cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune Profile of the Normal Maternal-Fetal Interface in Rhesus Macaques and Its Alteration Following Zika Virus Infection

The maternal decidua is an immunologically complex environment that balances maintenance of immune tolerance to fetal paternal antigens with protection of the fetus against vertical transmission of maternal pathogens. To better understand host immune determinants of congenital infection at the maternal-fetal tissue interface, we performed a comparative analysis of innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in the peripheral blood and decidua of healthy rhesus macaque pregnancies across all trimesters of gestation and determined changes after Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Using one 28-color and one 18-color polychromatic flow cytometry panel we simultaneously analyzed the frequency, phenotype, activation status and trafficking properties of αβ T, γδ T, iNKT, regulatory T (Treg), NK cells, B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DC). Decidual leukocytes showed a striking enrichment of activated effector memory and tissue-resident memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ Tregs, CD56+ NK cells, CD14+CD16+ monocytes, CD206+ tissue-resident macrophages, and a paucity of B lymphocytes when compared to peripheral blood. t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE) revealed unique populations of decidual NK, T, DC and monocyte/macrophage subsets. Principal component analysis showed distinct spatial localization of decidual and circulating leukocytes contributed by NK and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and separation of decidua based on gestational age contributed by memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Decidua from 10 ZIKV-infected dams obtained 16-56 days post infection at third (n=9) or second (n=1) trimester showed a significant reduction in frequency of activated, CXCR3+, and/or Granzyme B+ memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and γδ T compared to normal decidua. These data suggest that ZIKV induces local immunosuppression with reduced immune recruitment and impaired cytotoxicity. Our study adds to the immune characterization of the maternal-fetal interface in a translational nonhuman primate model of congenital infection and provides novel insight in to putative mechanisms of vertical transmission.
COLSR An Efficient Mechanism to Secure OLSR Protocol Against Multipoint Relay Attack

A MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc NETwork) can be considered as a collection of self-organizing mobile devices that can communicate without the aid of an integrated infrastructure or a back-end administration. Defense, crisis management, telemedicine, tele-geoprocessing, virtual navigation, commercial and civil environment, etc. are multiple applications of this type of network. However, MANETs present several significant constraints, including restricted processing capabilities, limited bandwidth, short battery life and vulnerability to multiple attacks. This paper introduces the negative effect of the Multipoint Relay (MPR) attack against an effective routing MANET protocol, OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing). In this attack, a malicious node can broadcast altered control messages over the network to cause loss of messages and connectivity. After a study of existing solutions, a security extension, named COLSR (CMAC for OLSR) and based on CMAC (Cipher-based Message Authentication Code) is proposed and validated by simulations under the OMNeT++/INETMANET environment with the integration of the Crypto ++ library. Our solution offers a good compromise between robustness in terms of security and protocol performance. It ensures the integrity of the OLSR control messages, nodes authentication and has the advantage of a modest impact on the network performances.
Responses of tree fine roots to temperature

Soil temperature can influence the functioning of roots in many ways. If soil moisture and nutrient availability are adequate, rates of root length extension and root mortality increase with increasing soil temperature, at least up to an optimal temperature for root growth, which seems to vary among taxa. Root growth and root mortality are highly seasonal in perennial plants, with a flush of growth in spring and significant mortality in the fall. At present we do not understand whether root growth phenology responds to the same temperature cues that are known to control shoot growth. We also do not understand whether the flush of root growth in the spring depends on the utilization of stored nonstructural carbohydrates, or if it is fueled by current photosynthate. Root respiration increases exponentially with temperature, but Q10 values range widely from c. 1.5 to > 3.0. Significant questions yet to be resolved are: whether rates of root respiration acclimate to soil temperature, and what mechanisms control acclimation if it occurs. Limited data suggest that fine roots depend heavily on the import of new carbon (C) from the canopy during the growing season. We hypothesize that root growth and root respiration are tightly linked to whole-canopy assimilation through complex source–sink relationships within the plant. Our understanding of how the whole plant responds to dynamic changes in soil temperature, moisture and nutrient availability is poor, even though it is well known that multiple growth-limiting resources change simultaneously through time during a typical growing season. We review the interactions between soil temperature and other growth-limiting factors to illustrate how simple generalizations about temperature and root functioning can be misleading.
Chapter 3 – Natural History

Publisher Summary There is increasing interest in developing a better understanding of the natural history of the two most frequent chronic lower respiratory diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma is a heterogeneous condition, and one of the main obstacles in understanding its natural history has been the lack of well-defined markers for the different disease phenotypes grouped under this common label. In the case of COPD, it is apparent that, although smoking is the main demonstrated cause of this condition, a simple strategy of discouraging tobacco consumption has proven insufficient to prevent the enormous impact of nicotine addiction on public health. When discussing the natural history of asthma and COPD, an important issue is the overlap between these two conditions. It has been conclusively shown that, at the population level, adults who report asthma are more likely to also report chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema as compared with subjects with no asthma and recent epidemiological evidence shows that active asthma is a strong risk factor for acquiring a subsequent diagnosis of COPD. The overlap may be explained by the fact that asthma and COPD share common risk factors or, alternatively, by the possible progression of persistent asthma into chronic airflow limitation, the clinical hallmark of COPD.
Classics in oncology: Cancer incidence in Mormons and non-Mormons in Utah, 1966-1970

Between 1950 and 1969, cancer mortality in white Utah residents was 22 percent less than that in the entire United States population. The religion of 72 percent of the state residents (Mormon) proscribes use of tobacco and alcohol. We therefore analyzed the 10,641 cases of cancer identified in Utah from 1966 to 1970 and compared the incidence found in Utah Mormons, in Utah non-Mormons, and in a national survey. Comparison of Utah Mormons with non-Mormons showed that Mormons had a lower incidence of all cancers associated with cigarette smoking (p< 0.00001). Mormon females had a low incidence of cancer of the breast (p = 0.008), uterine cervix (p< 0.00001), and ovary (p = 0.04); Mormon males had a lower incidence of stomach cancers (p = 0.04). These findings add evidence to the association between cigarette smoking and certain cancers, but leave unexplained the significant differences between Mormons and non-Mormons for incidence of cancer of the breast, cervix, prostate, and nervous system.
Signed Under Protest: A Database of Presidential Signing Statements, 2001-2009 (Version 2.0)

This paper adds a new introduction to the previously published update of our 2007 compilation of Bush 43 Administration signing statements that objected on constitutional grounds to one or more provisions of the laws President Bush was signing. It offers what is now a complete compilation for both the first and second Bush 43 Administrations.
The Effects of Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate, Its Structural Analogues, and Coenzyme A and Its Derivatives on the Rate of Dissociation, Conformation, and Enzyme Activity of the Pigeon Liver Fatty Acid Synthetase Complex

Abstract The fatty acid synthetase complex of pigeon liver is completely dissociated to half-molecular weight subunits of either negligible or no enzyme activity in the presence of 35 mm glycine, 5 mm Tris, 1 mm EDTA, and 1.0 mm 2-mercaptoethanol at pH 8.3 (µ = 0.008). This dissociation and loss of enzyme activity can be prevented by the addition of 0.2 m KCl or 20 µm NADPH to the above incubation medium. The addition of NADH at either low (20 µm) or high (1.0 mm) concentrations has no effect on the rate of dissociation of the complex, whereas adenosine 2'-monophosphoric acid at 1.0 mm protects the enzyme slightly against inactivation. Adenosine 3'-monophosphoric acid has no protective effect. Reduced nicotinamide mononucleotide (1.0 mm), either alone or in association with adenosine 2'-monophosphoric acid (1.0 mm), also has no effect. Fructose 1,6-diphosphate (0.5 mm and 2.0 mm) considerably enhances the stability of the fatty acid synthetase complex at a low ionic strength. This effect is not due to an increase in ionic strength contributed by fructose 1,6-diphosphate. The latter compound does not compete with NADPH for binding sites on the enzyme. In contrast to NADPH, coenzyme A and dephospho-CoA increase the rate of inactivation of the complex possibly as a result of the formation of mixed disulfides with sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme. The sedimentation coefficient of the fatty acid synthetase complex in low ionic strength buffer is increased by NADPH (from 11.8 S in the absence to 12.9 S in the presence of 0.3 mm NADPH). This effect appears to result from a partial alteration in the structure of the complex. The structure of the enzyme also appears to be modified by increasing the pH, even at high ionic strengths. The slope of plots of the reciprocal of the sedimentation coefficient against protein concentration is increased 4-fold in going from pH 7.0 to pH 8.3 in 0.2 m potassium phosphate. The results reported in this paper are discussed in relation to the stability and integrity of the enzyme complex and the type of forces which may hold the subunits of the complex together. The possibility of NADPH and CoA acting as metabolic regulators of fatty acid synthesis through their effect on the stability of the complex has been considered.
Conceptual Analysis of the Economic Feasibility of Fission Electric Cell Reactors

The United States Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Direct Energy Conversion (DEC) project began in August of 1998 with the goal of developing a direct energy conversion process suitable for commercial development. With roughly two thirds of the project completed, we believe a viable direct energy device could be economic. This paper describes the financial basis behind that belief for one proposed DEC reactor, the magnetically insulated fission electric cell (FEC). It also illustrates the value of economic analysis even in these early phases of a research project. The financial basis consists of a conceptual level Economic Model comprised of five modules. The Design Model provides technical specification to other modules. The Fuel Cost Model estimates fuel expenses based on current spot market prices applied over a wide range of fuel enrichment. The Operating Cost Model uses published correlations to provide rough order of magnitude non-fuel operating costs. The Capital Cost model uses analogy and parametric estimating techniques to generate capital cost estimates for a DEC power plant. Finally, the financial model combines output from the other models to produce a Net Present Value analysis with cost of generation as the independent variable. Model results indicate that several FEC geometric configurations could be economic. Within these configurations, optimums exist. Finally, the model demonstrates that the most efficient design is not necessarily the most economic.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Tunable transition metal-ligand complexation for enhanced elucidation of flavonoid diglycosides by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A tunable ESI-MS/MS strategy for differentiation of flavone and flavanone diglycoside isomers based on metal complexation with auxiliary ligands is reported. The addition of a metal salt and an auxiliary ligand to a flavonoid solution results in the formation of [M(II) (flavonoid-H) auxiliary ligand]+ complexes, where M(II) is a transition metal. A series of auxiliary ligands with electron-withdrawing substituents were synthesized to tailor the relative metal binding affinities of the ligands and thus directly influence the stabilities, and consequently the dissociation pathways, of the complexes. Upon collisionally activated dissociation, the complexes yield fragmentation patterns in which the abundances of key diagnostic ions are enhanced, thus facilitating isomer differentiation.
Older Adults' Expectations About Mental Health Counseling: A Multivariate and Discriminant Analysis.

The present study aimed at identifying significant predictors of expectations about mental health counseling in a sample of highly educated elderly. This task was achieved by administering the full version of the Expectations About Counseling (EAC) questionnaire to fifty-seven retired professors. We first addressed the issue of the current elderly's under-utilization of formal counseling services, then conducted a literature review on the relationship between elderly's characteristics and their views of counseling. Specific hypotheses were formulated for each of the seven possible predictors of EAC scale scores. Previous counseling experience and marital status were significant predictors of EAC scale scores. Young-old adults (i.e., younger than 75 years of age) had received counseling experience significantly more than their older counterpart ; their EAC scores, however, were not significantly different than those of old-old participants. Gender, area of residence, income and religiosity did not predict expectations about counseling significantly. Cell size heterogeneity for some predictors might have been responsible for lack of significance on additional factors. The article ends with a discussion of several clinical implications of the findings.
Estolide triglycerides ofTrewia nudiflora seed oil

The seed oil ofTrewia nudiflora is known to contain glycerides of α-kamlolenic (18-hydroxy-cis-9,trans-11,trans-13-octadecatrienoic) acid. We have shown that a large part of these glycerides contain estolides in which the hydroxyl group of α-kamlolenic acid is esterified to a molecule of another acid, either a hydroxy acid or an ordinary fatty acid. By preparative thin layer chromatography, we isolated a series of tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexaacyl glycerols. By lipolysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we isolated and characterized estolide-linked fatty acids containing two acid moieties.
Relating thermal analyses to the flammability of polymers

Abstract Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were made on an urethane polymer with and without a fire retardant added. These analyses were made at different heating rates and in different environments (argon and oxygen). The results of these tests were then used to show how they might help predict the response of a material to a fire.
Epidermal Growth Factor Regulates Astrocyte Expression of the Interleukin-4 Receptor via a MAPK-Independent Pathway

Abstract Human astrocytes express the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Rα) in vitro and in vivo but mechanisms governing astrocyte IL-4Rα expression have not been established. We hypothesized that epidermal growth factor (EGF) and IL-4, agents that profoundly affect astrocyte proliferation, might also alter IL-4Rα expression. Exposure to EGF for 24 h enhanced IL-4Rα mRNA levels; in contrast, IL-4 yielded no increase. Immunoblotting demonstrated that EGF but not IL-4 increased astrocyte IL-4Rα protein after 2–4 days of exposure. Similarly, EGF but not IL-4 strongly activated phosphorylation of p42/p44 extracellular regulated kinase isoforms, a reaction blocked by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, PD98059. PD98059 also blocked EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis but not IL-4Rα mRNA levels, while antibody to the EGF receptor (erbB1) blocked both EGF effects. Data suggest that astrocyte IL-4Rα expression is upregulated by EGF but not by IL-4 in an EGF-receptor-dependent manner and that mechanisms are independent of MAPK activation.
Characterizing an optimal solution to the linear bilevel programming problem

Abstract This note presents a theorem which characterizes the geometry of an optimal solution of a linear bilevel programming (BLPP) in its feasible region.
A path-size weibit stochastic user equilibrium model

The aim of this paper is to develop a path-size weibit (PSW) route choice model with an equivalent mathematical programming (MP) formulation under the stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) principle that can account for both route overlapping and route-specific perception variance problems. Specifically, the Weibull distributed random error term handles the identically distributed assumption such that the perception variance with respect to different trip lengths can be distinguished, and a path-size factor term is introduced to resolve the route overlapping issue by adjusting the choice probabilities for routes with strong couplings with other routes. A multiplicative Beckmann’s transformation (MBec) combined with an entropy term are used to develop the MP formulation for the PSW-SUE model. A path-based algorithm based on the partial linearization method is adopted for solving the PSW-SUE model. Numerical examples are also provided to illustrate features of the PSW-SUE model and its differences compared to some existing SUE models as well as its applicability on a real-size network.
Stress and symptoms in patients with interstitial cystitis: a life stress model.

Objectives. Stress-related exacerbation of interstitial cystitis (IC) symptoms has frequently been reported. Previous research has found stress-related IC symptom exacerbation in an experimental model. However, this relationship has not been objectively examined with daily life stressors. We used a prospective daily symptom diary method to investigate the relationships among stress and bladder symptoms in patients with IC and age-matched healthy controls.Methods. Forty-five previously diagnosed female patients with IC completed a bladder symptom and stress diary nightly for 1 month; 31 female age-matched healthy controls completed a similar diary for 7 days. The symptom questions were modified from the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base study.Results. Patients reported greater mean daily stress, bladder pain, urgency, and daytime and nocturnal frequency than controls (all P values less than 0.001). Among all patients, a significant relationship between stress and urgency was observed. In addition, a significant relationship between stress and pain was observed among patients with moderate and severe disease. As the disease severity increased, more pronounced relationships between stress and the symptoms of urgency and pain were evidenced. Greater stress was associated with greater nocturnal frequency among patients with more severe disease. These stress-symptom relationships were not observed among the controls.Conclusions. Higher levels of stress were related to greater pain and urgency in patients with IC but not in the controls. In addition, the relationship of stress and these IC symptoms was stronger among patients with more severe disease. The results indicate that life stress is associated with greater IC symptoms, particularly among patients whose disease is not well controlled.
Gene-protein database of Escherichia coli K-12: edition 3

The first two editions of the E. coli Gene-Protein Index were published to provide identifications of protein spots resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as the products of known genes. This third edition has been expanded to include information about genes and proteins gained directly from two-dimensional gel analysis--including information about protein spots not yet characterized genetically or biochemically--and is therefore more properly called a cellular protein database. An alpha-numeric designation has been uniquely assigned to each of the 616 polypeptide spots in the current database. To this, information is linked about the polypeptide's identification (protein name, gene name, Enzyme Commission--EC number), location on reference gels (x-y coordinates), genetics (Genbank code, DNA sequence reference), biochemistry (molecular weight, isoelectric point), and physiology (steady state level of the protein as a function of media and temperature, membership in various regulons and stimulons).
Calculation of Splicing Potential from the Alternative Splicing Mutation Database

The Alternative Splicing Mutation Database (ASMD) presents a collection of all known mutations inside human exons which affect splicing enhancers and silencers and cause changes in the alternative splicing pattern of the corresponding genes. An algorithm was developed to derive a Splicing Potential (SP) table from the ASMD information. This table characterizes the influence of each oligonucleotide on the splicing effectiveness of the exon containing it. If the SP value for an oligonucleotide is positive, it promotes exon retention, while negative SP values mean the sequence favors exon skipping. The merit of the SP approach is the ability to separate splicing signals from a wide range of sequence motifs enriched in exonic sequences that are attributed to protein-coding properties and/or translation efficiency. Due to its direct derivation from observed splice site selection, SP has an advantage over other computational approaches for predicting alternative splicing. We show that a vast majority of known exonic splicing enhancers have highly positive cumulative SP values, while known splicing silencers have core motifs with strongly negative cumulative SP values. Our approach allows for computation of the cumulative SP value of any sequence segment and, thus, gives researchers the ability to measure the possible contribution of any sequence to the pattern of splicing.
Factors Influencing Digital Reference Triage: A Think-Aloud Study

This article describes a think‐aloud study conducted to identify factors that influence the decisions made by digital reference “triagers” when performing triage on questions received by digital reference services. This study follows and expands on a Delphi study that identified factors that triagers agreed on after the fact of their performance of triage by identifying factors that triagers take into consideration during their performance of question triage. Thirty‐eight factors that influence triage decisions were identified, in eight categories. Eight of these factors are intrinsic to the question itself; the remaining thirty factors are extrinsic to the question, situating it in a context for the user and the service. These factors must be taken into consideration by any future system for automated triage.
Fish protein isolate: Development of functional foods with nutraceutical ingredients

Abstract Fish processing by-products are usually discarded. However, they contain protein and ω-3 fatty acids. Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation (ISP) allows efficient recovery of fish protein isolate (FPI) that can be used in the development of nutraceutical products destined for human consumption. In the United States, market for nutraceutical food products in 2007 was estimated to be worth $27 billion. Forecasts for growth of nutraceutical food products range between 8.5 and 20% per year or about four times that of the food industry in general. With this demand for new products comes a need for product development and supporting literature. Consumers expect nutraceutical food products to have good sensory quality that is similar to the traditional foods in the market. Thus, this contribution focuses on the development of nutraceutical seafood products from ISP-recovered FPI by incorporating such ingredients as ω-3 oil, dietary fiber, and salt substitute.
Spatial and temporal activity of the foxtail millet (Setaria italica) seed-specific promoter pF128

pF128 drives GUS specifically expressed in transgenic seeds of foxtail millet and Zea mays with higher activity than the constitutive CaMV35S promoter and the maize seed-specific 19Z promoter. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a member of the Poaceae family, is an important food and fodder crop in arid regions. Foxtail millet is an excellent C4 crop model owing to its small genome (~490 Mb), self-pollination and availability of a complete genome sequence. F128 was isolated from a cDNA library of foxtail millet immature seeds. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that F128 mRNA was specifically expressed in immature and mature seeds. The highest F128 mRNA level was observed 5 days after pollination and gradually decreased as the seed matured. Sequence analysis suggested that the protein encoded by F128 is likely a protease inhibitor/seed storage protein/lipid-transfer protein. The 1,053 bp 5′ flanking sequence of F128 (pF128) was isolated and fused to the GUS reporter gene. The corresponding vector was then transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana, foxtail millet and Zea mays. GUS analysis revealed that pF128 drove GUS expression efficiently and specifically in the seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis, foxtail millet and Zea mays. GUS activity was also detected in Arabidopsis cotyledons. Activity of pF128 was higher than that observed for the constitutive CaMV35S promoter and the maize seed-specific 19 Zein (19Z) promoter. These results indicate that pF128 is a seed-specific promoter. Its application is expected to be of considerable value in plant genetic engineering.
Investigation of sprout-growth-inhibitory compounds in the volatile fraction of potato tubers

The fractionation of volatile substances produced by potato tubers using gas liquid chromatography (GC) was followed by assaying fractions for sprout-growth-inhibitory activity using a potato shoot-tip bioassay. A region of the chromatogram having high sprout-growthinhibiting activity was identified and subsequently further resolved by capillary column GC into several peaks, 5 of which gave well-defined mass spectra. Two of these compounds were identified as diphenylamine and dibenzothiophene. Diphenylamine showed high growthinhibitory activity in the bioassay and was shown to be an effective sprout suppressant for whole tubers. The compound was tested in small-scale storage trials using up to 0.5 tonne of potatoes to assess its potential as a sprout suppressant.
Metropolitan Expansion and Black Social Dislocation: The Link between Suburbanization and Center-City Crime

A long-standing though unexplained finding is that the degree of suburbanization in a metropolitan area is positively related to the rates of serious crime in the incorporated center city. The authors account for this relationship by integrating theoretically two underlying features of urban life in the U.S. First, from a human ecology standpoint, suburbanization is part of a a broader metropolitan expansion process that undermined and isolated many center-city black communities. Second, serious crime in cities is disproportionately concentrated in black communities. They reexamine the suburbanization/city-crime link using racially disaggregated models fir cities and SMSAs in 1980. The findings show that the rate of suburbanization among the total SMSA population is strongly related to the center-city rates of serious crime among blacks, but not among whites. This supports the view that suburbanization increased black center-city crime rates by socially isolating black communities and engendering a variety of social problems. Indeed, upon controlling for potential mediators of the suburbanization-crime link, the relationship between suburbanization and black city-crime rates virtually disappeared
In situ and tomographic analysis of dislocation/grain boundary interactions in α-titanium

In situ straining in the transmission electron microscope and diffraction-contrast electron tomography have been applied to the investigation of dislocation/grain boundary and dislocation/twin boundary interactions in α-Ti. It was found that, similar to FCC materials, the transfer of dislocations across grain boundaries is governed primarily by the minimization of the magnitude of the Burgers vector of the residual grain boundary dislocation. That is, grain boundary strain energy density minimization determines the selection of the emitted slip system.
Iso-g(2) Processes in Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics†

The pair correlation function g(2)(r) in a classical many-body system depends in a nontrivial way both on the number density ρ and on the pair interactions ν(r), and a long-standing goal of statistical mechanics has been to predict these effects quantitatively. The present investigation focuses on a restricted circumstance whereby simultaneous isothermal changes in ρ and ν(r) have exactly canceling effects on g(2). By appealing to the isothermal compressibility relation, we establish that an upper limit for density increase exists for this “iso-g(2)” process, and at this limit in three dimensions the correspondingly modified pair interaction develops a long-ranged Coulombic character. Using both the standard hypernetted chain and Percus−Yevick approximations, we have examined the iso-g(2) process for rigid rods in one dimension that starts at zero density, and maintains the simple step-function pair correlation during density increase, a process that necessarily terminates at a covering fraction of one-ha...
Schedulability Analysis for a Mode Transition in Real-Time Multi-core Systems

To enable real-time systems to adapt to dynamically changing environments, update functionalities and/or accommodate those tasks migrated from other failed sub-systems, there have been a number of studies on making timing guarantees while accounting for change of parameters and addition/deletion of tasks. While most of them have dealt with "transition" protocols that delay next task releases or discard the unfinished tasks released before the transition, such protocols are not suitable for many control systems in which missing/delaying control updates (by completing periodic tasks) even during a transition or mode-change may cause system instability or incur a significant incremental operational cost. In this paper, we focus on a transition protocol that does not miss/delay control updates during a system transition, and develop a new schedulability analysis for the transition in a real-time multi-core system, which provides sufficient timing guarantees without requiring any online information, such as the release and execution patterns of tasks and the start time of a transition. To achieve this, we extend an existing popular schedulability analysis framework for nontransitional tasks, and identify the scenarios that maximize the duration of a task's interference to another task in the case of a transition. Since the analysis works for any arbitrary transition order of tasks, we can improve the schedulability performance by enforcing a specific order. We formulate the problem of assigning an optimal transition order, and develop a solution by deriving some properties of optimality. Our evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed solution finds more schedulable task sets, which are not covered by naive approaches.
The Structures of Toy Consumption: Bourgeois Domesticity and Demand for Toys in Nineteenth-Century Germany

Consumption emerges as an extremely complex topic when gift-giving is introduced into analysis. Consumer goods both reflect and construct the complex social relations that give rise to gift-giving. Toys emerged as mass consumer items in the nineteenth century because the responded to the internal antinomies within the ideology of bourgeois domesticity. The family as a privileged site of affection underwriting a healthy individuality often worked at cross-purposes to the family as the site of construction of culturally middle-class citizens. The inevitable tensions between these competing ideals and tasks were resolved through family festivals, especially Christmas. Christmas emphasized the mutual affection of the family members through attention to the immediate desires of other family members. This attention to the desires of children tended to encourage toys as a gift since more than any other gift, particularly books, they were capable of generating immediate excitement and happiness.
Kinetic and viscous boundary layers for broadwell equations

In this paper, we investigate the boundary layer behavior of solutions to the one dimensional Broadwell model of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation for small mean free path. We consider the analogue ...
Formation conditions of pyroxene-olivine and magnesian olivine chondrules

Dynamic crystallization experiments performed on a Type I and an intermediate Type II/III composition demonstrate chondrule texture is controlled by the abundance of heterogeneous nuclei. This factor is controlled by the maximum initial temperature relative to the olivine disappearance temperature for the given heating time. Glassy and excentroradial textures form from superheated melts with no nuclei, and barred textures form with initial temperatures near the olivine disappearance temperature. Porphyritic and granular textures form with initial temperatures below the liquidus with abundant nuclei. Comparison of zoning characteristics of experimental olivines with those in natural porphyritic olivine chondrules indicates cooling rates of 100 to 1000 C/h, whereas olivine morphology indicates barred olivines cooled at rates of 250 to 1000 C/h. Texture/composition relationships suggest chondrules experienced initial temperatures below 1750 C. These observations are consistent with the idea that chondrules formed by transient heating in dust-rich regions (i.e., in the midplane) of the solar nebula.
Modulation of Cell Death Pathways to Apoptosis and Necrosis of H2O2-Treated Rat Thymocytes by Lipocortin I

Abstract Lipocortin I, also called annexin I, a calcium and phospholipid binding protein, protected rat thymocytes from H2O2-elicited necrosis and facilitated H2O2-induced apoptosis, while anti-lipocortin I antibody enhanced H2O2-elicited necrosis by blocking H2O2-induced apoptosis. Essentially similar results were obtained with phospholipase A2inhibitors and activators such as 3,4-octyadecyl-benzylacrylic acid and melittin, respectively. Available evidence suggests that lipocortin I modulates signals for cell death pathways of H2O2-treated rat thymocytes to apoptosis and necrosis by regulating cellular phospholipase A2activities but not by inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation.
Umbilical Stiffness Matrix Characterization and Testing for Microgravity Science Payloads

This paper describes efforts of testing and analysis of various candidate cables and umbilicals for International Space Station microgravity science payloads. The effects of looping, large vs. small displacements, and umbilical mounting configurations were assessed. A 3-DOF stepper motor driven fixture was used to excite the umbilicals. Forces and moments were directly measured in all three axes with a 6-DOF load cell in order to derive suitable stiffness matrices for design and analysis of vibration isolation controllers. Data obtained from these tests were used to help determine the optimum type and configuration of umbilical cables for the International Space Station microgravity science glovebox (MSG) vibration isolation platform. The data and procedures can also be implemented into control algorithm simulations to assist in validation of actively controlled vibration isolation systems. The experimental results of this work are specific in support of the Glovebox Integrated Microgravity Isolation Technology (g-LIMIT) isolation platform, to be located in the microgravity science glovebox aboard the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module.
Imaging of hemoglobin oxygen saturation variations in single vessels in vivo using photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic microscopy was used to noninvasively image variations in hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO_2) in the subcutaneous microvasculature of rats in vivo. In phantom tests, the calculated concentration fractions of red ink in double-ink mixtures matched the actual values with a 1% error. In ex vivo studies, the calculated SO_2 in bovine blood agreed with the standard spectrophotometric measurements within a 4% systematic difference. In in vivo studies, arteries and veins were separated based on the measured SO_2 values and variations in SO_2 between different physiological states (hyperoxia, normoxia, and hypoxia) were imaged in single blood vessels.
Effect of sulfhydryl-disulfide state on protein phosphorylation: phosphorylation of bovine serum albumin.

Abstract Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase under general protein phosphorylation conditions. The optimal pH for this phosphorylation was 9.0. The K 0.5 (the concentration required for 50% of maximal phosphorylation) for BSA at pH 7.5 was 15 μ m . One mole of phosphate was incorporated per mole of BSA, and only one phosphopeptide fragment was obtained after extensive proteolysis with trypsin. BSA phosphorylation required dithiothreitol or GSH, but GSH was only one-fiftieth as effective as dithiothreitol. GSSG counteracted the effect of dithiothreitol and GSH. Phosphorylation increased in a time-dependent and dithiothreitol concentration-dependent manner when BSA was preincubated with dithiothreitol. The increase in the incorporation of 32 P correlated with the appearance of up to six free sulfhydryl groups. The effect of dithiothreitol on BSA appeared reversible, since reoxidation of reduced BSA decreased its susceptibility to phosphorylation. These experiments showed that this in vitro phosphorylation is dependent on the sulfhydryl-disulfide state of BSA. The possible implications of the sulfhydryl-disulfide state of proteins in the regulation of phosphorylation are discussed.
Rejuvenated expression of H-2Kb in RMA-S cells does not affect alloreactive T cell- and natural killer cell-mediated lysis

Reduced sensitivity to alloreactive cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) and increased susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cells in vivo and in vitro are two phenotypic characteristics that have been attributed to the reduced major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligand density on the surface of an antigen-presentation-defective cell line, RMA-S. As RMA-S exhibits both defective processing of antigenic peptides and very low class I expression, it is uncertain which is responsible for the above characteristics. In this report, we show that the phenotype cannot be reversed by increasing the number of Kb + beta 2-M complexes expressed on the cell surface. These findings emphasize the importance of association of MHC class I molecules with endogenously processed peptides for biological interaction with alloreactive CTLs and NK cells.
On the “shape” of one-port driving functions

Abstract In this paper new information concerning the numerical pattern of the coefficients of one-port driving functions is presented. In particular, two tabulations are given which establish in detail information concerning interrelations of the numerator and denominator coefficients. Also a number of inequalities are established which interrelate the coefficients of one-port driving functions.
Interpretation and estimation of summary ratios under heterogeneity

Of the several types of summary odds ratios in use in epidemiology, only those proposed by Mantel and Haenszel and Miettinen do not assume homogeneity (constancy) of stratum-specific parameters. Under heterogeneity, Miettinen's estimators consistently estimate meaningful epidemiologic parameters, whereas the asymptotic expectation of the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio varies according to irrelevant features of the sampling design. Although one can modify the Mantel-Haenszel summary to overcome the latter problem, one can also extend the Miettinen estimators to sparse data and thus limit the use of Mantel-Haenszel summaries to situations in which the homogeneity hypothesis is reasonable. This paper provides formulae for the extended Miettinen estimators and large-sample variances and confidence limits for summary ratios under heterogeneity.
Many scattered bones do not a skeleton make

The vertebrate skeleton is an amazing organ system. It pleases one by its exquisite architectural and engineering beauty. It impresses by its strength and remarkable adaptability. It is a veritable beehive of cellular activities: it is constantly being remodeled by the concerted action of bone-
Mechanisms of Muscle Stem Cell Expansion with Cytokines

Stem cell expansion and proliferation are important for cell transplantation and stem cell-mediated applications. While we have demonstrated that muscle stem cells can be obtained from adult skeletal muscle tissue, these cells represent only a small percentage of the muscle-derived cells and require in vitro expansion for successful stem cell-mediated therapies. In this study, we have examined the potential of several cytokines to stimulate stem cell growth by combining a non-exponential mathematical model with a unique cell culture system. The growth kinetics of two populations of muscle stem cells were characterized in culture medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), FLT-3 ligand, hepatocyte growth factor, or stem cell factor (SCF). The division time (DT) and fraction of mitotically active cells were investigated as key parameters to further understand the mechanism of the expansion of the stem cell populations. Our results show that expansion of the freshly isolated, muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) occurred by recruiting cells into the cell cycle in the presence of EGF, IGF-1, and SCF. However, expansion of the cultured stem cell clone, MC13, is attributed to a reduction of the length of the cell cycle in the presence of FGF-2, EGF, IGF-1, and SCF. Both MDSC and MC13 growth were inhibited in the presence of FLT-3 ligand by increasing the length of the cell cycle. Our results suggest that EGF, IGF-1, FGF-2, and SCF are important cytokines for stimulating the proliferation of MDSC. In addition, this study illustrates that expansion of stem cells occurs through different mechanisms, which consequently demonstrates the importance of monitoring several parameters of cell growth, such as DT and dividing fraction, following stimulation with growth factors.
Light and electron microscopic serial analysis of mouse extraocular muscle: Morphology, innervation and topographical organization of component fiber populations

Abstract Mouse superior rectus extraocular muscle was examined in serial section by light and electron microscopy. By such analysis, it was possible to discriminate single versus multiple innervation, characteristics of internal cell morphology, and topographical distribution of the respective fiber populations within the muscle. Singly innervated (SIF) and multiply innervated fibers (MIF) were observed, both in an orbital surface layer and in the underlying global region of the muscle. Five morphologically distinct fiber types (three SIF and two MIF) were discriminable in terms of fiber diameter, mitochondrial richness, development of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and myofibrillar size. Many fibers, both SIF and MIF, terminated variously along the length of the muscle. The diameter of orbital MIF typically varied from one end of the fiber to the other by a factor of about three; the global MIF were of essentially constant diameter. The junctional complexity varied among the respective types of SIF. The MIF of both the global and orbital regions exhibited comparable ranges of complexity in their neuromuscular junctions.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Identification and Treatment of the High‐Risk Patient

BACKGROUND Some cutaneous basal cell carcinomas have a significant potential to recur, disfigure, and nietastasize. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS The identification and selection of treatment of these high risk carcinomas is based on a review of studies of recurrence, giant size, metastasis, and mortality. ERESULTS Basal cell carcinomas with any of the following: long duration, location in the mid face or ear, larger than 2 cm, with aggressive histologic subtype, previous treatment, neglected, or a history of radiation exposure, should be considered “high risk,” CONCLUSION For basal cell carcinomas with this high risk profile, complete excision by margin control or total destruction should be considered.
Evaluation of chemical amendments to reduce ammonia volatilization from poultry litter

Ammonia volatilization from poultry litter often causes high levels of atmospheric ammonia in poultry houses, which is detrimental to both farm workers and birds. Ammonia emissions from houses also aggravate environmental problems, such as acid rain, and result in a loss of fertilizer nitrogen. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of litter amendments on ammonia volatilization and to determine the effect of these amendments on nitrogen and phosphorus content in litter. The results of this research indicate that alum [Al2(SO4)3.18H2O], ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O), and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) dramatically reduce ammonia volatilization form litter. The amount of ammonia lost from litter treated with sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) and a proprietory product made of Ca-Fe silicate with a phosphoric acid coating was not different from the control (untreated litter). Aluminum sulfate (alum) and ferrous sulfate also reduced water soluble P concentrations in litter, whereas phosphoric acid greatly increased water-soluble P levels. The most effective compound evaluated with respect to reducing both ammonia loss and P solubility was alum.
THE EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED STRESS ON PENTYLENETETRAZOL SEIZURE THRESHOLD IN MICE.

The effect of 20 min of intermittent foot shock on spontaneous activity and overt behavior was studied in mice. In addition, the effect of a pain-induced conditioned emotional response, and of total body immobilization and postural disequilibrium on the pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold was determined. Foot shock decreased spontaneous motor activity, and induced responses characterized by immobility, crouching, and increased defecation. The pain-induced conditioned emotional response, total body immobilization, and postural disequilibrium all lowered seizure threshold. Data are presented which indicate that there is a direct relation between the reduction in seizure threshold and the intensity of the disturbed emotional state. In addition, it is suggested that the observed increase in brain excitability caused by apprehension and anxiety may result from the effect of endogenouslyreleased catecholamines on the central nervous system. Reference is made to the relation between these findings and the effect of emotional disturbances on seizure frequency in human epileptics.