cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Allogeneic transplantation successfully corrects immune defects, but not susceptibility to colitis, in a patient with nuclear factor-κB essential modulator deficiency

Background Boys with X-linked ectodermal dysplasia and immunodeficiency caused by mutations of nuclear factor-κB essential modulator have defects in innate and adaptive immunity, and some have colitis. Objective We sought to determine whether curing the immune defect in such patients by means of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation abolishes the susceptibility to colitis. Methods A boy with X-linked hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency underwent allogeneic transplantation from a matched unaffected sibling identified by means of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Toll-like receptor (TLR) function was assessed by measuring TLR agonist–induced cytokine production in whole blood tested in vitro . B-cell proliferation was measured by means of tritiated thymidine incorporation. Natural killer cell function was examined in PBMCs by means of K562 target cell lysis. Colitis severity was assessed clinically based on corticosteroid requirement and histology of large intestinal biopsy specimens. Results Defects in cytokine production in response to TLR agonists, CD40-mediated proliferation, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity were all corrected after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Despite successful hematopoietic and immune reconstitution, the patient continued to have flares of colitis, often associated with bacterial infection. Conclusions Our findings strongly suggest that nuclear factor-κB essential modulator deficiency intrinsic to the intestinal epithelium is sufficient to predispose to colitis, despite robust correction of immune defects.
Starting variable-order Adams and BDF codes

Abstract An algorithm is presented for starting variable-order Adams and BDF codes. It makes the codes easier to use and improves their robustness and efficiency. It is particularly helpful to BDF codes.
Synthesis and Investigation of [Cp*(PMe3)Rh(H)(H2)]+ and Its Partially Deuterated and Tritiated Isotopomers: Evidence for a Hydride/Dihydrogen Structure

Hydrogenolysis of [Cp*(PMe3)Rh(Me)(CH2Cl2)]+BAr‘4- (4, Ar‘ = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2) in dichloromethane afforded the nonclassical polyhydride complex [Cp*(PMe3)Rh(H)(H2)]+BAr‘4- (1), which exhibits a single hydride resonance at all accessible temperatures in the 1H NMR spectrum. Exposure of solutions of 1 to D2 or T2 gas resulted in partial isotopic substitution in the hydride sites. Formulation of 1 as a hydride/dihydrogen complex was based upon T1 (T1(min) = 23 ms at 150 K, 500 MHz), JH-D (ca. 10 Hz), and JH-T (ca. 70 Hz) measurements. The barrier (ΔG⧧) to exchange of hydride with dihydrogen sites was determined to be less than ca. 5 kcal/mol. Protonation of Cp*(PMe3)Rh(H)2 (2) using H(OEt2)2BAr‘4 resulted in binuclear species [(Cp*(PMe3)Rh(H))2(μ-H)]+BAr‘4- (3), which is formed in a reaction involving 1 as an intermediate. Complex 3 contains two terminal hydrides and one bridging hydride ligand which exchange with a barrier of 9.1 kcal/mol as observed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the structures of 3 a...
Developmental changes in rabbit pulmonary cytochrome P-450 subpopulations

Of the two characterized cytochrome P-450 subpopulations present in adult lung microsomes, only one (P-450II) appears to be present in the neonate. Both this subpopulation and a second subpopulation (P-450I) gradually increase over a period of several months, and account for most of the increase in lung cytochrome P-450 concentration during maturation. A third fraction of the cytochrome P-450, which is incapable of forming metabolic-intermediate complexes remains constant in concentration during maturation, thus decreasing from 60% of the total in the neonate to 20% in the adult. Metyrapone binding to lung cytochrome P-450 which increases during development does not correlate quantitatively with either of the two characterized subpopulations.
Linear IgA deposition associated with cutaneous varicella-zoster infection: a case report

The homogeneous linear deposition of IgA along the basement membrane zone of uninvolved skin is a distinguishing feature of linear IgA dermatosis in adults and chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood. Although linear IgA deposition may be seen in other cutaneous diseases, to our knowledge, there are no previous reports of a direct association with cutaneous infection. We describe the finding of intense fluorescence, in a linear pattern, of IgA at the basement membrane zone in an elderly man with disseminated cutaneous varicella-zoster infection.
Conduction band symmetry in Ta chalcogenides from Ta L edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)

The authors report measurements of the X-ray absorption spectra near the Ta L edges of different polytypes of TaS2 and TaSe2 and TaSe3. Analysis of structure seen near the absorption edges and associated with transitions from well defined core levels to conduction band states has enabled the extent of the p character of the predominantly d character conduction band to be probed. The results show that conduction band in the Ta chalcogenides studies has a significant amount of p character, and a lower limit of between 6 and 10% has been determined. The amount of p character varies between the various compounds in the following way: 1T-TaS2<TaSe3<2H-TaS2 approximately 1T-TaSe2<2H-TaSe2. The Ta X-ray absorption edges have also been monitored during and after intercalation of the chalcogenides with hydrazine. Small changes in p character are observed and the results indicate that intercalation modifies the conduction band, not only through charge transfer but more significantly through changes in hybridisation of the band.
A tubular-coring device for use in biogeochemical sampling of succulent and pulpy plants

Abstract A hand-operated, tubular-coring device developed for use in biogeochemical sampling of succulent and pulpy plants is described. The sampler weighs about 500 g (1.1 lb); and if 25 × 175 mm (1 × 7 in) screw-top test tubes are used as sample containers, the complete sampling equipment kit is easily portable, having both moderate bulk and weight.
Endoscopic treatment of vesico-ureteric reflux and urinary incontinence: technical problems in the paediatric patient.

Objective Bovine collagen has been successfully used for the endoscopic treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) and vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) in children for more than 8 years, although its long-term efficacy has sometimes been questioned. Its failure is generally ascribed either to technical difficulties or to instability of collagen at the site of the implant. To assess the efficacy of the procedure we evaluated the children treated at this hospital between 1990 and 1993. Patients and methods A total of 156 children, aged 5 months to 13 years, were treated for VUR. Over the same period, 25 patients aged between 2 and 14 years (nine with neuropathic bladder and 16 with exstro-phy-epispadias complex who were still incontinent after bladder neck reconstruction) had periurethral or pericervical glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine collagen injection for UI. Five more children with exstro-phy-epispadias complex (aged 1–3 years) underwent periurethral collagen injection to stimulate bladder enhancement and allow subsequent bladder neck reconstruction. Results In children treated for VUR, a single injection proved successful in 72.2% of cases (127 ureters); a second collagen injection raised the success rate to 81%. Continence improved in all nine neuropathic bladders and in 10 of 16 children with exstrophy-epispadias complex treated for UI after bladder neck reconstruction. In four of the five exstrophy-epispadias complex patients who were treated to stimulate bladder enhancement, bladder capacity increased by 25%. Conclusions Endoscopic treatment of VUR seems to be a valid alternative to open surgery, even though concerns remain about the long-term efficacy of collagen implantation. An important distinction should be made between early and late failure of the procedure. Early failure, which we define as persistence of reflux, is usually due to incorrect technique or technical difficulties. Late failure, or recurrence of reflux, which has previously been attributed to the biodegradability of collagen, seems to be due to the displacement of the injected collagen. Micturition itself or high bladder pressure (such as detrusor instability) could be responsible for the displacement of the injected collagen medially and distally, where it can no longer support the submucosal ureteric tunnel. In the treatment of urinary incontinence, both the implant technique and the choice of the site of injection seem to have a considerable effect on the results. In our experience, endoscopic collagen injection is effective in the treatment of both urinary incontinence and VUR in paediatric patients. Accurate selection of patients and technical adjustments and refinements are essential to obtain the best results.
Infusions of bicuculline to the ventral tegmental area attenuates sexual, exploratory, and anti-anxiety behavior of proestrous rats.

Abstract Actions of 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulate sexual receptivity of female rats. Actions of 3α,5α-THP at GABAergic substrates in the VTA are known to modulate consummatory aspects of sexual behavior among rodents, such as lordosis. However, the extent to which GABA A receptors in the VTA are important for appetitive (exploratory, anti-anxiety, social) aspects of sexual receptivity is not well-understood. Proestrous rats were bilaterally-infused with saline or bicuculline (100 ng), a GABA A receptor antagonist, to the VTA or missed control sites. Rats were assessed for exploratory/anti-anxiety (open field/elevated plus maze), social (social interaction), and sexual (paced-mating) behavior. Compared to saline or missed site controls, intra-VTA bicuculline significantly reduced the number of central entries in an open field, time spent on the open arms of an elevated plus maze, frequency and intensity of lordosis, anti-aggression towards a male, pacing of sexual contacts, and 3α,5α-THP concentrations in midbrain and hippocampus. Bicuculline-infused rats also displayed less affiliation with a novel conspecific, fewer sexual solicitations, and had lower 3α,5α-THP concentrations in diencephalon and cortex, albeit these were not significant differences. Thus, actions at GABA A receptors in the midbrain VTA are essential for appetitive and consummatory aspects of sexual receptivity among rats.
β‐Glucan supplementation, allergy symptoms, and quality of life in self‐described ragweed allergy sufferers

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study compared the effects of daily supplementation for 4 week with 250 mg Wellmune WGP® β-1,3/1,6-Glucan (WGP) with placebo 250 mg/day (rice flour) on physical and psychological health attributes of self-described “moderate” ragweed allergy sufferers. Study participants (mean age = 36 ± 9 year; range 18–53 year) were recruited before the beginning of ragweed season (September) in Northeastern Ohio. Serum IgE concentration, allergy symptoms [via self-report, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ)], psychological well-being [Profile of Mood States (POMS)], and physical function (RAND SF-36 Medical Outcomes Study) were measured immediately prior to and after supplementation with WGP (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). Compared with placebo, WGP reduced total allergy symptoms (28%), symptom severity (52%), and symptom rating on the VAS (37%) (P < 0.05), but had no effect on serum IgE levels. As measured by the POMS, WGP increased participants' rating of vigor (10%), but reduced tension (34%), depression (45%), anger (41%), fatigue (38%), and confusion (34%) (P < 0.05). Study participants given WGP reported increased physical health (11%), energy (19%), and emotional well-being (7%) compared with study participants given the placebo (RAND SF-36 Medical Outcomes Study). The WGP group also reported decreased sleep problems (53%), reduced nasal symptoms (59%), eye symptoms (57%), non-nasal symptoms (50%), activities (53%), emotions (57%), and improved quality of life (QOL) (56%), as well as improved global mood state (13%). Supplementation with WGP for 4 weeks improved allergy symptoms, overall physical health, and emotional well-being compared with placebo in self-described “moderate” ragweed allergy sufferers during ragweed allergy season.
Aprotinin enhances the endogenous release of interleukin-10 after cardiac operations

Abstract Background . Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is characterized by the systemic release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and the interleukins 1 and 6, as well as endogenous antiinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-10 (IL-10). Glucocorticoids reduce tumor necrosis factor-α plasma concentrations while enhancing IL-10 plasma concentrations after CPB. Aprotinin, a serine protease inhibitor used primarily to reduce blood loss after CPB, reduces CPB-induced proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α release similarly to glucocorticoids. This study evaluates the effect of full-dose aprotinin on the plasma concentrations of IL-10 after CPB. Methods . Twenty adults were randomized into a control (group C, n=10) and a full-dose aprotinin-treated group (group A, n=10). Plasma levels of IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique at baseline (before anesthetic induction), and at 1 and 24 hours after CPB termination. Results . A significant ( p p Conclusions . These results demonstrate an endogenous antiinflammatory response generated after CPB, characterized by IL-10 release, that is enhanced by aprotinin therapy. This study demonstrates a unique antiinflammatory activity of aprotinin that may be of clinical significance.
Implementing multilingual touch-screen audio-CASI applications

Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) technologies have become standard tools for collecting information on sensitive measures. However, while the method is commonly applied in the English language, its use is less prevalent in non-English language data collection efforts. One reason for the low occurrence of non-English audio-CASI applications is the relatively slow conversion of audio-CASI software to the nonstandard fonts required to display some languages (e.g., Russian, Chinese). Every written language requires an alphabet and a variety of fonts designed to display the special symbols and notations used by that language. However, early versions of PC operating systems were not flexible in their capacity to support nonstandard fonts. That is no longer the case with the development of more advanced operating systems such as Windows XP. This paper describes a versatile method for implementing audio-CASI technologies using any defined font and therefore any alphabet for which a font exists. This method relies on the capabilities of Rich Text Format for representing the visual or screen display component of the survey. Rich Text Format is supported by a variety of text editors and word processing packages, including Word and Word Perfect. It can be implemented in any software system with Rich Text Edit Control (RTEC). We describe a general process that exploits the capabilities of RTEC to efficiently implement multilingual audio-CASI applications, and demonstrate that process using four distinct languages.
The sensitivity of carbon fluxes to spring warming and summer drought depends on plant functional type in boreal forest ecosystems

Warming during late winter and spring in recent decades has been credited with increasing high northern latitude CO2 uptake, but it is unclear how different species and plant functional types contribute to this response. To address this, we measured net ecosystem exchange (NEE) at a deciduous broadleaf (aspen and willow) forest and an evergreen conifer (black spruce) forest in interior Alaska over a 3-year period. We partitioned NEE into gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Re) components, assessing the impact of interannual climate variability on these fluxes during spring and summer. We found that interannual variability in both spring and summer NEE was greatest at the deciduous forest. Increases in spring air temperatures between 2002 and 2004 caused GPP to increase during the early part of the growing season (April, May, and June), with a 74% increase at the deciduous forest and a 16% increase at the evergreen forest. Re increased in parallel, by 61% and 15%, respectively. In contrast, a summer drought during 2004 caused GPP during August to decrease by 12% at the deciduous forest and by 9% at the evergreen forest. Concurrent increases in Re, by 21% and 2% for the two forests, further contributed to a reduction in net carbon uptake during the drought. Over the growing season (April-September) net carbon uptake increased by 40% at the deciduous forest and 3% at the evergreen forest in 2004 as compared with 2002. These results suggest that deciduous forests may contribute disproportionately to variability in atmospheric CO2 concentrations within the northern hemisphere and that the carbon balance of deciduous forests may have a greater sensitivity to future changes in climate. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Formal Evolutionary Development of Low-Entropy Dendritic Thermal Systems

The present work contributes to the formal evolutionary development of complex thermal physical systems by using a bioinspired evolutionary method. The bioinspired method combines Lindenmayer systems with a turtle interpretation for the modeling of the complex dendritic structures, plus a finite element method for the analysis of the structure and an evolutionary algorithm to evolve the topology of the dendritic structure. With the proposed method, the optimal planar topology of a conductive dendritic structure for draining thermal energy from a fixed-area subject to uniform heat generation, a problem originally addressed by constructal theory, is investigated. The results show that the evolutionary approach can yield complex dendritic topologies that excel in performance and robustness. Moreover, our results demonstrate that a better performance in heat removal implies an increased complexity, up to an optimal level, of the draining system. Indeed, it is shown also that there is an optimal level of complexity beyond which the performance of the system is not substantially improved, which is in agreement with results reported in the literature. Finally, the robustness of hierarchical, dendritic complex topologies for heat transfer systems is discussed and quantified.
Application of discrete fourier transforms to a fourth-order diffusion equation

Abstract A discrete Fourier transform technique was used to solve a time-dependent, partial differential equation in one and two spatial dimensions. The NBCH equation governs the time evolution of morphology in binary polymer—polymer systems that phase separate by spinodal decomposition. It is nonlinear and fourth-order in the spatial derivatives. The solution algorithm is suitable for vector processing and is readily extendable to three spatial dimensions and to other governing equations.
Inspiratory Muscle Activity during Bird Song

The apparently continuous flow of creased from u200 ms to on average 41 ms during bird song is in reality punctuated by brief periods of minibreaths, again for both species, but inspiratory silence during which there are short inspirations called minibreaths. To determine whether these mini- muscle activity did not overlap with that of the expira- breaths are accompanied, and thus perhaps caused, tory muscles. Thus, there was no indication that the by activity in inspiratory muscles, electromyographic inspiratory muscles acted either to shorten the dura- (EMG) activity was recorded in M. scalenus in zebra tion of expiration or to reduce the expiratory effort finches and in M. scalenus and Mm. levatores cost- as might occur if both expiratory and inspiratory mus- arum in cowbirds, together with EMGs from the ab- cles were simultaneously active. Inspiratory and expi- dominal expiratory muscles, air sac pressure and tra- ratory muscle activities were highly stereotyped dur- cheal airflow. EMG activity in Mm. scalenus and leva- ing song to the extent that together, they defined the tores costarum consistently preceded the onset of temporal pattern of the songs and song types of negative air sac pressure by C11 ms during both quiet individual birds. q 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol respiration and singing in both species. The electrical 36: 441 - 453, 1998 activity of these two muscles was very similar. Com- Keywords: inspiration; expiration; respiratory pared with during quiet respiration, the amplitude of rhythm; EMG; songbirds inspiratory muscle EMG during singing was increased
Inhibition of Na+-H+ exchanger protects diabetic and non-diabetic hearts from ischemic injury: insight into altered susceptibility of diabetic hearts to ischemic injury.

Abstract It has been previously suggested that alterations in sodium homeostasis, leading to calcium overload may play a part in the mediation of cardiac ischemic injury. It has been demonstrated that the Na + -H + exchanger plays an important role with regard to the regulation of intracellular sodium during ischemia and reperfusion and that inhibition of the Na + -H + exchanger during ischemia protects hearts from ischemic injury. Studies using chemically-induced diabetic animals have suggested that the cardiac Na + -H + exchanger in the diabetic heart is impaired and is responsible for limiting the increase in sodium during ischemia. The extent to which the Na + -H + exchanger contributes to increases in intracellular sodium during ischemia in diabetic hearts is unclear as direct measurements of exchanger activity have not been made in genetically diabetic hearts. Therefore, this paper aims to address the following issues: (a) is the Na + -H + exchanger impaired in a genetically diabetic rat heart: (b) does this impairment result in lower [Na]i or [Ca]i during ischemia; and (c) does Na + -H + exchanger inhibtion limit injury and functional impairment in diabetic hearts during ischemia and reperfusion? These issues were examined by inhibiting the Na + -H + exchanger with ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA) in isolated perfused hearts from both genetically diabetic (BB/W) and non-diabetic rats. Levels of intracellular sodium, intracellular calcium, intracellular pH and high energy phosphates (using 23 Na, 19 F, 31 P NMR spectroscopies, respectively) during global ischemia and reperfusion were also measured. The impact of diabetes on Na + -H + exchanger activity was assessed by measuring pH recovery of these hearts after an acid load. Creatine kinase release during reperfusion was used as a measure of ischemic injury. This study demonstrated that the Na + -H + exchanger is impaired in diabetic hearts. Despite this impaired activity, inhibition of Na + -H + exchanger protected diabetic hearts from ischemic injury and was associated with attenuation of the rise in sodium and calcium, and limitation of acidosis and preservation of ATP during ischemia. The data presented here favor the use of Na + -H + exchanger inhibitors to protect ischemic myocardium in diabetics. Also, the data provides possible mechanisms for the altered susceptibility of diabetic hearts to ischemic injury.
A Laboratory Study of the Effects of Wrist Splint Orthoses on Forearm Muscle Activity and Upper Extremity Posture

Objective: To evaluate the effects of wrist splint orthoses (WSOs) on forearm muscle activity and upper extremity/torso postures. Background: WSOs are ubiquitous in industry, but the literature as to their biomechanical effects is limited. Method: Study 1: Participants performed single-plane wrist exertions with or without a WSO while the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, and extensor carpi ulnaris was captured. Study 2: Participants performed simple computer jumper installation tasks with or without a WSO while upper extremity/torso postures were recorded. Results: Study 1: A significant interaction between WSOs and wrist angle was observed in the response of forearm muscles (e.g., normalized EMG of the flexor carpi radial is increased from 4.2% to 15.9% as flexion increased from 0° to 36° in the orthosis conditions, whereas in the no-orthosis condition it remained 5% at all wrist flexion angles). Study 2: WSOs were found to effect wrist, torso, and shou...
A microprocessor-based dual slope phase meter

A dual-slope phase meter has been designed and tested to investigate its limitations. The design does not require a time standard; it offers good resolution, relative simplicity, low sensitivity to changes of internal circuit parameters, and microprocessor compatibility. The idea is based on a single-slope approach demonstrated by W.T. Davis (1986), but several disadvantages of the system have been eliminated. The main problem with the system, relating to the error due to the finite time of sampling, is discussed. >
Evaluation of the surface erosion from different timber yarding methods in Honduras

Surface runoff and sediment production from different timber yarding practices, some using Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommended for Honduras, were monitored in experimental plots during the rainy seasons of two consecutive years in pine forest highlands of central Honduras. Different timber yarding systems were applied to pseudo-replicated plots during the rainy seasons of 1999 and 2000. In 1999, two treatments were studied: tractor yarding and skyline cable (a recommended BMP). In 2000, four treatments were evaluated: tractor skidding, skyline cable, animal skidding (another recommended BMP), and undisturbed forest (reference). During the rainy seasons of these years, surface runoff volumes and sediment yield were measured at five 1.5m x 10m erosion plots in each treated area. The results showed significant differences between traditional tractor yarding and the recommended skyline cable and animal skidding methods. Tractor yarding produced six to ten times more erosion during the rainy seasons than cable and animal yarding. The improved soil retention of cable and animal yarding was especially important during September when the highest rainfall occurred in this climate.
Evaluation of outcome-based approach in computer science education at sub-degree level

Computer Science is recognized as a young growing field compared with many other sub-degree and even undergraduate programs. Recently, many educators in this field teaching in community college as well as university have been recommended to redesign and restructure the program studies according to outcome-based teaching and learning approach. However, the issues related to how to define objectives and assess outcomes in this outcome-based approach (OBA) continues to be a challenge among the computer science faculty who are not originally trained in techniques for setting up objectives and measuring outcomes. In this paper, our experience of initial attempt in designing and developing our sub-degree computing program using OBA will be shared. Based on the OBA paradigm, we evaluate our teaching effectiveness and student outcomes based on the teaching evaluation results and their articulation success. Through deeper understanding and learning, outcome-based education can eventually bring a great impact on students and prepare them for both exciting career and successful articulation in the computing field.
A distributed detection scheme for process faults and sensor faults in a class of interconnected nonlinear uncertain systems

This paper investigates the problem of distributed fault detection in a class of interconnected nonlinear uncertain systems. It significantly extends previous results by considering more general nonlinear systems. Under certain assumptions, a distributed fault detection method is developed, and adaptive thresholds for fault detection is derived, ensuring robustness with respect to interconnections among subsystems and modeling uncertainty. Moreover, the fault detectability conditions are rigorously investigated, characterizing the class of detectable process faults and sensor faults in each subsystem. Additionally, a simulation example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed distributed fault detection method.
The application of flux balance analysis in systems biology

An increasing number of genome-scale reconstructions of intracellular biochemical networks are being generated. Coupled with these stoichiometric models, several systems-based approaches for probing these reconstructions in silico have been developed. One such approach, called flux balance analysis (FBA), has been effective at predicting systemic phenotypes in the form of fluxes through a reaction network. FBA employs a linear programming (LP) strategy to generate a flux distribution that is optimized toward a particular 'objective,' subject to a set of underlying physicochemical and thermodynamic constraints. Although classical FBA assumes steady-state conditions, several extensions have been proposed in recent years to constrain the allowable flux distributions and enable characterization of dynamic profiles even with minimal kinetic information. Furthermore, FBA coupled with techniques for measuring fluxes in vivo has facilitated integration of computational and experimental approaches, and is allowing pursuit of rational hypothesis-driven research. Ultimately, as we will describe in this review, studying intracellular reaction fluxes allows us to understand network structure and function and has broad applications ranging from metabolic engineering to drug discovery.
Compositions of fuzzy relations with hedges

We present extensions of ordinary compositions of fuzzy relations. The extensions consist in parameterizing the ordinary compositions by means of particular unary functions on the scales of truth degrees. The approach is inspired by our previous work on formal concept analysis of data with fuzzy attributes where such parameterization of one particular type of fuzzy relational composition was used to control the number of clusters extracted from data. We present definitions and basic properties of the parameterized compositions, examples, and implications for several domains of application of fuzzy relational compositions.
Change in the older-person role: An application of Turner's process role and model of role change

Abstract Individuals who are aging today experience a role-person misfit because expectations for an older-person role developed during an earlier time in history have persisted after the relevant social conditions have changed. Recent work by Turner and others, which emphasize the dynamic, interactive aspect of social roles, gives us tools to analyze how the cohort differences described by Riley can create pressures for change at the structural level. With these tools we can also identify similarities in the change processes for different roles, such as age and gender roles. The conception of a dynamic, cohort based, older-person role may be especially useful for continuity theory, an individualistic theory of aging currently popular among gerontologists. The application of Turner's model of role change to the older-person role indicates that a strong impetus for change exists at the structural level and that key factors favorable to change are in place and appear to outweigh anticipated costs. The first part of the article lays out Turner's concept of process role and the second describes age roles and age cohorts. The third discusses the older-person role and argues that its expectations limit individuals in much the same way that traditional gender roles have restricted the behavior of males and females. The fourth part outlines Turner's model for role change at the macro-level and applies it to the older-person role. The final section suggests some ways the older person role might change in the future and raises questions about whether it may cease to be a role at all if future role expectations become so diverse that they no longer represent a comprehensive pattern of behaviors and attitudes.
Role of domain knowledge in developing user-centered medical-image indexing

An efficient and robust medical-image indexing procedure should be user-oriented. It is essential to index the images at the right level of description and ensure that the indexed levels match the user's interest level. This study examines 240 medical-image descriptions produced by three different groups of medical-image users (novices, intermediates, and experts) in the area of radiography. This article reports several important findings: First, the effect of domain knowledge has a significant relationship with the use of semantic image attributes in image-users' descriptions. We found that experts employ more high-level image attributes which require high-reasoning or diagnostic knowledge to search for a medical image (Abstract Objects and Scenes) than do novices; novices are more likely to describe some basic objects which do not require much radiological knowledge to search for an image they need (Generic Objects) than are experts. Second, all image users in this study prefer to use image attributes of the semantic levels to represent the image that they desired to find, especially using those specific-level and scene-related attributes. Third, image attributes generated by medical-image users can be mapped to all levels of the pyramid model that was developed to structure visual information. Therefore, the pyramid model could be considered a robust instrument for indexing medical imagery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phosphorus availability mediates plasticity in life‐history traits and predator–prey interactions in Daphnia

We analysed growth plasticity of two Daphnia pulex clones under low-phosphorus (LP) and high phosphorus (HP) conditions, in the presence of Chaoborus kairomones to examine how food quality (P-availability) might impact life-history responses and vulnerability to predation. Overall, clone 1 grew faster, and was larger at maturity. Under HP, both clones responded to kairomones by increasing growth, age and size at maturity, and decreasing fecundity. Under LP, both clones suffered reduced growth, and fecundity. However, the magnitude of response to kairomones depended on a clone by P-availability interaction. Chaoborus presented a 1 : 1 clonal mixture under HP or LP, consumed more individuals under LP. Moreover, fewer clone 1 individuals were consumed. Studying the effects of P-availability on life histories, and predator–prey interactions may help us understand the mechanisms generating and maintaining plasticity, as well as influencing genotypic diversity and microevolutionary processes in natural populations.
An extendable solar array integrated Yagi-Uda UHF antenna for CubeSat platforms

The popularity of nano-satellites in academic, commercial and government organizations has risen dramatically in recent years, due largely to their low design and deployment costs. Despite their many successes, fundamental limits on their capabilities can be attributed in part to their limited communications packages. Using 70 cm amateur bands allows for lower power communications systems, however due to the larger wavelengths, managing antenna dimensions presents a design challenge. To improve mission capability, the current dipole configurations, that offer gains of approximately 5 dB, needed significant improvement. This paper presents a high-gain solution by incorporating a 6-element linear Yagi-Uda antenna into a deployable solar array prototype. Measured array gain was 11.5 dBi with a 53 MHz bandwidth, E- and H-plane half-power beamwidths of 46 and 58 degrees respectively, and an S11 of −19 dB at 435 MHz.
Acoustic excitation of droplet combustion in microgravity and normal gravity

This experimental study focused on methanol droplet combustion characteristics during exposure to external acoustical perturbations in both normal gravity and microgravity. Emphasis was placed on examination of excitation conditions in which the droplet was situated (1) at or near a velocity antinode (pressure node), where the droplet experienced the greatest effects of velocity perturbations, or (2) at a velocity node (pressure antinode), where the droplet was exposed to minimal velocity fluctuations. Acoustic excitation had a significantly greater influence on droplet-burning rates and flame structures in microgravity than in normal gravity. In normal gravity, acoustic excitation of droplets situated near a pressure node produced only very moderate increases in burning rate (about 11–15% higher than for nonacoustically excited, burning droplets) and produced no significant change in burning rate near a pressure antinode. In microgravity, for the same range in sound pressure level, droplet burning rates increased by over 75 and 200% for droplets situated at or near pressure antinode and pressure node locations, respectively. Observed flame deformation for droplets situated near pressure nodes or antinodes were generally consistent with the notion of acoustic radiation forces arising in connection with acoustic streaming, yet both velocity and pressure perturbations were seen to affect flame behavior, even when the droplet was situated precisely at or extremely close to node or antinode locations. Displacements of the droplet with respect to node or antinode locations were observed to have a measureable effect on droplet burning rates, yet acoustic accelerations associated with such displacements, as an analogy to gravitational acceleration, did not completely explain the significant increases in burning rate resulting from the excitation.
Two core systems of numerical representation in infants

Two nonverbal representation systems, the analog magnitude system (AMS) and the object tracking system (OTS), have been proposed to explain how humans and nonhuman animals represent numerosities. There has long been debate about which of the two systems is responsible for representing small numerosities (<4). This review focuses on findings with human infants to inform that debate. We argue that the empirical data cannot all be explained by a single system, and in particular, infants’ failures to compare small and large numerosities – the boundary effect – undermines the claim that the AMS can account for infants’ numerical abilities in their entirety. We propose that although the two systems coexist throughout the lifespan, competition between the systems is primarily a developmental phenomenon. Potential factors that drive the engagement of each system in infancy, such as stimulus features and task demands, are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.
Use of Metastable Phase Diagrams in Rapid Solidification

During rapid solidification, the nucleation and/or growth of a thermodynamically stable phase may be difficult. In this case the liquidus, solidus or other thermodynamic data for a metastable phase are important for the interpretation and prediction of the phases present in rapidly solidified materials. In this paper various techniques are described to obtain information about metastable equilibrium from measured stable equilibrium data. Extra-polations of phase boundaries as functions of temperature, pressure or composition (including a new component) into regions of metastability can often be constructed directly on the equilibrium diagram. These constructions can be performed more quantitatively with analytical methods using thermodynamic modelling of the free energy functions consistent with measured data. A number of examples are considered including a discussion of metastable liquid miscibility gaps, metastable eutectic and peritectic reactions, pressure diagrams and metastability in ternary alloys to indicate the possible product phase selection. A coupling of metastable phase diagrams with a solidification kinetics analysis can contribute towards effective alloy design and processing during rapid solidification.
How Customer Portfolio Affects New Product Development in Technology-Based Entrepreneurial Firms:

Abstract This article focuses on how the customer portfolios of technology-based entrepreneurial firms affect new product development. Drawing on knowledge-based, resource dependence, and relational theories, the authors argue that the impact of a firm's customers on new product development depends on the size and relational embeddedness of the customer portfolio and the extent to which the firm is dependent on one or a few dominant customers for a majority of its revenues. The authors test the research model using longitudinal data on young firms operating in business-to-business markets in six technology-based industries. The results indicate that customer portfolio size has an inverse U-shaped relationship to the number of new products developed and that the more relationally embedded the customer set, the more new products the firm develops. Dependence stemming from revenue concentration has a negative impact on new product output. Furthermore, the authors find that relational embeddedness can compens...
Mitochondrial involvement in the point of no return in neuronal apoptosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) contributes to development, maintenance, and pathology in various tissues, including the nervous system. Many molecular, biochemical, and genetic events occur within cells undergoing PCD. Some of these events are incompatible with long-term cell survival because they have irreversible, catastrophic consequences. The onset of such changes marks the point of no return, a decisive regulatory event termed 'the commitment-to-die.' In this review, we discuss events that underlie the commitment-to-die in nerve growth factor-deprivation-induced death of sympathetic neurons. Findings in this model system implicate the mitochondrion as an important site of regulation for the commitment-to-die in the presence or absence of caspase inhibition.
Data link considerations for GPS based airport surface traffic management systems

The author discusses the communications capability for airport surface traffic management systems, and, more specifically, the communications capability for those systems that derive at least a portion of their position and velocity information by processing transmissions from the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. Both communications requirements and communications subsystem design are considered. Attention is given to top level communication requirements including such issues as the types of communication that are necessary, the value and benefits to be derived from communications, and the key design drivers. Communication requirements are then discussed in somewhat more detail, and an attempt is made to quantify requirements wherever possible. In addition, the key system design issues and alternatives are briefly explained. Alternative communication system implementations that appear to have promise with respect to meeting the stated requirements are listed. A spread spectrum data link alternative for the data link implementation is highlighted. >
A sensitive, type-specific, fluorogenic probe assay for detection of human papillomavirus DNA.

A simple method for the detection of a number of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes associated with cervical cancer has been developed. The assay exploits the 5'-->3' exonucleolytic activity of Taq DNA polymerase to increase the signal from fluorescent dyes by releasing them from genotype-specific probes during PCR. The probes are oligonucleotides with a 5' reporter dye (6-carboxyfluorescein), a quencher dye (6-carboxy-tetramethyl-rhodamine), and a phosphate-blocked 3' end. In the intact probe, the proximity of the reporter and the quencher results in suppression of reporter fluorescence by Forster-type energy transfer (V. T. Forster. Ann. Phys. 2:55-75, 1948). If the probe is bound downstream of either primer during PCR, the 5'-->3' exonucleolytic activity of Taq polymerase degrades it, allowing the reporter to diffuse away from the quencher, which results in an increase in reporter fluorescence. The increased fluorescence is directly related to the amount of target DNA and can be detected with an automated fluorometer. Probes for the L1 region of the cervical-cancer-associated HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35 were synthesized and the assays were optimized. The most sensitive assay can detect as few as two copies of HPV DNA in human cervical specimens.
An Economical Synthesis of 4‐Trimethylsilyl‐2‐Butyn‐1‐OL

2-Butyn-1-ol n-Butyllithium tert-Butyllithium Chlorotrimethylsilane Keywords: 4-trimethylsilyl-2-butyn-1-ol; 3-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne; Bronsted acid-promoted intramolecular cyclizations; Lewis acid-promoted cyclizations; polyepoxide-alkene cyclizations; exocyclic allenes
Embryonic brain expression analysis of lysophospholipid receptor genes suggests roles for s1p1 in neurogenesis and s1p1–3 in angiogenesis

Abstract In a comparison of embryonic brain expression patterns of lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor genes ( lpa 1–3 and s1p 1–5 , respectively), transcripts detected by Northern blot were subsequently localized using in situ hybridization. We found striking s1p 1 expression adjacent to several ventricles. Near the lateral ventricle, s1p 1 expression was temporally and spatially coincident with neurogenesis and overlapped with lpa 1 in the neocortical area. We also observed a widespread diffuse pattern for lpa 2–3 and a scattered punctate pattern for s1p 1–3 . The punctate pattern colocalized with vascular endothelial markers. Together, these results suggest that s1p 1 influences neurogenesis and s1p 1–3 influence angiogenesis in the developing brain.
Analysis of Polyubiquitin Conjugates Reveals That the Rpn10 Substrate Receptor Contributes to the Turnover of Multiple Proteasome Targets

The polyubiquitin receptor Rpn10 targets ubiquitylated Sic1 to the 26S proteasome for degradation. In contrast, turnover of at least one ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) substrate, CPY*, is impervious to deletion of RPN10. To distinguish whether RPN10 is involved in the turnover of only a small set of cell cycle regulators that includes Sic1 or plays a more general role in the UPS, we sought to develop a general method that would allow us to survey the spectrum of ubiquitylated proteins that selectively accumulate in rpn10 cells. Polyubiquitin conjugates from yeast cells that express hexahistidine-tagged ubiquitin (H6-ubiquitin) were first enriched on a polyubiquitin binding protein affinity resin. This material was then denatured and subjected to IMAC to retrieve H6-ubiquitin and proteins to which it may be covalently linked. Using this approach, we identified 127 proteins that are candidate substrates for the 26S proteasome. We then sequenced ubiquitin conjugates from cells lacking Rpn10 (rpn10) and identified 54 proteins that were uniquely recovered from rpn10 cells. These include two known targets of the UPS, the cell cycle regulator Sic1 and the transcriptional activator Gcn4. Our approach of comparing the ubiquitin conjugate proteome in wild-type and mutant cells has the resolving power to identify even an extremely inabundant transcriptional regulatory protein and should be generally applicable to mapping enzyme substrate networks in the UPS.