and multi-class deep boosting algorithms.
Evolving Neural Networks to Play Go

Go is a difficult game for computers to master, and the best go programs are still weaker than the average human player. Since the traditional game playing techniques have proven inadequate, new approaches to computer go need to be studied. This paper presents a new approach to learning to play go. The SANE (Symbiotic, Adaptive Neuro-Evolution) method was used to evolve networks capable of playing go on small boards with no pre-programmed go knowledge. On a 9 × 9 go board, networks that were able to defeat a simple computer opponent were evolved within a few hundred generations. Most significantly, the networks exhibited several aspects of general go playing, which suggests the approach could scale up well.
Movers and Shakers: How and Why Women Become and Remain Engaged in Community Leadership

This research examines women's narratives regarding the experiences that lead to becoming, sustaining, and challenging active community leaders. Seventeen women neighborhood leaders, age 28 to 73 years, completed in-depth interviews. Qualitative thematic content analyses identified prominent themes in participants' responses that were subsequently linked to a generativity framework. Analyses revealed that leaders reported circuitous rather than linear paths of emerging community participation and growing up among others who demonstrated an ethos of care in informal as well as formal community practices. Women's initial community engagement was most often in response to invitations to address community needs. Both communal and agentic rewards and challenges to community involvement were identified. Based upon the findings, strategies for promoting and sustaining women's community leadership are identified.
Expression of Paramyxovirus V Proteins Promotes Replication and Spread of Hepatitis C Virus in Cultures of Primary Human Fetal Liver Cells

Here we demonstrate that primary cultures of human fetal liver cells (HFLC) reliably support infection with laboratory strains of hepatitis C virus (HCV), although levels of virus replication vary significantly between different donor cell preparations and frequently decline in a manner suggestive of active viral clearance. To investigate possible contributions of the interferon (IFN) system to control HCV infection in HFLC, we exploited the well-characterized ability of paramyxovirus (PMV) V proteins to counteract both IFN induction and antiviral signaling. The V proteins of measles virus (MV) and parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) were introduced into HFLC using lentiviral vectors encoding a fluorescent reporter for visualization of HCV-infected cells. V protein-transduced HFLC supported enhanced (10 to 100-fold) levels of HCV infection relative to untransduced or control vector-transduced HFLC. Infection was assessed by measurement of virus-driven luciferase, by assays for infectious HCV and viral RNA, and by direct visualization of HCV-infected hepatocytes. Live cell imaging between 48 and 119 hours postinfection demonstrated little or no spread of infection in the absence of PMV V protein expression. In contrast, V protein-transduced HFLC showed numerous HCV infection events. V protein expression efficiently antagonized the HCV-inhibitory effects of added IFNs in HFLC. In addition, induction of the type III IFN, IL29, following acute HCV infection was inhibited in V protein-transduced cultures. Conclusion: These studies suggest that the cellular IFN response plays a significant role in limiting the spread of HCV infection in primary hepatocyte cultures. Strategies aimed at dampening this response may be key to further development of robust HCV culture systems, enabling studies of virus pathogenicity and the mechanisms by which HCV spreads in its natural host cell population. (Hepatology 2011;54:1901-1912)
The effects of sex and sexual orientation on attractiveness judgments: An evolutionary interpretation

Abstract If attractiveness judgments reflect biologically important reproductive criteria, men should base judgments of potential partners on objective physical criteria more than do women; homosexuals and heterosexuals of the same sex should perceive attractiveness in the same terms, regardless of sex-object choice. To test this theory, photographs of men and women (20 each) were presented to members of four subject groups, solicited on an opportunistic basis. Subjects were asked to rank the sets of photographs separately on the dimensions of physical attractiveness and general social attractiveness. We found some sex differences across sexual orientation. There was less variation among men than women (heterosexual and homosexual) in evaluating the “good looks” of sex objects. Heterosexual and homosexual men ranked younger sex objects higher than older ones on “good looks.” Heterosexual but not homosexual women ranked older sex objects higher. Sex had little effect on “social attractiveness” rankings, nor did putative age. These findings are interpreted as generally consistent with the existence of average sex differences in evaluative mechanisms that reflect different reproductive interests. Only further research, however, can identify the developmental origins of such differences.
ON THE RANGE OF CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS OF BIVARIATE ORDERED DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES

The range of correlation coefficient of any bivariate discrete random vector with finite or countably infinite values is derived. We show analytically that the normal-transformed discrete bivariate probability system of Van Ophem (1999, Econometric Theory 15, 228–237) has a flexible correlation coefficient. We establish the strictly monotonic relation of its correlation coefficient with the bivariate normal correlation-coefficient parameter in the system.
Comment on “Dilution of 210Pb by organic sedimentation in lakes of different trophic states, and application to studies of sediment‐water interaction“ (Binford and Brenner)

Discussion sur l'article de Binford, M. W., et Brenner M., 1986, Limnol. Oceanogr., vol. 31, 584-595
Secretory Expression and Characterization of Two Hemicellulases, Xylanase, and β-Xylosidase, Isolated from Bacillus Subtilis M015

Microbial hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is becoming increasingly important for the production of renewable biofuels to address global energy concerns. Hemicellulose is the second most abundant lignocellulosic biopolymer consisting of mostly xylan and other polysaccharides. A variety of enzymes is involved in complete hydrolysis of xylan into its constituent sugars for subsequent biofuel fermentation. Two enzymes, endo-β-xylanase and β-xylosidase, are particularly important in hydrolyzing the xylan backbone into xylooligosaccharides and individual xylose units. In this study, we describe the cloning, expression, and characterization of xylanase and β-xylosidase isolated from Bacillus subtilis M015 in Escherichia coli. The genes were identified to encode a 213 amino acid protein for xylanase (glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 11) and a 533 amino acid protein for β-xylosidase (GH family 43). Recombinant enzymes were produced by periplasmic-leaky E. coli JE5505 and therefore secreted into the supernatant during growth. Temperature and pH optima were determined to be 50 °C and 5.5–6 for xylanase and 35 °C and 7.0–7.5 for β-xylosidase using beech wood xylan and p-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside as the substrates, respectively. We have also investigated the synergy of two enzymes on xylan hydrolysis and observed 90 % increase in total sugar release (composed of xylose, xylobiose, xylotriose, and xylotetraose) for xylanase/β-xylosidase combination as opposed to xylanase alone.
The Folate Receptor α Is Frequently Overexpressed in Osteosarcoma Samples and Plays a Role in the Uptake of the Physiologic Substrate 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate

Purpose: Two major systems exist for folate cell entry: the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and the folate receptor (FR). Although defective RFC-mediated transport was frequently identified as a mechanism of methotrexate (MTX) resistance in osteosarcoma, the status of FR and its role in this disease are unknown. Experimental Design: mRNA for FRα was measured in 107 osteosarcoma specimens using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and was related to RFC expression. The effect of FRα overexpression on MTX resistance and natural folate uptake was studied using FRα non-expressing osteosarcoma 143B cells transfected with FRα cDNA in comparison with those transfected with sense or antisense RFC in the same genetic background. Results: Eighty-four samples (78.5%) had detectable FRα mRNA, and 29.9% had higher levels than the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3. No correlation was found between mRNA levels of FRα and RFC ( r 2 = 0.002). FRα overexpression had minor effects on the transport of MTX and sensitivity to this drug. Among the transfected 143B sublines, only the 143B-FRα was able to uptake 5-methyltetrahydrofolate when the extracellular concentration was reduced to 2 nmol/L, which conferred a growth advantage in physiologic folate concentrations compared with vector-only–transfected cells. Importantly, this was not similarly achieved by RFC overexpression. Conclusions: This study suggests that FRα plays a role in the uptake of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate when the concentration gradient is insufficient for RFC-mediated transport. FRα overexpression is unlikely secondary to the decreased RFC expression in osteosarcoma.
A Proposal for Dealing with Grade Inflation: The Relative Performance Index.

Abstract Quality point average (QPA) has long been the barometer for judging student performance. The measure often influences the employment decisions of recruiters of business school students, particularly for initial job interviews. Grade inflation, however, has in many cases diminished the usefulness of the QPA. This article introduces a measure that, together with the quality point average, may yield revealing insights into students' performance. The Relative Performance Index (RPI) provides a relative measure of a student's perform- ance vis-a-vis the other students who were subject to the same educational and evaluation environments and thus may enhance the ability of employment recruiters to identify the best and brightest of any college or university's business students.
Leucine Incorporation into the Membranellar Bands of Regenerating and Nonregenerating Stentor

Autoradiographs of membranellar bands isolated from regenerating and nonregenerating stentors labeled with tritiated leucine indicate that the synthesis of proteins of the oral apparatus is continuous in Stentor and is not initiated at the time of regeneration.
Dynamic input consensus using integrators

The consensus or agreement problem enables a team of agents to agree on certain information variables using a low-bandwidth, dynamic, and sparsely-connected graph. However, most prior work on agreement protocols has focused on converging to a single, static variable. In this paper, we propose a consensus filter that accepts dynamically changing inputs at each agent. We analyze several properties of this consensus filter, proving the outputs of the filter converge to a low-pass filtered version of the average of the inputs. Disagreement portions of the inputs can be significantly attenuated through judicious selection of filter parameters.
Microscopic invasion of perivesical fat by urothelial carcinoma: implications for prognosis and pathology practice.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether microscopic invasion of perivesical fat by urothelial carcinoma (stage pT3a) confers a different prognosis relative to deep muscle invasion (pT2b) and/or gross extravesical extension (pT3b) among patients with a given nodal status treated by cystectomy. METHODS Cancer records for patients diagnosed with stage pT2b-pT3b bladder cancer from 1998-2006 were obtained from the SEER database (n = 2388). Pathologic substage (pT3a vs pT2b vs pT3b) was the primary covariate of interest. Other covariates included age, sex, race, grade, number of nodes examined, number of positive nodes, nodal stages, and radiotherapy. Cox regression model was used to estimate the covariate-adjusted effect of tumor substages on all-cause mortality. RESULTS The risk of nodal metastases increased with increasing substage (pT2b = 20%, pT3a = 36%, pT3b = 48%, trend P <.001). Among patients with node-negative tumors, the adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 1.68 (P <.001) for pT3a vs pT2b and 1.03 (P = .78) for pT3b vs pT3a tumors, whereas for node-positive disease, they were 1.42 (P = .009) for pT3a vs pT2b and 1.44 (P = .001) for pT3b vs pT3a tumors. CONCLUSIONS Microscopic invasion of perivesical fat was associated with significantly inferior survival relative to pT2b disease of the same nodal status. For node-positive pT3 tumors, more advanced pathologic substage (pT3b vs pT3a) was also associated with decreased survival. Our findings support the current practice of pathologic distinction between pT2b and pT3a disease and substaging of extravesical tumors based on microscopic versus gross extravesical extension.
Role of Ponded Turbidity Currents in Reservoir Trap Efficiency

The capacity to store water in a reservoir declines as it traps sediment. A river entering a reservoir forms a prograding delta. Coarse sediment (e.g., sand) deposits in the fluvial topset and avalanching foreset of the delta, and is typically trapped with an efficiency near 100%. The trap efficiency of fine sediment (e.g., mud), on the other hand, may be below 100%, because some of this sediment may pass out of the reservoir without settling out. Here, a model of trap efficiency of mud is developed in terms of the mechanics of a turbidity current that plunges on the foreset. The dam causes a sustained turbidity current to reflect and form a muddy pond bounded upstream by a hydraulic jump. If the interface of this muddy pond rises above any vent or overflow point at the dam, the trap efficiency of mud drops below 100%. A model of the coevolution of topset, foreset, and bottomset in a reservoir that captures the dynamics of the internal muddy pond is presented. Numerical implementation, comparison against an experiment, and application to a field-scale case provide the basis for a physical understanding of the processes that determine reservoir trap efficiency.
EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON AN ISL-PVDF SHOCK SENSOR BETWEEN +20 °C AND −40 °C

Temperature calibration tests were done on a Metravib ISL-PVDF shock sensor using a Hopkinson bar from +20 °C to −40 °C at three pressure levels; 22 MPa, 38 MPa and 48 MPa. Nearly a 50% decrease in peak signal amplitude at all three pressure levels was observed for a shock sensor temperature decrease from +20 °C to −40 °C. The data were well described using a linear fit. The average sensor output decreased (relative to 20 °C) −0.72% ± 0.10%/ °C down to −40 °C.
Insights into the role of γδ T lymphocytes in the immunopathogenic response to thermal injury

Studies have shown that cell-mediated immunity is markedly suppressed after thermal injury. T lymphocyte dysfunction and macrophage hyperactivity have been implicated as causative factors. Previous studies have primarily examined the effects of thermal injury on alphabeta T lymphocytes; however, the role of gammadelta T lymphocytes in the immune response after thermal injury is unclear. Therefore, wild-type mice and mice lacking the TCR delta gene (TCR delta-/-) were subjected to a third-degree scald burn and cell-mediated immune responses assessed at 7 days post-injury. TCR delta-/- mice had 75% mortality after burn injury compared with 25% mortality in the wild-type group. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were significantly elevated at 2, 4, and 18 h post-injury, whereas no difference was observed in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plasma levels. Plasma levels of these inflammatory mediators were similar in wild-type and TCR delta-/- mice post-injury. Splenic macrophage PGE2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 production was significantly increased in wild-type mice at 7 days post-injury, whereas macrophages from injured TCR delta-/- mice had a significantly attenuated capacity to produce IL-6 and TNF-alpha. In contrast, the increased release of PGE2 and IL-10 by macrophages post-injury was not reduced in TCR delta-/- mice. These results implicate a dual role for gammadelta T lymphocytes in the immunopathogenic response to burn injury: (1) they contribute to survival from the insult; and (2) they mediate the induction of a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype at 7 days post-injury. Thus, gammadelta T lymphocytes, in part through the modulation of macrophage activity, appear to contribute to the immune dysfunction after thermal injury.
Nonequilibrium current-carrying steady states in the anisotropic X Y spin chain

Out-of-equilibrium behavior is explored in the one-dimensional anisotropic XY model. Initially preparing the system in the isotropic XX model with a linearly varying magnetic field to create a domain-wall magnetization profile, dynamics is generated by rapidly changing the exchange interaction anisotropy and external magnetic field. Relaxation to a nonequilibrium steady state is studied analytically at the critical transverse Ising point, where correlation functions may be computed in closed form. For arbitrary values of anisotropy and external field, an effective generalized Gibbs' ensemble is shown to accurately describe observables in the long-time limit. Additionally, we find spatial oscillations in the exponentially decaying, transverse spin-spin correlation functions with wavelength set by the magnetization jump across the initial domain wall. This wavelength depends only weakly on anisotropy and magnetic field in contrast to the current, which is highly dependent on these parameters.