cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of High-Resolution Sea Surface Temperatures on the Simulated Nocturnal Florida Marine Boundary Layer

High- and low-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) analysis products are used to initialize the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for May 2004 for short-term forecasts over Florida and surrounding waters. Initial and boundary conditions for the simulations were provided by a combination of observations, large-scale model output, and analysis products. The impact of using a 1-km Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) SST composite on subsequent evolution of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) is assessed through simulation comparisons and limited validation. Model results are presented for individual simulations, as well as for aggregates of easterly- and westerly-dominated low-level flows. The simulation comparisons show that the use of MODIS SST composites results in enhanced convergence zones. earlier and more intense horizontal convective rolls. and an increase in precipitation as well as a change in precipitation location. Validation of 10-m winds with buoys shows a slight improvement in wind speed. The most significant results of this study are that 1) vertical wind stress divergence and pressure gradient accelerations across the Florida Current region vary in importance as a function of flow direction and stability and 2) the warmer Florida Current in the MODIS product transports heat vertically and downwind of this heat source, modifying the thermal structure and the MABL wind field primarily through pressure gradient adjustments.
Molecular analysis of minimally invasive follicular carcinomas by gene profiling.

Background While the majority of minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma (MIFTC) behave like follicular adenomas, some recur or metastasize. These studies were conducted to determine if molecular profiling can enhance our understanding of MIFTC and to perhaps offer a better classification schema. Methods Microarray analysis was performed on 27 follicular neoplasms. Thirteen follicular adenomas (FAs) were compared with 7 widely invasive follicular thyroid carcinomas (WIFTCs) to generate a list of differentially expressed genes. Next, 7 MIFTCs were analyzed along with the other samples in a cluster analysis. The MIFTCs were then compared directly against both the adenoma and WIFTC groups to investigate genetic relatedness. Results FAs and WIFTCs have distinct genetic profiles, with 401 differentially expressed genes. The 7 MIFTCs were added to the analysis. Six of 7 of the MIFTCs were grouped with the adenomas, 4 of which created their own subgroup. When analyzed directly, MIFTCs had 223 differently expressed genes, compared with FAs, and 365, compared with WIFTCs. Conclusions Molecular profiling illustrates that the majority of MIFTCs comprise a subclass of follicular neoplasms, and, while most MIFTCs are genetically similar to adenomas, our patient data suggest that these tumors may deserve greater suspicion of malignant potential. Gene profiling can provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of MIFTC.
Ligation of complement receptor 1 increases erythrocyte membrane deformability

Microbes as well as immune complexes and other continuously generated inflammatory particles are efficiently removed from the human circulation by red blood cells (RBCs) through a process called immune-adherence clearance. During this process, RBCs use complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35) to bind circulating complement-opsonized particles and transfer them to resident macrophages in the liver and spleen for removal. We here show that ligation of RBC CR1 by antibody and complement-opsonized particles induces a transient Ca++ influx that is proportional to the RBC CR1 levels and is inhibited by T1E3 pAb, a specific inhibitor of TRPC1 channels. The CR1-elicited RBC Ca++ influx is accompanied by an increase in RBC membrane deformability that positively correlates with the number of preexisting CR1 molecules on RBC membranes. Biochemically, ligation of RBC CR1 causes a significant increase in phosphorylation levels of β-spectrin that is inhibited by preincubation of RBCs with DMAT, a specific casein kinase II inhibitor. We hypothesize that the CR1-dependent increase in membrane deformability could be relevant for facilitating the transfer of CR1-bound particles from the RBCs to the hepatic and splenic phagocytes.
A Review of Near‐Field Laser Ablation for High‐Resolution Nanoscale Surface Analysis

Abstract Traditional laser ablation is a well‐known method of solid sampling for surface characterization, but the resolution of the technique has been limited by the diameter of the incident laser beam and is typically on the order of 100–200 µm. Unfortunately, this microscale resolution can be too low to characterize isolated surface features that have submicron dimensions. Near‐field laser ablation is an emerging analytical tool for nanoscale, high‐resolution surface analysis. In this review, applications of near‐field laser ablation for solid sample introduction are explored. Also, a descriptive overview of the near‐field region is given, and methods of generating a near‐field region and several processes for tip manufacture are described.
Evaluation of Source Strength and Dispersion Model Predictions with Data from Large Nitrogen Tetroxide Field Experiments

During the fall of 1983, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) conducted a series of large-scale (3–5 m3) nitrogen te-troxide (N2O4) spill tests for the U.S. Air Force Engineering and Services Laboratory, Tyndall AFB. The spill material was nitrogen te-troxide (N2O4), a rocket fuel oxidizer used in the Titan II missile system. The purpose of the test series was to determine the source strength characteristics and heavy-gas dispersion aspects of large N2O4 spills. In addition, two spills were performed for the purpose of evaluating a Portable Foam Vapor Suppression System (PFVSS). The PFVSS tests were under the direction of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, with support from USAF Space Division and the Strategic Air Command. The tests were performed at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Nevada Test Site (NTS) under the jurisdiction of the DOE Nevada Operations Office (NVO).
Prevalence and stability of sexual orientation components during adolescence and young adulthood.

Analyses of three waves (6 years) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health data explored the prevalence and stability of sexual orientation and whether these two parameters varied by biologic sex, sexual orien- tation component (romantic attraction, sexual behavior, sex- ual identity), and degree of component. Prevalence rates for nonheterosexuality varied between 1 and 15% and depended on biologic sex (higher among females), sexual orientation component (highest for romantic attraction), degree of com- ponent (highest if "mostly heterosexual" was included with identity), and the interaction of these (highest for nonhetero- sexual identity among females). Although kappa statistics testing for temporal stability across waves were significant, they failed to reach acceptable levels of agreement and could be largely attributable to the stability of opposite-sex rather than same-sex attraction and behavior. Migration over time among sexual orientation components was in both direc- tions, from opposite-sex attraction and behavior to same-sex attraction and behavior and vice versa. To assess sexual ori- entation, investigators should measure multiple components over time or abandon the general notion of sexual orientation and measure only those components relevant for the research question.
Crystal structure of octacalcium bis(hydrogenphosphate) tetrakis(phosphate)pentahydrate, Ca8(HP04)2(PO4)4·5H2O

The crystal structure of octacalcium bis(hydrogenphosphate) tetrakis(phosphate)pentahydrate, Ca8(HPO4)2(PO4)4·5H2O, has been refined toR=0.051 for 4502 reflections. The crystals are triclinic:P¯1,a=19.692(4),b=9.523(2),c=6.835(2) A,α=90.15(2),β=92.54(2), and γ=108.65(1)°,Z=2. The structure can be considered to consist of two layers parallel to (100), an apatitic layer which corresponds very closely to that of hydroxyapatite and a hydrated layer which contains all the water molecules. Several atoms in the hydrated layer are probably disordered. Possibilities for the hydrogen-bonding arrangement are discussed.
YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ thin films grown by high pressure reactive evaporation and high pressure reactive sputtering

A high-pressure reactive evaporation process and a high-pressure reactive sputtering process have been developed for the growth of high-quality thin films of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/. Both techniques, when used with heated substrates, are effective in the formation of the 123 phase in situ during the film growth. With reactive evaporation only a cooldown anneal in a higher-pressure oxygen ambient is necessary to obtain good superconducting properties. For the reactive sputtering process, a brief, postgrowth, rapid thermal anneal step is required for best results. Fully epitaxial growth has been achieved with single-crystal MgO substrates. The resultant films, which can be quite smooth and uniform, have been patterned to micron and submicron dimensions, and the transport properties of these microstructures have been examined. >
Hysteresity effects in 3 mol% yttria-doped zirconia (t'-phase)

Single-crystal and polycrystal samples of 3 mol % Y2O3-doped zirconia (t'-phase) were subjected to uniaxial compression tests at 1000°C in order to separate the effects of phase transformation (tetragonal-to-monoclinic) from ferroelastic domain switching. Plastic deformation was observed after an elastic regime, with attributes characteristic of domain switching. X-ray diffraction traces at room and high temperatures before and after the compression test verified that there was, indeed, a variant reorientation within each sample. Deformation bands were observed on single crystals, and Raman spectroscopy revealed that no monoclinic phase was present. These results verify the existence of ferroelastic domain switching phenomenon in this material.
Combined endoscopic and open approach to resection of the anterior skull base

Although en-bloc resection is the traditional teaching in oncological surgery, with recent technologic advancements and literature to support both safety and efficacy, there has been a growing acceptance of alternative techniques for the surgical management of paranasal sinus and anterior skull base malignancies. The endoscopic-assisted external approach affords many of the benefits of endoscopic resection while allowing for the management of lesions with marked intracranial extension that would otherwise require anterior craniofacial resection. Here we describe our endoscopic technique for resection of the anterior skull base and its role when combined with anterior craniotomy.
Perceived unmet need for alcohol and drug use treatments and future use of services: Results from a longitudinal study

Abstract Background This study assessed the association of perceived need for and perceived barriers to treatments for substance use disorder (SUD) with subsequent use of these treatments in community settings. Methods Drawing on data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), we examined the association of perceived need and barriers to SUD treatments in waves 1 of NESARC (2001–2002; n = 43,093) with the subsequent use of these treatments in the follow-up wave 2 (2004–2005; n = 34,625). Results Only 8.5% ( n = 195) of the 2333 NESARC participants with an untreated 12-month SUD in wave 1 perceived a need for SUD treatment. Participants who reported a perceived need were more likely to use these services in follow-up than those who did not report such a need (14.8% vs. 4.9%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.16, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.70–5.90, P P = 0.027). Other barriers, including financial barriers and stigma were not significantly associated with treatment seeking. Conclusions The findings suggest the need for a two-pronged approach to improving treatment seeking for SUD in community settings: one focusing on enhancing recognition of these disorders, the other focusing on educating potential consumers regarding the benefits of SUD treatments.
Improved detection of myocardial perfusion reversibility by rest-nitroglycerin Tc-99m-MIBI: Comparison with Tl-201 reinjection

The role of nitroglycerin (NTG) in Tc-99m-methoxyisobutil isonitrile (MIBI) studies to improve the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with coronary artery disease and its comparison with Tl-201 reinjection has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to test whether sublingual administration of NTG could improve the capability of Tc-99m-MIBI to detect reversibility in exercise-induced perfusion defects and to compare it with the Tl-201 stress-redistribution-reinjection protocol. Thirty-eight patients (33 men, 5 women; mean age 49.3±8.2 years with previous myocardial infarction [mean evolution 7.1±3.9 months]) underwent exercise, redistribution, and reinjection Tl-201 imaging, as well as exercise, rest, and NTG MIBI myocardial scintigraphy (3-day protocol). A total of 494 myocardial segments were assessed by quantitative analysis. Of the 136 myocardial segments with fixed defects on exercise-rest sestamibi imaging, 109 (80%) did not change after NTG MIBI study, and 27 (20%) demonstrated enhanced uptake. In the 140 myocardial segments with fixed defects on exercise-redistribution thallium imaging, 112 (80%) did not improve after Tl-201 reinjection study, and 28 (20%) showed increased activity. The observed agreement on reversibility detection between NTG MIBI and Tl-201 reinjection, with the 210 segments with perfusion defects used for this analysis on both studies, was 78%, with a significant kappa=.56±.07 SE. Our data suggest that the use of an NTG MIBI protocol results in an incremental improvement for detecting exercise-induced perfusion defect reversibility and achieves results similar to those from a Tl-201 reinjection protocol.
Magnetoelectric properties of microwave sintered particulate composites

Abstract This study reports the results on three different particulate composites synthesized using conventional sintering, microwave sintering under magnetic field, and microwave sintering under electric field. The results show that magnetoelectric coefficient in the case of samples synthesized using microwave approach yields the same magnitudes as that of conventional sintering. The process of microwave sintering is rapid and significantly reduces the time and energy required for synthesizing composites as compared to conventional sintering.
Clinical and Neuroimaging Findings in Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

In a retrospective review of infants with neonatal herpes simplex virus disease (n = 29), we found bilateral multilobar (n = 8), pontine (n = 3), thalamic (n = 6), and internal capsule and corticospinal tract (n = 5) involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diffusion-weighted imaging (n = 6) performed early revealed additional involvement than detected by conventional MRI. Neurodevelopmental sequelae were correlated with MRI abnormalities. Our findings demonstrate that MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, is a valuable prognostic adjunct in neonatal herpes simplex virus disease.
Mechanically steerable antennas using dielectric phase shifters

A mechanically steerable antenna was designed using an adjustable phase shifter which employs a dielectric slab placed close to a coplanar TL. Numerical simulations using Ansoft HFSS were conducted at 6 GHz, and a 4-element antenna was tested. A similar design can be used for a digital phase shifter with a matched impedance at the designed frequency.
Purinergic Receptors, Past and Future (Closing Remarks)

Abstract At the end of a symposium, it is useful to look back, both at the symposium itself and the developments that led up to the symposium. In this spirit, I thought it would be appropriate to tell the story of how I first became interested in purinergic receptors. I am recounting this story not because I believe that my audience has a burning interest in the history of my intellectual development, but rather because it illustrates the power of ideas.
Particle nucleation and growth in a free turbulent jet

Liquid dibutyl phthalate (DBP) particles were generated by homogeneous nucleation as a heated gas stream laden with DBP vapour exited a nozzle and mixed with room temperature particlefree air. The ...
Male killing Spiroplasma protects Drosophila melanogaster against two parasitoid wasps

Maternally transmitted associations between endosymbiotic bacteria and insects are diverse and widespread in nature. Owing to imperfect vertical transmission, many heritable microbes have evolved compensational mechanisms to enhance their persistence in host lineages, such as manipulating host reproduction and conferring fitness benefits to host. Symbiont-mediated defense against natural enemies of hosts is increasingly recognized as an important mechanism by which endosymbionts enhance host fitness. Members of the genus Spiroplasma associated with distantly related Drosophila hosts are known to engage in either reproductive parasitism (i.e., male killing) or defense against natural enemies (the parasitic wasp Leptopilina heterotoma and a nematode). A male-killing strain of Spiroplasma (strain Melanogaster Sex Ratio Organism (MSRO)) co-occurs with Wolbachia (strain wMel) in certain wild populations of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. We examined the effects of Spiroplasma MSRO and Wolbachia wMel on Drosophila survival against parasitism by two common wasps, Leptopilina heterotoma and Leptopilina boulardi, that differ in their host ranges and host evasion strategies. The results indicate that Spiroplasma MSRO prevents successful development of both wasps, and confers a small, albeit significant, increase in larva-to-adult survival of flies subjected to wasp attacks. We modeled the conditions under which defense can contribute to Spiroplasma persistence. Wolbachia also confers a weak, but significant, survival advantage to flies attacked by L. heterotoma. The host protective effects exhibited by Spiroplasma and Wolbachia are additive and may provide the conditions for such cotransmitted symbionts to become mutualists. Occurrence of Spiroplasma-mediated protection against distinct parasitoids in divergent Drosophila hosts suggests a general protection mechanism.
Ca2+ and Mg2+ modulate conformational dynamics and stability of downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator

Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator (DREAM) belongs to the family of neuronal calcium sensors (NCS) that transduce the intracellular changes in Ca2+ concentration into a variety of responses including gene expression, regulation of Kv channel activity, and calcium homeostasis. Despite the significant sequence and structural similarities with other NCS members, DREAM shows several features unique among NCS such as formation of a tetramer in the apo-state, and interactions with various intracellular biomacromolecules including DNA, presenilin, Kv channels, and calmodulin. Here we use spectroscopic techniques in combination with molecular dynamics simulation to study conformational changes induced by Ca2+/Mg2+ association to DREAM. Our data indicate a minor impact of Ca2+ association on the overall structure of the N- and C-terminal domains, although Ca2+ binding decreases the conformational heterogeneity as evident from the decrease in the fluorescence lifetime distribution in the Ca2+ bound forms of the protein. Time-resolved fluorescence data indicate that Ca2+binding triggers a conformational transition that is characterized by more efficient quenching of Trp residue. The unfolding of DREAM occurs through an partially unfolded intermediate that is stabilized by Ca2+ association to EF-hand 3 and EF-hand 4. The native state is stabilized with respect to the partially unfolded state only in the presence of both Ca2+ and Mg2+ suggesting that, under physiological conditions, Ca2+ free DREAM exhibits a high conformational flexibility that may facilitate its physiological functions.
Scattering of an evanescent surface wave by a microscopic dielectric sphere.

A ray-optics scattering model has been developed to determine if multiple reflections between the sphere and the plate could alter the exponential relationship between the scattering intensity and the separation distance as contact is approached. Results indicate that the effect of multiple reflections is dependent on sphere size, refractive indices, and the penetration depth of the evanescent wave. An experimental validation of the model was performed with polystyrene spheres (diameters 7–30 μm) immersed in an alcohol mixture and resting on an MgF2 film that had the same refractive index. Film thicknesses varied between 0 and 300 nm. No significant effect of multiple reflections was measured at an incident angle approximately 2° above the critical angle, which was in agreement with the predictions of the ray-optics model. By contrast, the scattering intensity from a 300-μm sphere was predicted to be much more sensitive to the separation distance at separations below one penetration depth when the incident angle was increased to over 6° above the critical angle.
Adaptive Counting Networks

Counting networks are well studied parallel and distributed data structures, which are useful in synchronization applications such as distributed counting and load balancing. However, current constructions of counting networks are static, since their width (the degree of parallelism), and hence the size of the network, have to be fixed in advance. This present an obstacle in efficiently implementing them in a large distributed system whose size may be changing, due to nodes joining and leaving the network. The authors presented an adaptive construction of the bitonic counting network. The network tunes its width to the system size in a distributed and local way. With high probability, the effective "width" of the network is Omega(N/log2 N), where N is the number of nodes currently in the system, and the effective '"depth" of the network is O(log2 N). In contrast, a static implementation would have the same width irrespective of the system size. When the system size changes, the network adapts by splitting or merging its components. All decisions and actions are decentralized: these include the decision of when to split and merge the components, and the action of splitting and merging them. The construction is layered on an overlay network which provides an efficient peer-to-peer lookup service, and uses the recursive structure present in the bitonic network to adapt its implementation. Though the bitonic network was discussed, the technique could be applied to build an adaptive implementation of any distributed data structure which could be decomposed in a recursive way
Ego Development and Black Identity

The relationship of ego development and Black identity formation was explored in thirty Black male and thirty Black female college students. The subjects were administered the Washington University...
Flavor Migration Out of Food Matrices: III. Migration of Limonene and Pyrazine in Formulated Dough Undergoing Microwave Reheating

Cold-trap, on-line sampling was applied to investigate migration of flavor compounds in a solid food matrix subjected to microwave heating. The activation energy levels for migration of limonence, pyrazine, and water are 58.2, 51.5, and 46.4 kJ/mol, respectively. The results of microwave reheating of limonene-formulated dough showed no significant limonene concentration profile in the sample and less than 1% overall change in total limonene concentration. Because the flavor concentration used for this migration study is greater than the amount that would be added to real products it can be concluded that after microwave reheating of flavor-formulated dough, limonene is very stable and significant losses do not occur.
The New Neoliberal Cultural and Economic Dominant: Race and the Reorganization of Knowledge in Schooling in the New Times of Globalization:

The fundamental insecurity and vulnerability with which we live has profound implications for education and for young people who must increasingly be prepared to live in a world that offers little recourse to personal, social or economic stability. This instability frames the need to move beyond conventionalism and the institutional practices of confinement to embrace more critical understandings and interventions in the field of education and in social life. However, although it is neither conceptually nor theoretically useful to isolate the variable of race from the social complexities in which it is located, this idea of movement must also be connected to stasis and to the confining circumstances that underwrite the lives of modern racialized subjects. Proper attention must be paid to the powerful patterns of historical incorporation and the work of culture and signification in specific contexts. This article seeks to expand an understanding and a delineation of the new terms of context and existence, ...
A study of the relationship between hydrocarbon migration and the precipitation of authigenic magnetic minerals in the Triassic Chugwater Formation, southern Montana

To test the hypothesis that hydrocarbons can cause the precipitation of authigenic magnetite, hydrocarbon-saturated, bleached, and unaltered samples of the Chugwater red beds were examined, using petrographic, rock-magnetic, and paleomagnetic techniques. Samples were collected from the crest of Red Dome in Carbon County, Montana, where the Chugwater is saturated with hydrocarbons and bleached around fractures. The fractures formed during Laramide deformation and provided conduits for oil migration. The red beds contain Triassic and rotated Triassic magnetizations, which reside in hematite. The magnetization of the oil-saturated sandstones predominantly resides in magnetite, and there is some rock-magnetic evidence for pyrrhotite. The intensity of the natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in these sands is at least an order of magnitude less than that observed in the red beds. A stable magnetic direction could not be isolated from the oil-saturated sandstones. Petrographic studies indicate that both detrital and authigenic magnetite are present in the oil-saturated sandstones. The bleached specimens possess intermediate magnetic characteristics and contain abundant secondary authigenic specular hematite. These specimens contain an early Tertiary magnetization that resides in the authigenic hematite. The chemical conditions created by the hydrocarbons caused the dissolution of the hematite, which "uncovered" and relatively enhanced the magnetization residing in detrital magnetite. It is also likely that hydrocarbons caused the precipitation of some authigenic magnetite and pyrrhotite. The early Tertiary magnetization in the bleached sandstones is interpreted to be of chemical origin and a byproduct of hydrocarbon migration at Red Dome. The magnetization was probably acquired when the dissolved iron from the red beds precipitated as specular hematite. The results of this study have implications for understanding hydrocarbon-induced diagenesis and remagnetization mechanisms, and for aeromagnetic hydrocarbon exploration.
Selective and divided visual attention: Age-related changes in regional cerebral blood flow measured by H215O PET

r r Abstract: Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using H2 15 O and positron emission tomography (PET) to test the hypothesis that age-related changes in the pattern of rCBF activation would be greater under divided attention conditions than under selective attention conditions. Subjects were 24 right-handed men: 12 young adults (age 21-28 years), and 12 older adults (age 60-77 years). Measurement of rCBF was obtained during performance of three visual search task conditions, each of which involved viewing a series of nine-letter displays and making a two-choice button press response to each display. Analyses of subjects' mean reaction time and error rate confirmed that older adults' search performance was disproportionately impaired when it was necessary to divide attention among the display positions. The rCBF data indicated that attending selectively to a target letter in a known (central) location was not associated with cortical activation for either age group. The requirement to divide attention among the display positions led to rCBF activation in occipitotemporal, occipitoparietal, and prefrontal cortical regions. In the divided-attention condition, rCBF activation in the occipitotemporal pathway was relatively greater for young adults; activation in prefrontal regions was relatively greater for older adults. These differences in rCBF activation were related to search reaction time and suggest that, when attention was divided, young adults' performance relied primarily on letter identification processes, whereas older adults required the recruitment of additional forms of task control. Hum. Brain Mapping 5:389-409, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Multipurpose Electronic Switch for Analog Computer Simulation and Autocorrelation Applications

A system of four diodes in a series-parallel connection is combined with dc operational amplifiers in order to accomplish a variety of computational operations. The diode circuit is equivalent to a SPST switch survey or a voltage pulse. When inserted in series with the input of an amplifier or an analog memory, the switch makes possible waveform sampling or waveform quantizing of the input voltage. Other functions, such as the fast discharge of an integrator, are also achieved. A very significant application of the diode switch in computer circuitry is its use in combination with a multiplier and a storer (a bank of integrators) in order to obtain autocorrelation or cross-correlation of messages after they have been translated into voltages. A commutator or a ring counter is employed to provide the switching pulse. The correlator has the advantage of generating the correlation function concurrently with the message without necessitating previous recording and repeated playback.
Who governs the Rome food agencies

Abstract Four international organizations based in Rome are concerned with food and nutrition worldwide: FAO, WFC, WFP and IFAD. This article analyses their power structure, considering first the constitution and history of each organization, as background to the central question: Who governs? The effectiveness of each organization is also weighed, and the options for the power structure towards the close of the century are examined. The authors conclude that the four-organization structure has brought some positive results, and that it is optimal for balancing the interests of competing factions. It provides the various political blocs (OECD, OPEC, Third World, etc) with multiple channels to pursue their varied interests.
Cellular Immune Responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 L1 in Healthy Volunteers Immunized with Recombinant HPV-16 L1 Virus-Like Particles

The causal association between papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer has been demonstrated; the development of a prophylactic vaccine to protect against HPV infection may therefore reduce the incidence of this cancer worldwide. Noninfectious HPV-like particles (VLPs), composed of the L1 major capsid protein, are current candidate vaccines for prevention of HPV infection and cervical neoplasia. Although neutralizing antibodies have a pivotal role in the prevention of initial infection, cellular immune responses to HPV antigens may have an important role in viral clearance. A phase II trial was conducted to further evaluate the immunogenicity of a recombinant HPV-16 L1 VLP vaccine administered intramuscularly, without adjuvant, at 0, 1, and 6 months. Cell-mediated immune responses (lymphoproliferation and cytokine production) to HPV-16 L1 VLPs were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 43 individuals receiving the L1 VLP vaccine and from 10 individuals receiving placebo. Vaccination resulted, at months 2 and 7 (i.e., 1 month after the second immunization and 1 month after third immunization, respectively), in increases in T cell-proliferative response to HPV-16 L1 VLPs (P<.001). In addition, significant increases in cytokine (interferon-gamma, interleukin [IL]-5 and IL-10) responses to L1 VLPs were observed after vaccination (P<.001). The strongest cytokine responses at month 7 were observed in individuals with high antibody titers at month 2, suggesting that neutralizing antibodies generated by initial vaccination may augment T cell responses to subsequent booster vaccinations. No significant increases in lymphoproliferative or cytokine responses to L1 VLPs were observed in individuals receiving placebo. In summary, the HPV-16 L1 vaccine induces not only robust B cell responses but also L1-specific T cell responses detectable by proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and in vitro production of both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines. Future efficacy studies are needed to evaluate whether and/or how VLP vaccines confer protection against genital HPV infection and associated disease.
Population migration and economic restructuring in the United States.

This article demonstrates that sectoral employment shifts associated with the migration pattern changes of the 1970s are very different than those for the period 1955-60 to 1965-70. Changing competitiveness for jobs in manufacturing and other traditional basic sectors of the economy cannot account for the greatly accelerated levels of core-periphery net outflow that have been the dominant characteristic of interstate movement during the 1970s and 1980s. Instead an interconnected set of activities that includes government services trade and construction is associated with the broadscale shifts in the geographic pattern of the United States population. The causal linkage from migration to employment change assumed heightened importance during the 1970s. (EXCERPT)
A Conversation with Edwin Shneidman

This article is a transcript of a conversation that took place with Edwin Shneidman, PhD, on August 19, 2008. Recent advances in machine learning, particularly neurocognitive computing, have provided a fresh approach to the idea of using computers to analyze the language of the suicidal person. Here this notion and many others are discussed.
Novel bi-polar planar near-field measurement scanner at UCLA

The bipolar near-field measurement technique is described. The optimal sampling interpolation (OSI) is discussed, and numerical examples are presented. The bipolar OSI algorithm was tested via-computer simulation. It is concluded that due to its mechanical simplicity, the measurement technique is expected to be inexpensive to implement while still delivering fast and accurate results. With the derivation of the OSI algorithm, and the minor modification as applied to this case, the bipolar range will be able to make use of the fast Fourier transform algorithm to generate high-resolution far-field and holographic back-projection field values. >
Death Anxiety and the Relational

Despite Ernest Becker’s claim, nearly 40 years ago, that the denial of death has relevance to the depth of the individual psyche as well as to human bonding behaviors, death anxiety continues to be...
IL-21 and T follicular helper cells.

Upon encounter with antigen, CD4+ T cells differentiate into effector Th subsets with distinctive functions that are related to their unique cytokine profiles and anatomical locations. One of the most important Th functions is to provide signals to developing B cells that induce specific and appropriate antibody responses. The major CD4+ T cell subset that helps B cells is the T follicular helper (TFH) cell, whose expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR5 [chemokine (C–X–C motif) receptor 5] serves to localize this cell to developing germinal centers (GCs) where it provides instructive signals leading to Ig class switching and somatic mutation. TFH cells produce high levels of IL-21, a cytokine that is critical for GC formation and also for the generation of TFH cells. Although TFH cells have been found to produce cytokines characteristic of other Th subsets, they represent a distinct lineage whose development is driven by the transcription factor B-cell CLL lymphoma-6 (BCL6). Consistent with their critical role in the generation of antibody responses, dysregulated TFH function has been associated with the development of systemic autoimmunity. Here, we review the role of IL-21 in the regulation of normal TFH development and function as well as in progression of autoimmune responses.
Role of glomerular ultrafiltration of growth factors in progressive interstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy

Role of glomerular ultrafiltration of growth factors in progressive interstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy. Background The present in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that in rats with glomerular proteinuria, the bioactive growth factors transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are ultrafiltered into tubular fluid, can interact with respective receptors in apical tubular cell membranes, increase the expression and basolateral secretion of C-C-chemokines, which interact with cells in the renal interstitium and indirectly cause myofibroblasts to increase the expression of extracellular matrix proteins. Methods HGF and TGF-β were measured by Western blot and bioassay in glomerular ultrafiltrate that was collected by nephron micropuncture from rats with diabetic nephropathy and control rats. Proximal tubular and collecting duct cells were incubated with diluted proximal tubular fluid or recombinant human HGF (rhHGF) or rhTGF-β and expression of C-C-chemokines was measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. Interactions of tubular cell chemokines with macrophages and indirectly with myofibroblasts were also examined using cell culture models. Results In rats with glomerular proteinuria due to diabetic nephropathy mature, bioactive HGF as well as active and latent TGF-β were detected in early proximal tubular fluid. Specific HGF-and TGF-β type II receptors were expressed in apical tubular membranes more in diabetic compared to control rats. Incubation of cultured mouse proximal tubular cells (mPTC) or medullary collecting duct cells (mIMCD-3) with diabetic rat proximal tubular fluid increased MCP-1 and RANTES mRNA levels as well as secreted peptide up to threefold. In contrast, high glucose (450 mg/dL), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or rat albumin (each at 100 μg/mL) or 10 nmol/L insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; which was also present in glomerular ultrafiltrate in rats with diabetic nephropathy) did not affect expression of these chemokines. Recombinant human TGF-β as well as rhHGF each increased MCP-1 and RANTES mRNA as well as peptide levels several-fold. In cultured macrophages MCP-1 raised the secretion of TGF-β, which in turn increased the expression of collagen type I and III as well as fibronectin in renal interstitial myofibroblasts about 2.5 to 4-fold. Conclusions Proteinuria-induced progressive renal interstitial fibrosis may be caused by glomerular ultrafiltration of high molecular weight bioactive growth factors, HGF and TGF-β, which "activate" tubular cells through apical membranes. These apical signals are translated into basolateral events that are recognized by cells in the interstitium, such as the basolateral secretion of the C-C-chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES, which may (via macrophages) stimulate interstitial myofibroblasts, and thus lead to accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins and progressive interstitial fibrosis.
Abstract 4894: Effect of lysosome destabilization on response to ceramide in prostate cancer cells over-expressing acid ceramidase

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Acid ceramidase (AC) over-expression has been observed in prostate cancer cell lines and primary tumors, and contributes to resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. The consequence of AC over-expression is the ability to convert ceramide, which is often produced as a pro-apoptotic response to stress, to sphingosine, which can then be converted to the pro-survival molecule sphingosine-1-phosphate. In addition to the ability to metabolize ceramide produced in response to stress, prostate cancer cell lines over-expressing AC also have increased lysosomal density and increased levels of autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular mechanism for recycling proteins and organelles which can be used as a survival mechanism in response to stress. Therefore, in addition to the increased capacity to metabolize ceramide produced in response to insult, the increased basal level of autophagy results in cells that have a heightened resistance to cellular stress. Preliminary results suggest that prostate cancer cell lines over-expressing AC have increased expression of lysosomal-stabilizing proteins, which highlights lysosome stability as a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy. We have evaluated the effect of chloroquine, an FDA-approved drug that localizes to lysosomes, on the response of these cells to ceramide treatment. Pre-treatment with chloroquine increased the sensitivity of the cells to ceramide treatment, possibly due to AC disruption. These studies suggest that chloroquine may increase the efficacy of treatments that induce ceramide. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4894. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4894
What Makes Clinical Research in Developing Countries Ethical? The Benchmarks of Ethical Research

In recent years there has been substantial debate about the ethics of research in developing countries. In general the controversies have centered on 3 issues: first the standard of care that should be used in research in developing countries; second the “reasonable availability” of interventions that are proven to be useful during the course of research trials; and third the quality of informed consent. The persistence of controversies on such issues reflects in part the fact that existing ethical guidelines can be interpreted in multiple ways are sometimes contradictory or rely on unstated yet controversial ethical principles. To provide unified and consistent ethical guidance we apply a previously proposed ethical framework for clinical research within developed countries to developing countries explicating a previously implicit requirement for collaboration. More importantly we propose specific and practical benchmarks to guide researchers and research-ethics committees in assessing how well the enumerated ethical principles have been fulfilled in particular cases. (excerpt)
Redevelopment of Black Oak (Quercus velutina Lam.) Savanna in an Abandoned Sand Mine in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, USA

Abstract We investigated the processes of oak-savanna redevelopment in an abandoned sand mine site in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Our Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) revealed a divergence of vegetation between the prairie and the woodland portions of the study area. Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and black oak (Quercus velutina) dominated the woodland canopy. The shallow water table (0.90–1.35 m below ground surface) appeared to support the formation of tree canopy. The prairie, with deeper water table (2.09–2.62 m), was sparsely vegetated by shrubs; mostly choke cherry (Prunus virginiana), sand cherry (P. pumila) and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) without apparent tree canopy. Development of woody vegetation, black oak overstory and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) understory was initiated with the colonization of cottonwoods. No evidence was found to support the ‘facilitation effect’ of cottonwoods for black oak seedling recruitment, survival or growth. The tree canopy formation, pro...
MATING SUCCESS AND ALTERNATIVE REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF THE DIMORPHIC JUMPING SPIDER, MAEVIA INCLEMENS (ARANEAE, SALTICIDAE)

Abstract The two male morphs of the dimorphic jumping spider, Maevia inclemens, differ dramatically in morphology and courtship behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the mating success of the two male types. Mating success was measured by the number and duration of copulation events, the latency of visual orientation by the female to a courting male, signals of female receptivity, risk of predation by the female, and the number of offspring produced by each morph. The morphs did not differ significantly with respect to copulation success, mating events, mating duration, signals of receptivity or the number of offspring produced. However, males did differ with respect to latency of visual orientation as a function of distance from the female. Near to the female, the gray males attracted female attention in significantly less time than tufted males. Conversely, at far distances from the female, the tufted males attracted female attention in less courtship time. This study suggests t...
Endothelin Receptor Antagonists

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen that is secreted by the endothelium. Pulmonary vascular expression of endothelin is increased in pulmonary hypertension and plasma levels correlate with the severity of disease. Several endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) have been developed and are available for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs have been shown to be effective at improving functional capacity, decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance and delaying the time to clinical worsening and play an important role in the management of PAH. This chapter briefly reviews how the endothelin signaling pathway modulates pulmonary vascular function and describes its role in the pathogenesis of PAH. The major clinical trials responsible for the currently available ERAs are presented along with their findings and limitations. Recently, adopted treatment guidelines for the use of ERAs in the treatment of pulmonary hypertensive disease are discussed along with potential side effects and adverse reactions associated with the use of these drugs.
Simulation of the Effect of Dielectric Air Gaps on Interconnect Reliability

We present a modeling strategy for assessing the reliability cost for improved performance from modified interconnect structures. We have studied air gaps which have been deliberately introduced in the passivation between aluminum interconnect lines as a means for increasing transmission speed by decreasing dielectric capacitance. The models allow examination of tradeoffs between improved circuit performance and decreased reliability due to dielectric cracking. Stresses in the dielectric due to electromigration in the metal were modeled using finite element analysis. These stresses were used to compute an estimate of the mean time to failure relative to the case with no air gap using an electromigration failure model from MIT.