cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual-contrast high resolution imaging of breast cancer

This study investigated the combination of two contrast agents for ex vivo cancer detection in breast tissues. Samples were stained with molecular marker pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) conjugated with fluorescent dye Alexa532 (pHLIP–Alexa532), and intravital stain Methylene Blue (MB), and imaged with a high-resolution confocal microscope. Resulting images display cellular morphology with staining patterns mimicking Hematoxylin and Eosin histopathology and show promise for the method used as a tool for breast cancer detection in biopsies or intraoperatively.
Adult preventive vaccines with other synergistic lifestyle options: is it time to add these ancillary benefits to the overall AS management checklist?

To review the potential ancillary cardiovascular and other health impacts of compliance with general adult vaccination series in the prostate cancer active surveillance (AS) population. No previous review has been published in regard to this specific topic. Literature review of PubMed data up to December 2020 Compliance rates for adult vaccination are in the approximate anemic range of 25–50% with occasional higher rates of specific vaccines in the elderly population including annual influenza and pneumococcal prevention. Herpes zoster (HZ) and numerous other vaccine preventive illnesses are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Preliminary evidence suggests vaccine compliance could reduce overall morbidity and mortality, and adherence to heart healthy lifestyle changes and parameters could further improve vaccine efficacy and overall wellness. COVID-19 vaccine utilization and research should also continue to reinforce the direct and ancillary benefits of this entire preventive intervention category. Multiple ancillary lifestyle change recommendations could be included in the AS criteria to potentially reduce morbidity and mortality in this population, and perhaps the most unsung intervention is to improve the inadequate rates of general adult vaccination compliance and other heart healthy behavioral changes that impact their efficacy. Heart health, prostate health, and immune system health are closely interlinked.
Homelessness and discrimination among US adults: the role of intersectionality

Discrimination may contribute to experiencing homelessness. Additionally, individuals who occupy multiple marginalized statuses may be at particular risk. Identifying the relationship of discrimina...
Biological Aspects of Cancer Health Disparities.

Racial and ethnic disparities span the continuum of cancer care and are driven by a complex interplay among social, psychosocial, lifestyle, environmental, health system, and biological determinant...
Analysis of Buzz in a Supersonic Inlet

A dual-stream, low-boom supersonic inlet designed for use on a small, Mach 1.6 aircraft was tested experimentally in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (SWT) at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The tests showed that the inlet had good recovery and stable operation over large mass flow range. The inlet went into buzz at mass flows well below that needed for engine operation, and the experiments generated a wealth of data during buzz. High frequency response pressure measurements and high-speed schlieren videos were recorded for many buzz events. The objective of the present work was to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict some of the experimental data taken during buzz, compare those predictions to the experimental data, and to use both datasets to explain the physics of the buzz cycle. The calculations were done with the Wind-US CFD code using a second-order time-accurate differencing scheme and the SST turbulence model. Computed Mach number contours were compared with schlieren images, and ensemble-averaged unsteady pressures were compared to data. The results showed that the buzz cycle consisted partly of spike buzz, an unsteady oscillation of the main shock at the spike tip while the inlet pressure dropped, and partly of choked flow while the inlet repressurized. Most of the results could be explained by theory proposed by Dailey in 1954, but did not support commonly used acoustic resonance explanations.
The Characterization of Ammonium Nitrate Mini-Prills

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is commonly used as a fertilizer and is the fundamental ingredient of industrial explosives [1]. It has been observed that one of the most important factors that affect explosive performance of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil is the prills volume of porosity. The large amount of porosity identified in explosive grade AN prills allows for an absorption rate between 12 and 16 %. While, the agriculture grade ammonium nitrate prills are manufactured with an increased density and thus, have an absorption rate between 7 and 8 %. In this study, we explore an agriculture grade ammonium nitrate mini-prill, as this type of AN prill has not been characterized before. In order to determine how effective this agriculture grade prill is as an explosive, this mini-prill is compared to an explosive grade AN prill. This study observes and records its morphology and blasting performance as related to an explosive grade ammonium nitrate prill. Based upon instrumentation analysis, preliminary results indicate, as expected, that the mini-prill does have a more dense structure. Although, the decrease in fuel oil content that comes with a decrease in porosity has been observed, it demonstrates to be almost negligible as compared to the increase in velocity of detonation from the increase in charge density.
A hybrid approach to software repository retrieval: Blending faceted classification and type signatures

We present a user interface for software reuse repository that relies both on the informal semantics of faceted classification and the formal semantics of type signatures for abstract data types. The result is an interface providing both structural and qualitative feedback to a software reuser.
Oral South American blastomycosis in the United States of America. Report of a case.

Abstract A rare case of oral South American blastomycosis in a resident of the United States of America has been presented. Diagnosis was made by biopsy and by culture of the organism. Treatment consisted of local curettage, application of an iodine solution, and oral sulfamethoxazole. The lesion regressed completely, and the patient is in good health at the present writing.
Psychological Correlates of Sexual Dysfunction in Female Rectal and Anal Cancer Survivors: Analysis of Baseline Intervention Data

Abstract Introduction Sexual dysfunction represents a complex and multifactorial construct that can affect both men and women and has been noted to often deteriorate significantly after treatment for rectal and anal cancer. Despite this, it remains an understudied, underreported, and undertreated issue in the field of cancer survivorship. Aim This study examined the characteristics of women enrolled in an intervention trial to treat sexual dysfunction, and explored the relationship between sexual functioning and psychological well‐being. Methods There were 70 female posttreatment anal or rectal cancer survivors assessed as part of the current study. Participants were enrolled in a randomized intervention trial to treat sexual dysfunction and completed outcome measures prior to randomization. Main Outcomes Measures The main outcome measures are quality of life (QOL) (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC‐QLQ‐C30] and Colorectal Cancer‐Specific Module [QLQ‐CR38]), sexual functioning (Female Sexual Functioning Index), and psychological well‐being (Brief Symptom Inventory Depression/Anxiety, Impact of Events Scale‐Revised, CR‐38 Body Image). Results Women enrolled in the study intervention were on average 55 years old, predominantly Caucasian (79%), married (57%), and a median of 4 years postprimary treatment. For those reporting sexual activity at baseline (N = 41), sexual dysfunction was associated with a range of specific measures of psychological well‐being, all in the hypothesized direction. The Sexual/Relationship Satisfaction subscale was associated with all measures of psychological well‐being ( r = −0.45 to −0.70, all P Conclusions For sexually active female rectal and anal cancer survivors enrolled in a sexual health intervention, sexual dysfunction was significantly and consistently associated with specific measures of psychological well‐being, most notably Sexual/Relationship Satisfaction. These results suggest that sexual functioning may require focused assessment by providers, beyond broad QOL assessments, and that attention to Sexual/Relationship Satisfaction may be critical in the development and implementation of interventions for this cohort of patients. Philip EJ, Nelson C, Temple L, Carter J, Schover L, Jennings S, Jandorf L, Starr T, Baser R, and DuHamel K. Psychological correlates of sexual dysfunction in female rectal and anal cancer survivors: Analysis of baseline intervention data. J Sex Med 2013;10:2539–2548.
Fiscal Federalism and European Integration : Implications for Fiscal and Monetary Policies

This paper examines European economic integration in light of standard thinking about fiscal federalism. We first describe the main features of European integration, analyzing how institutions in the European Union fit the prescriptions of a federal system. We find that in some areas the European Union has already developed arrangements that fit standard views of fiscal federalism, in other areas there is gradual movement toward prescribed arrangements, and in still other areas the European Union's unique historical path may suggest some interesting new departures in the federalism literature. We try to extract some lessons from this analysis: some recommendations for Europe based on the orthodox principles of fiscal federalism, and some modifications of these orthodox principles based on the European experience.
Colonic, ureteral, and vascular injuries secondary to stick impalement in a dog

Objective – To report the surgical repair, case management, and outcome of a dog with sepsis and severe intraabdominal trauma secondary to a penetrating stick injury. Case or Series Summary – A 1.5-year-old, spayed female, mixed-breed dog was presented to the emergency service after incurring a small laceration on the medial aspect of the left pelvic limb while running in the woods. The wound was surgically explored and a primary closure achieved. The patient was discharged the same day with oral antimicrobial therapy. The following morning the dog was represented to the emergency service for acute vomiting. Abdominal radiographs were performed and demonstrated loss of serosal detail and pneumoperitoneum. An emergency celiotomy was performed and revealed distal colonic perforation, left ureteral laceration, and lacerations of the left common iliac vein. Ureteronephrectomy, as well as primary closure of the distal colonic perforation and left common iliac vein lacerations, were performed. The patient recovered and was ultimately discharged from the hospital 5 days later. Follow-up 1 year later revealed no significant physical exam or biochemical abnormalities. New or Unique Information Provided – A seemingly benign penetrating stick injury initially deemed to be superficial in nature was later demonstrated to have resulted in sepsis following severe intraabdominal trauma that included lacerations of the distal colon, left ureter, and left common iliac vein in a dog. Successful surgical management and intensive care led to a full recovery without any residual impairment noted a year later.
Towards Fully Automatic Execution Monitoring

UFO is a new application framework in which programs written in FORMAN, a declarative assertion language, are compiled into execution monitors that run on a virtual machine with extensive monitoring capabilities provided by the Alamo monitor architecture. FORMAN provides an event trace model in which precedence and inclusion relations define a DAG structure that abstracts execution behavior. Compiling FORMAN assertions into hybrid run-time/post-mortem monitors allows substantial speed and size improvements over post-mortem analyzers. The UFO compiler generates code that computes the minimal projection of the DAG necessary for a given set of assertions. UFO enables fully automatic execution monitoring of real programs. The approach is non-intrusive with respect to program source code and provides a high level of abstraction for monitoring and debugging activities. The ability to compile suites of debugging rules into efficient monitors, and apply them generically to different programs, enables long-overdue breakthroughs in program debugging.
Atmospheric Excitation of the Earth’s Rotation

Earth rotation and polar motion studies have clearly demonstrated the unprecedented accuracy achieved by the techniques of modern space geodesy. High quality estimates of the atmospheric excitation of Earth rotation and polar motion, provided by the routine analyses of global weather data for operational weather forecasting, together with the modern Earth orientation measurements, have allowed new insight into the atmospheric and non-atmospheric excitation of Earth rotation and polar motion. Recent advances are highlighted together with anticipated advances and prospects for the future.
Bacteria Responsible for Mucilage-Layer Decomposition in Kona Coffee Cherries

The predominant microbial flora present during decomposition of the mucilage layer of Kona coffee cherries were gram-negative bacteria which fermented lactose rapidly. Cultures isolated from coffee cherries under-going fermentation included species of Erwinia, Paracolobactrum, and Escherichia. Unblemished cherry surfaces and coffee plantation soil also had a microflora containing a high proportion of bacteria belonging to these three genera. Of 168 isolates tested, the 44 strains capable of demucilaging depulped coffee cherries were all members of Erwinia dissolvens. Supernatant growth medium liquids, after removal of E. dissolvens cells, actively decomposed the mucilage layer of depulped cherries.
HyPipe: a new approach for high speed circuit design

Wave pipelining improves the throughput of a circuit by exploiting the delays of combinational elements, rather than register clocks, for synchronization. We proposed a new design approach for high speed circuits which combines the conventional register-based pipelining with wave-pipelining. Our approach, called HyPipe, aims to take the advantages of both pipelining methods. We applied our method to 1-bit and 2-bit adder cells, which can be used as building blocks for larger size adders and multipliers. Our experimental results show that the 1-bit adder achieves the throughput of 2.4 billion additions/second and the 2-bit adder achieves 2.2 billion additions/second for TSMC 0.25 /spl mu/m technology. Furthermore, they have potential for even higher throughputs provided registers are able to operate faster.
Spinal varicosities complicated by pregnancy

B A c K AC H E with radiculitis is not an unusual complaint in pregnancy and is usually of postural origin. We present here a patient with backache of unusual origin, and its complications in pregnancy. This gravida iv, para iii 19-year-old housewife was initially seen at 30 weeks’ gestation complaining of low bachache and “pain in the left leg.” A positive Lasegue sign without other findings was present. She was not seen again for that pregnancy, but stated that the symptom progressed to involve her right leg and walking became difficult. All symptoms regressed postpartum. When she was next seen, Nov. 12, 1963, she complained of “weak” bones and legs. Hyperreflexia was found. The following day she was admitted with a history of 2 weeks of dull pain in the left leg to the foot and 2 days of severe pain bilaterally. For approximately 12 hours there had been “paralysis” and extreme pain circumanally. She screamed with pain on any movement. The blood pressure was 110/60; pulse, 94; fundus at 28 cm.; the fetal heart tones were normal, and the fetus was in vertex presentation. Pretibial edema was present. Marked lower extremity, inguina1, and vulvar varicosities were found. Extreme agitation prevented adequate neurological evaluation. However, hyperesthesia below T-,, was re-
Exhibiting Patriotism: Creating and Contesting Interpretations of American Historic Sites

Teresa Bergman's book, Exhibiting Patriotism: Creating and Contesting Interpretations of American Historic Sites, highlights the simultaneous allure and mutability of representations of U.S. citize...
First Quantitative Data on the Diet of the Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus)

PRIMEROS DATOS CUANTITATIVOS SOBRE LA DIETA DE PHALCOBOENUS MEGALOPTERUS Describimos la dieta de Phalcoboenus megalopterus mediante el analisis de egagropilas, en tres reservas contiguas del noroeste argentino. En nuestra area de estudio, contrariamente a lo reportado para Chile y Peru, P. megalopterus consume preferentemente carrona, cuya fuente son carcasas de camelidos sudamericanos, guanacos (Lama guanicoe) y vicunas (Vicugna vicugna). Los invertebrados (coleopteros, ortopteros y escorpiones) representan solo una pequena fraccion de la dieta de esta especie. Nuestros datos sugieren que, en el noroeste argentino, la abundancia de P. megalopterus podria estar ligada a la disponibilidad de carcasas de camelidos. [Traduccion de los autores editada]
On the conversion of mass eigenstates

In this paper we consider a stable particle with flavor mixing. We demonstrate that incoherent conversion of heavy mass eigenstates into light ones and vice versa can occur, as a result of elastic scattering. This effect is nontrivial for non-relativistic particles, for which the standard flavor oscillation ceases rapidly due to incoherence. We also prove that if a heavy state is bound in a gravitational potential and a light state is unbound, the mass-state conversion can lead to gradual "evaporation" of the mixed particle from the potential. A number of implications, ranging from the cosmic neutrino background distortions to scenarios of cold dark matter evaporation from halos, are addressed.
Early Events in Development of Streptococcal Competence

Appropriately timed use of trypsin, which inactivates competence factor (CF), and chloramphenicol made feasible a separation and characterization of early events in the development of competence in group H streptococci. Step 1 is production of CF, which is inseparable in time from the concomitant release of free CF into the medium. The producing cells, which are noncompetent at the time, also accumulate cell-bound CF (CB-CF) from the onset of CF synthesis. In step 2, the released CF is adsorbed or taken up in a trypsin-insensitive state by the producing cells and is not destroyed as previously suggested. This occurs rapidly in a transformation-supporting (complete) medium. The rapid decline in free CF is concomitant with the rise in CB-CF, and a maximal increase in the latter does not occur in cultures exposed to trypsin, which inactivates any trypsin-accessible CF. The rapid increase in CB-CF (above trypsin-treated levels) leads to step 3, the induction of competence. All of these steps probably require protein synthesis, because each is inhibited by chloramphenicol. The data also indicate that only free CF that is subsequently adsorbed, and which thus leads to maximal levels of trypsin-insensitive CB-CF, is the effective inducer of competence in either CF-producing (Challis) or CF-nonproducing (Wicky) cultures. The processes induced by the newly bound CF are not fully understood, but certain new properties, previously described by others as indicating competence, were measured during the several steps of competence development. Cell aggregation at pH 2 appears to be related to CB-CF and can be shown before this bound CF has induced competence. The ability of cultures to autolyze maximally can be diminished by trypsin treatment of precompetent cells without affecting subsequent competence development as measured by transformation.
Induced and spontaneous neuritogenesis are associated with enhanced expression of ganglioside GM1 in the nuclear membrane

Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells can be stimulated to extend neurites with a number of agents, one of which, neuraminidase, induces terminal differentiation by a mechanism involving enhanced Ca2+ influx. Permeabilization of such differentiated cells with saponin and treatment with cholera toxin B subunit linked to horseradish peroxidase revealed intense staining of the nuclear membrane, indicating the presence of GM1 ganglioside. Unstimulated cells had barely detectable levels of nuclear GM1. Nuclei isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation similarly showed intense staining with fluorescently labeled cholera toxin B subunit, in contrast to nuclei from undifferentiated controls. Treatment with chloroform-methanol removed most of the fluorogenic material. Chemical analysis of such nuclei from neuraminidase-treated cells confirmed significant elevation of GM1 above control levels, along with virtual absence of markers for plasma membrane and Golgi apparatus. Cerebellar granule cells from neonatal rats revealed a similar phenomenon following spontaneous neurite outgrowth in culture.
Parental Incarceration and Child Trauma Symptoms in Single Caregiver Homes

Parental incarceration is often an adverse childhood experience that has been characterized as an enduring trauma that involves ongoing and repeated stressors. In this study we focus on the role of parental incarceration in predicting child trauma symptomology as well as key mediating family processes such as visitation and children’s caregiving arrangement. We utilize a comparison group design of single caregiver and child dyads (N = 45) among similarly disadvantaged single caregiver families to first determine mean differences in child trauma symptomology. Findings revealed that both child and caregiver reports of child trauma symptomology were significantly higher in single caregiver families impacted by parental incarceration and these levels were in the clinical range (parent reports) or approached the clinical range (child reports). We then tested a mediational model examining family processes linked to child trauma symptomology. Parental incarceration was associated with more serious visitation problems (than other contexts of visitation to a nonresident parent) and children being raised by someone other than a biological parent. Parental incarceration also significantly predicted parent and child reports of child trauma symptoms. The effect of parental incarceration on parent reports of child trauma symptomology was fully mediated by the quality of children’s visitation suggesting the importance of developing interventions aimed at alleviating child distress during visits in correctional settings.
Activation pathway of Src kinase reveals intermediate states as targets for drug design

Unregulated activation of Src kinases leads to aberrant signalling, uncontrolled growth and differentiation of cancerous cells. Reaching a complete mechanistic understanding of large-scale conformational transformations underlying the activation of kinases could greatly help in the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of these pathologies. In principle, the nature of conformational transition could be modelled in silico via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, although this is very challenging because of the long activation timescales. Here we employ a computational paradigm that couples transition pathway techniques and Markov state model-based massively distributed simulations for mapping the conformational landscape of c-src tyrosine kinase. The computations provide the thermodynamics and kinetics of kinase activation for the first time, and help identify key structural intermediates. Furthermore, the presence of a novel allosteric site in an intermediate state of c-src that could be potentially used for drug design is predicted.
Negro Self-Esteem in a Transitional Society

The focus of the study was on the self-esteem of Negro adolescents in Southern communities where desegregation of public facilities and schools is occurring. The major emphasis was Negro self-evaluation in a period of increasing social and academic integration. The Tennessee Self Concept Scale, a standardized Likert-type instrument, was administered to 134 Negro and 176 Caucasian senior high school students. On 12 of 17 self-evaluation dimensions the Negro subjects obtained scores significantly below those of whites and on all 17 scales obtained mean scores below the corresponding normative means. Generally, the findings indicated that the Negro students were low in self-confidence, defensive in their self-descriptions, confused concerning their self-identity, and similar in their performance to neurotic and psychotic individuals. Negro students attending integrated schools did not differ significantly from those in segregated settings.
Sub-barrier Fusion Enhancement in Neutron-Rich Radioactive 132Sn on 64Ni

Evaporation residue cross sections have been measured using neutron-rich radioactive 132Sn beams incident on a 64Ni target in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier. This is the first experiment using accelerated 132Sn beams to study nuclear reaction mechanisms. The average beam intensity was 2x 104 particles per second and the smallest cross section measured was less than 5 mb. A large sub-barrier fusion enhancement was observed compared to evaporation residue cross sections for 64Ni on stable even Sn isotopes. The enhancement cannot be accounted for by a simple barrier shift due to the change in nuclear sizes. Coupled-channel calculations including inelastic excitation underpredict the measured cross sections below the barrier. The presence of several neutron transfer channels with large positive Q values suggests that multinucleon transfer may play an important role in enhancing the fusion of 132Sn and 64Ni.
Solid phase urea synthesis: An efficient and direct conversion of Fmoc-protected amines to ureas

Abstract An efficient “one-pot” conversion of Fmoc-protected amino acids to the ureas in the solid phase is described. This methodology uses McSiCl3 in the presence of Et3N to cleave Fmoc-protected amines directly to their isocyanates. This transformation has been demonstrated on some F'moc-protected amino acids. Trapping of the resin-bound isocyanate by the addition of amines generates the desired amino acid ureas in high HPLC purities.
Ribonucleoprotein dynamics connects mRNA networks with drug mechanisms.

Mol Syst Biol. 5: 289 Beyond transcription, gene expression is potently controlled through processes that affect pre‐mRNA splicing and maturation, as well as mRNA transport, turnover, storage, and translation. These events are tightly regulated by two main classes of trans ‐binding factors, RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) and non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) (Moore, 2005; Mattick and Makunin, 2006). RBPs bind to target transcripts and influence virtually all facets of post‐transcriptional gene expression; ncRNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), mainly lower the translation and stability of target mRNAs (Keene, 2007; Bartel, 2009). As mRNAs transit through the cell, their association with RBPs and miRNAs determines their recruitment to cellular sites such as processing bodies (PBs), stress granules (SGs), polysomes, the exosome, and the RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC), each specialized in distinct aspects of mRNA metabolism (Filipowicz et al , 2008). In this manner, ribonucleoprotein (RNP) interactions directly affect the types, location, and abundance of expressed proteins. In a report published in Molecular Systems Biology , Mukherjee et al (2009) use quantitative RNA dynamics to present a fundamentally new approach to study global RNP networks. The study bridges two key and reciprocal concepts in post‐transcriptional gene regulation. The first is that each individual mRNA is capable of associating with numerous RBPs. Several studies have shown that RBPs can interact combinatorially on a single mRNA and thereby alter its post‐transcriptional fate and ultimately the levels of expressed protein; for example, an RBP can compete or cooperate with another RBP for binding to a shared target mRNA, while miRNAs can promote or prevent the action of RBPs on a given mRNA (e.g., Lal et al , 2004; George and …
Advancements in hardware-in-the-loop simulations at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

A greater awareness of and increased interest in the use of modeling and simulation (M&S) has been demonstrated at many levels within the Department of Defense (DoD) and all the Armed Services agencies in recent years. M&S application is regarded as a viable means of lowering the life cycle costs of missile defense and tactical missile weapon system acquisition beginning with studies of new concepts of war-fighting through user training and post-deployment support. The Aviation and Missile Research, Engineering, and Development Center (AMRDEC) of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) has an extensive history of applying all types of M&S to weapons system development and has been a particularly strong advocate of hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) simulation and test for many years. Over the past 40 years AMRDEC has developed and maintained the Advanced Simulation Center (ASC) which provides world-class, high fidelity, specific and dedicated HWIL simulation and test capabilities for the Army's missile defense and tactical missile program offices in both the infrared and radio frequency sensor domains. The ASC facility uses M&S to conduct daily HWIL missile simulations and tests to support flight tests, missile/system development, independent verification and validation of weapon system embedded software and simulations, and missile/system performance against current and future threat environments. This paper describes the ASC role, recaps the past year, describes the HWIL components and advancements, and outlines the path-ahead for the ASC in terms of both missile and complete system HWIL simulations and test with a focus on the imaging infrared systems.
Clonal Acquisition of Inhibitory Ly49 Receptors on Developing NK Cells Is Successively Restricted and Regulated by Stromal Class I MHC

Summary cluded that NK cells expressing one Ly49 receptor could go on to express others in a cumulative fashion. We report an in vitro stroma-dependent system for The finding that Ly49 receptors are expressed in a the clonal growth and differentiation of natural killer cumulative and successive fashion by developing NK (NK) cells from lymphoid-restricted bone marrow pro- cells fulfills a prediction of the “sequential expression genitors or bone marrow NK1.11 cells. Strikingly, the model” of NK cell development. This model proposed potential to initiate expression of specific Ly49 recep- that the successive accumulation of different Ly49 retors becomes increasingly restricted as NK cells de- ceptors by developing NK cells is terminated once the velop. Moreover, when NK cells express a Ly49 recep- cell expresses receptors with sufficient avidity for self tor specific for stromal cell class I MHC, they are less MHC class I molecules (Held and Raulet, 1997; Raulet likely to initiate expression of another Ly49 receptor in et al., 1997). Independent evidence shows that the reperthe clonal culture system. The results indicate multiple toire of inhibitory receptors expressed by NK cells is roles for stromal cells in NK cell development, in sup- influenced by the MHC class I alleles expressed in an porting clonal growth, in initiation of Ly49 receptor animal. Specifically, NK cells expressing multiple Ly49 expression, and in formation of the NK cell receptor receptors specific for an MHC ligand are less frequent repertoire. in mice that contain the ligand than in mice that do not. For example, Ly49A 1 G2 1 double-positive NK cells were
Crucible Material for the Growth of Palladium Single Crystals

INVESTIGATIONS in this laboratory of the catalytic activity of palladium indicated that it was desirable, during a particular measurement, to limit the active surface to a single crystallographic plane. For such experiments large single crystals of palladium were required. This resulted in the development of a crystal-growing apparatus (to be described elsewhere) in which the Bridgman1 method was utilized, and in an investigation of crucible materials suitable for containing molten palladium. The results of this latter work are reported here.
Bone and body composition analyzed by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in clinical and nutritional evaluation of young patients with Cystic Fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

Background the improved general therapy has led to reduced morbidity and mortality from Cystic Fibrosis (CF), and bone status may have a potentially greater clinical impact. We investigated the correlation between the severity of the clinical condition, bone status and body composition parameters, in a group of children and young adults with CF.
Rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium using immunomagnetic separation and immuno-optical sensing method

Abstract An immuno-optical absorption method with immunomagnetic separation was developed for rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium. The magnetic microbeads coated with anti-Salmonella were used to separate Salmonella from sample solutions by the specific antibody–antigen interaction at room temperature for 30 min. Then the “sandwich” complexes (anti-Salmonella coated on to magnetic microbeads, Salmonella, anti-Salmonella labeled with alkaline phosphatase) were formed by binding the microbeads, which captured Salmonella from sample solution, with alkaline phosphatase-labeled anti-Salmonella at room temperature for 30 min. The “sandwich” complexes were separated from the solution by a magnetic field and incubated in p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate at 37°C for 30 min to produce p-nitrophenol by the enzymatic hydrolysis. The cell number of Salmonella was detected by measuring absorbance of p-nitrophenol at 404 nm. A linear response was found between 2.2×104 and 2.2×106 colony forming units (CFU) ml−1. The whole detection process could be completed within 2 h.
New functionalized TCNQ and perylene derivatives suitable as precursors for donor-sigma-acceptor materials

Abstract The research described herein is part of an interdisciplinary project concerned with the synthesis of donor-sigma-acceptor materials and the evaluation of their electrical properties on electrode surfaces. Two perylene derivatives have been prepared in which the polycyclic electron-donor was substituted on the nitrogen atom of the carbamate ester and an electron acceptor moiety was bound through the ester oxygen atom. The p-nitrophenylethyl and ethoxy-TCNQ 3-perylenyl carbamates were isolated and purified and identified by their spectral properties. Fluorescence lifetime measurements on the latter ester have been determined. Also prepared for the first time, was 6-hydroxymethyl-9,9,10,10-tetracyanonaphthoquinodimethane. This new electron acceptor was characterized in the normal manner and was then examined by cyclic voltammetry and X-ray crystallography. It was a more planar molecule compared with the same derivative of the tricyclic tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane, but still not coplanar.
Characterization of the coral allene oxide synthase active site with UV-visible absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: evidence for tyrosinate ligation to the ferric enzyme heme iron

Coral allene oxide synthase (AOS), a hemoprotein with weak sequence homology to catalase, is the N-terminal domain of a naturally occurring fusion protein with an 8R-lipoxygenase. AOS converts 8R-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid to the corresponding allene oxide. The UV--visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra of ferric AOS and of its cyanide and azide complexes, and the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of native AOS (high-spin, g = 6.56, 5.22, 2.00) and of its cyanide adduct (low-spin, g = 2.86, 2.24, 1.60) closely resemble the corresponding spectra of bovine liver catalase (BLC). These results provide strong evidence for tyrosinate ligation to the heme iron of AOS as has been established for catalases. On the other hand, the positive circular dichroism bands in the Soret region for all three derivatives of ferric AOS are almost the mirror image of those in catalase. In addition, the cyanide affinity of native AOS (K(d) = 10 mM at pH 7) is about 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of BLC. Thus, while these results conclusively support a common tyrosinate-ligated heme in AOS as in catalase, significant differences exist in the interaction between their respective heme prosthetic groups and protein environments, and in the access of small molecules to the heme iron.
Revision of tissue-maximum ratio and scatter-maximum ratio concepts for cobalt 60 and higher energy x-ray beams

The concept of tissue-maximum ratios (TMR) as a basis of dose computations has posed problems when applied to a whole range of clinically used megavoltage beams. Another problem is the definition of scatter-maximum ratio (SMR) which assumes a value of zero at the depth of maximum dose. This paper describes new methods of measuring collimator and phantom scatter correction factors. The definitions of TMR and SMR are modified in order to compute phantom scatter at any depth, including depth of maximum dose. The revised concept is basic and general enough that it can be applied to x-ray beams of any energy fields of any shape and isocentric as well as non-isocentric modes of treatment.
Hermeneutics as an approach to science: Part II

A broadly conceived attempt is initiated here to extend hermeneutic philosophy to the understanding of natural science, with a special interest in the significance of this for education. After a brief discussion of several current problems to be addressed, a general outline is given of the evolution of hermeneutics in comparison with the evolution of the philosophy of science. The main thrust of this paper, however, is to show how the ‘ontological’ version of hermeneutics, developed in various ways by H.G. Gadamer and others, describes rather closely features of scientific activity neglected by most philosophies of science and of education. To this end, the paper focuses especially on the biologist Barbara McClintock.
Biostratigraphic and Paleologic Study of Midway Foraminifera Along Tehuacana Creek, Limestone County, Texas: ABSTRACT

The Midway group of Texas, a predominantly shale, sandy shale, and sandy limestone section of Paleocene age, was deposited in an open sea whose depth fluctuated between very shallow and deep. This concept is based on a study of samples form Tehuacana Creek, Limestone County, in east-central Texas. The interval sampled extends upward for 278 feet from the Cretaceous-Paleocene contact. Lithologic examination revealed a complete cycle of deposition, with a basal glauconitic sand overlain successively by sandy shale, sandy limestone or calcareous sandstone, glauconitic sand, and shale. The foraminiferal content indicates that the very lowest beds of the Midway (Littig member of Kincaid formation) are marine, not littoral, probably mid-neritic to outer neritic. Seemingly the unconformity between this section and the Cretaceous developed without the latter being exposed subaerially. Biostratigraphic and paleoecologic interpretation demonstrates that the shales and sandy shales of the lower part of the succeeding Pisgah member were deposited in water deeper than 200 meters. As the water became more shallow, sands and calcareous muds interbedded with sands of the upper Pisgah and Tehuacana member were deposited. This shallow-water environment favored an abundant growth of a few species of Foraminifera. The Mexia member (lower unit of Wills Point formation) represents a radual return to a deeper-water environment characterized initially by a glauconitic sand followed by glauconitic muds and a rich fauna of both deep and shallow-water species. The dark pyritic muds of the upper part of the Mexia member were deposited in deep water (more than 200 meters). The fauna was rich in variety of genera and species of Foraminifera but poor in number of individuals. The Midway group of Texas (Danian) has been included in the Globigerina compressa-daubjergensis zone by Loeblich and Tappan. An analysis of the distribution of Foraminifera showed that 4 zonules can be established at this locality. They are, from the base upward: 4. Marginulina tuberculata (Plummer) zonule 3. Polymorphina cushmani Plummer zonule 2. Discorbis newmanae Plummer zonule 1. Alabamina midwayensis Brotzen limbata (Plummer) zonule. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2517------------
Preventing transformer saturation in bi-directional dual active bridge buck-boost DC/DC converters

In switch-mode power electronic converters, DC offset of the magnetizing flux in the isolation transformer can cause saturation. In typical single-ended dc/dc converters, this is handled using a current loop which ensures that the average current in the winding is zero. For bi-directional dc/dc converters with active bridges on both sides, there exists a danger of impressing dc offsets from both sides, creating significant issues in terms of preventing transformer saturation. This paper demonstrates the issue for the Dual Active Bridge Buck Boost converter (DAB3). The paper also presents a control strategy for avoiding such saturation, eliminating DC currents on both sides, while realizing full converter control. The paper presents simulation results to prove the proposed control technique.
971–59 The Effect of the Virtual Dynamic Range on Measured Microbubble Transit Rate: An Experimental Evaluation

The virtual dynamic range (VDR) of an echo (2DE) system vis-a-vis the relationship between microbubble concentration and videointensity is set at the upper level by the microbubble concentration at which the system saturates and at the lower level by the concentration at which microbubbles are detected. To test the hypothesis that the VDR of a system influences the microbubble transit rate, we performed experiments using three 2DE systems: Biosound-ND256 (BS). General Electric RT5000 (GE), and Hewlett Packard Sonos 1500 (HP). For the in-vitro experiment, we imaged a segment of a vein which was immersed in a saline bath. Flowthrough this system was set to 8 different levels using a roller pump. At each flow, Albunex ® (Molecular Biosystems) was injected into the tubing over 0.1 sec and images of the vein were acquired using all three 2DE systems. Radiolabeled red blood cells (RBCs) were also injected at each stage and their time-activity curve through the vein was recorded using a miniature Csl2 probe. For the in-vivo experiment. we imaged the LAD bed of a dog in whom the LAD was perfused with blood from the carotid artery and flow to the LAD was set to 6 different levels with a roller pump. At each flow, 0.5–1 ml Albunex ® was injected into the LAD and 2DE images were obtained using all three 2DE systems. In addition, RBC transit rate was also obtained at each flow rate. Myocardial transit rates were derived after background-subtraction. The relation between RBC and microbubble transit rate in-vitro was excellent (r g 0.95) for all three 2DE systems. While the regression lines for the BS and GE systems were close to the line of identity, there was a systematic overestimation of transit rate using the HP system by two-fold. The relation between RBC and microbubble transit rate was also very good in-vivo (r g 0.90). However, the only system that did not overestimate myocardial transit rate was the BS; the HP system demonstrated the greatest overestimation. In the in-vitro experiment, where background is minimal, only the HP system overestimated microbubble transit rate because of its narrow VDR. In the in-vivo experiment, where myocardial background is considerable and thus the VDR is further reduced, both HP and GE systems overestimated microbubble transit rate. The microbubble transit rate remained unaffected only for the BS system. Thus, the VDR of 2DE systems greatly influence the measured transit rate of microbubbles through the myocardium.
Efficient out-of-core sorting algorithms for the Parallel Disks Model

In this paper, we present efficient algorithms for sorting on the Parallel Disks Model (PDM). Numerous asymptotically optimal algorithms have been proposed in the literature. However, many of these merge based algorithms have large underlying constants in the time bounds, because they suffer from the lack of read parallelism on the PDM. The irregular consumption of the runs during the merge affects the read parallelism and contributes to the increased sorting time. In this paper, we first introduce a novel idea called the dirty sequence accumulation that improves the read parallelism. Next, we show analytically that this idea can reduce the number of parallel I/O's required to sort the input close to the lower bound of @W(log"M"B(NM)). We verify experimentally our dirty sequence idea with the standard R-Way merge and show that our idea can reduce the number of parallel I/Os to sort on the PDM significantly.
A transformed murine Leydig cell line expresses the ETA receptor subtype.

We recently demonstrated that transformed murine Leydig cells (MA-10) responded to endothelin-1 (ET-1) via increased steroidogenesis. This study addresses the endothelin receptor subtype present on this cell line and whether or not the cells produce ET-1. The expression of the preproendothelin-1 (PPET-1) gene was investigated by Northern blot analysis, and PPET-1 mRNA was found to be <0.2% of that present in pulmonary endothelial cells. The medium from MA-10 cells, maintained under serum-free conditions, was analyzed by radio-immunoassay to determine immunoreactive-ET-1 production and ET-1 levels were found to be below the sensitivity of the assay (<10 pg/ml). The data from competitive binding experiments with [125I]ET-1 and unlabeled ET-1, ET-3 and receptor subtype selective ligands yielded a single class of high affinity binding sites with ETA receptor subtype characteristics. The results of this study demonstrate that MA-10 cells possess the ETA receptor subtype but do not produce significant quantities of ET-1 under basal conditions.
Effects of Chronic Right Ventricular Volume and Pressure Loading on Left Ventricular Performance

The effects of chronic right ventricular (RV) distension on left ventricular (LV) function were assessed in dogs 3 weeks after pressure and volume loading of the RV had been produced by the emplacement of a constricting band around the pulmonary artery and the creation of tricuspid insufficiency. This resulted in ascites, RV hypertrophy and dilatation, an increase in RV end-diastolic pressure (EDP), and a reduction of RV and LV norepinephrine concentrations. Peak LV pressure, wall stress, and dp/dt were measured during isovolumic beats at LVEDP's of 1 to 20 mm Hg, and comparisons at matched EDP's were made among the normal, sham-operated, and RV stressed dogs. Under these circumstances, LV function appeared to be depressed appreciably. The effects of RV volume loading on the pressure-volume curve of the LV in the potassium-arrested heart were assessed in a separate group of dogs. The pressure-volume curve of the LV was shifted so that any given LV volume was associated with a higher LV pressure. Thus, whe...
The Effects of a Life Review Program on Disorientation, Social Interaction and Self-Esteem of Nursing Home Residents.

This study examined the effects on veteran and novice participants of a life review program designed for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease or severe cognitive disfunction. Using a pre-post test experimental design, veterans, novices and the control group were tested for changes in disorientation, social interaction, and self-esteem. The results confirm the findings of an earlier study [1] that there is an impact of the Life Review Program on level of disorientation, social interaction and life review. There is some evidence to suggest that the improvements may be somehow stored in memory and triggered when the program is repeated.