cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Composition as Identity Does Not Entail Universalism

Composition as Identity is the view that, in some sense, a whole is numerically identical with its parts. Compositional universalism is the view that, whenever there are some things, there is a whole composed of those things. Despite the claims of many philosophers, these views are logically independent. Here, I will show that composition as identity does not entail compositional universalism.
"Decision"-Making in Bacteria: Chemotactic Response of Escherichia coli to Conflicting Stimuli

Motile bacteria presented simultaneously with both attractant and repellent respond to whichever one is present in the more effective concentration. Apparently bacteria have a processing mechanism that compares opposing signals from the chemoreceptors for positive and negative taxis, sums these signals up, and then communicates the sum to the flagella.
A process-oriented perspective of IS success: Examining the impact of IS on operational cost

Abstract Effective measurement of information system (IS) success continues to be a top concern for both practitioners and researchers. Labeled the “productivity paradox”, previous attempts to quantify the benefits of IS have often resulted in inconclusive or inconsistent results. The present study contributes to IS success research through the development and empirical testing of a process-oriented model of IS success. Using an operational perspective and combining primary and secondary measures, this study examines the influence of lower-level intangible IS and information technology (IT) benefits on higher-level financial measures. Additionally, we introduce IS plan quality as an antecedent to the model's input variables. Primary survey data from CIOs of primarily Fortune 2000 size firms are combined with secondary data, total operational cost, from Compustat to facilitate the examination of the IS benefits. This study also addresses shortcomings cited in other studies that might have contributed to the productivity paradox by including control variables in the model, defining a research perspective—the operational success perspective—and clearly articulating the level of analysis as the organizational level. The results supported a process-oriented view of the benefits from IS and showed how the effects of IS along a path can lead to better organizational performance, in this case, lower overall costs. These results are discussed and future research implications are presented.
Development of a composite structure hypersonic parachute.

ERE is considerable interest in the use of parachutes -Ifor retardation and recovery of satellites and other reentry bodies with deployment required at Mach numbers of 4 to 10. At these Mach numbers, aerodynamic heating effects on flexible materials become the primary problem. Nylon melts at 460°F and Nomex loses strength rapidly above 600°F. Metal fabrics have been considered, but they are expensive to manufacture and construct into a decelerator shape, as well as being hard to pack and requiring a relatively large pack volume. New laminated-construction techniques have been investigated by Sandia Laboratory over the last 4 years by windtunnel testing of 2-in.-wide ribbon structures, edgewise to a ap d
Optical microplates for photonic high throughput screening of algal photosynthesis and biofuel production

Biological systems respond not only to chemical stimuli (drugs, proteins) but also to physical stimuli (light, heat, stress). Though there are many high throughput tools for screening chemical stimuli, no such tool exists for screening of physical stimuli. This paper presents a novel instrument for photonic high throughput screening of photosynthesis, a light-driven bioprocess. The optical microplate has a footprint identical to a standard 96 well plate, and it provides temporal and intensity control of light in each individual well. Intensity control provides 128 dimming levels (7-bit resolution), with maximum intensity 120 mE/cm2. Temporal modulation, used for studying dynamics and regulation of photosynthesis, can be as low as 10 μs. We used photonic screening for high throughput studies of algal growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency, using the model organism Dunaliella tertiolecta, a lipid producing algae of interest in biofuel production. Due to the ability to conduct 96 studies in parallel, experiments that would require 2 years using conventional tools can be completed in 1 week. This instrument opens up novel high throughput protocols for photobiology and the growing field of phenomics.
More cranks and t-cores

Dedicated to George Szekeres on the occasion of his 90th BirthdayIn 1990, new statistics on partitions (called cransk) were found which combinatorially prove Ramanujan's congruences for the partition function modulo 5, 7, 11 and 25. The methods are extended to find cranks for Ramanujan's partition congruence modulo 49. A more explicit form of the crank is given for the modulo 25 congruence.
Ground-state of the single impurity Anderson model with correlated conduction electrons

Utilizing the nonperturbative Lanczos procedure, we study the ground-state spectrum of the Single-Impurity Anderson Model. An additional term is added to the Hamiltonian which represents a Coulomb-repulsion between the conduction electrons. The ground-state energy as well as the singlet-triplet energy is calculated in this strongly interacting system. Our results are consistent with those of Fermi-liquid theory which predicts a renormalization of the low energy properties of the system upon introduction of local, repulsive conduction electron interactions.
Outpatient use of anticoagulants, rate-controlling drugs, and antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation.

Background The first clinical practice guidelines for management of atrial fibrillation (AF) were published in 2001. We explored the use of anticoagulants, rate-controlling drugs, and antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with AF during the 4 years surrounding publication of these guidelines. Methods Mentions of warfarin, β-blockers, digoxin, diltiazem, verapamil, and all class I and class III antiarrhythmic drugs made by US office-based physicians during patient visits for AF between October 1999 and September 2003 were evaluated using the IMS Health National Disease and Therapeutic Index (Plymouth Meeting, PA). Medication use by patient age, sex, and physician specialty was explored. Trends in use during the study period were estimated. Results Warfarin was mentioned in an average of 37% of all AF-related visits across the observation period, with no statistically significant change over time. Digoxin was the most commonly mentioned rate-controlling drug in 23% of patient visits, followed by β-blockers in 11% and calcium-channel blockers in 8%. Over the study period, mentions of digoxin significantly decreased, and mentions of β-blockers significantly increased. Mentions of antiarrhythmic drugs were reported in an average of 12% of patient visits, with no significant change over the study period. Conclusions Observed trends in use of digoxin, β-blockers, and class Ia antiarrhythmic drugs were consistent with evidence-based recommendations. However, only approximately one third of patient visits for AF included mentions of warfarin, even among patients aged ≥60 years. These results indicate the need for continued education and interventions, especially regarding stroke prevention, in patients with AF.
Color microscopy image segmentation using competitive learning and fuzzy Kohonen networks

Over the past decade, there has been increased interest in quantifying cell populations in tissue sections. Image analysis is now being used for analysis in limited pathological applications, such as PAP smear evaluation, with the dual aim of increasing for accuracy of diagnosis and reducing the review time. These applications primarily used gray scale images and dealt with cytological smears in which cells were well separated. Quantification of routinely stained tissue represented a more difficult problem in that objects could not be separated in gray scale as part of the background could also have the same intensity as the objects of interest. Many of the existing semiautomatic algorithms were specific to a particular application and were computationally expensive. Hence, this paper investigates the general adaptive automated color segmentation approaches, which alleviate these problems. In particular, competitive learning and the fuzzy-kohonen networks are studied. Four adaptive segmentation algorithms are compared using synthetic images and clinical microscopy slide images. Both qualitative and quantitative performance comparisons are performed with the clinical images. A method for finding the optimal number of clusters in the image is also validated. Finally the merits and feasibility of including contextual information in the segmentation are discussed along with future directions.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Experimental measurement of the radiative lifetime of NO+ (X 1Σ+, v=1, 2 and 3)

Abstract The radiative lifetimes of NO + (X 1 Σ + , v =1, 2 and 3) have been measured in a new Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT/ICR) apparatus using the monitor ion technique. Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) via the C 2 Π Rydberg state of NO was used to prepare vibrationally state-selected NO + (X, v ). Photoelectron spectroscopy experiments indicate v =2 was formed with greater than 97% purity and v =3 with greater than 91% purity, consistent with literature values of Miller and Compton which indicate good vibrational selection for v =0 and v =1. The radiative lifetimes of the NO + (X) v =1, 2 and 3 vibrational states were measured to be 90, 32 and 16 ms, respectively. Comparison is made with theory and other experiments where available.
Alternating Intensities in Band Lines

BANDS in the spectra of neutral and ionised nitrogen show unexplained alternating intensities, and the bands of helium are best interpreted if one assumes that only half the lines are observed, the alternate lines being not merely weak but missing altogether (Mecke, Zeits. f. Phys. 26, 227, 1925; 31, 709, 1925). A similar effect seems to be present in oxygen, although the interpretation is less certain. All these molecules are symmetrical, composed of two like atoms. I wish to suggest that the alternations may be connected with the well-known difficulty of assigning the proper period in quantising the rotation of a symmetrical system (Ehrenfest and Tolman, Phys. Rev. 24, 287, 1924).
Unconventional Solution: A Marketing Approach to Solving Health Literacy Disparities: In Reply

To the Editor .— We read with interest the recent report from Sanders et al1 in regard to the association between caregiver's health literacy and the use of child health services. Their finding raises an important question about the true role that health literacy plays in health outcomes. A large body of research suggests that health illiteracy does not completely account for suboptimal outcomes. For example, some studies found that illiteracy was associated with reduced knowledge about medications,2 participation in research,3 and compliance with medical regimens,4 which indicates that illiteracy might be an important factor in poor disease management. However, other researchers have failed to identify an association between illiteracy and reduced odds of …
Global Politics of Mercury Pollution: The Need for Multi-Scale Governance

This article analyses international legal and policy developments on mercury from the 1970s to the present time, and examines options for continued abatement. Multiple scientific assessments have demonstrated that mercury is an environmental pollutant that can pose a serious threat to human health and development. Currently, the international community is engaged in extensive debate about options for improved mercury governance. This article will critically examine three major policy options under discussion: the creation of a global mercury convention; the regulation of mercury under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; and the development of voluntary partnerships. It is concluded that expanded and better integrated policy efforts are needed across global, regional and local governance scales to address mercury pollution and contamination effectively.
iPLA2β overexpression in smooth muscle exacerbates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and vascular remodeling.

OBJECTIVES Calcium independent group VIA phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)β) is up-regulated in vascular smooth muscle cells in some diseases, but whether the up-regulated iPLA(2)β affects vascular morphology and blood pressure is unknown. The current study addresses this question by evaluating the basal- and angiotensin II infusion-induced vascular remodeling and hypertension in smooth muscle specific iPLA(2)β transgenic (iPLA(2)β-Tg) mice. METHOD AND RESULTS Blood pressure was monitored by radiotelemetry and vascular remodeling was assessed by morphologic analysis. We found that the angiotensin II-induced increase in diastolic pressure was significantly higher in iPLA(2)β-Tg than iPLA(2)β-Wt mice, whereas, the basal blood pressure was not significantly different. The media thickness and media∶lumen ratio of the mesenteric arteries were significantly increased in angiotensin II-infused iPLA(2)β-Tg mice. Analysis revealed no difference in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated iPLA(2)β overexpression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells promoted angiotensin II-induced [(3)H]-leucine incorporation, indicating enhanced hypertrophy. Moreover, angiotensin II infusion-induced c-Jun phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells overexpressing iPLA2β to higher levels, which was abolished by inhibition of 12/15 lipoxygenase. In addition, we found that angiotensin II up-regulated the endogenous iPLA(2)β protein in-vitro and in-vivo. CONCLUSION The present study reports that iPLA(2)β up-regulation exacerbates angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy, vascular remodeling and hypertension via the 12/15 lipoxygenase and c-Jun pathways.
The Validity of Student Evaluations of Objective Test Items

This study has used the correlation between student ratings of multiple-choice items and the point biserial correlation between the item responses and the total test score as a measure of the validity of student ratings of objective test items. Results show students are unable to distinguish discriminating multiple-choice items from non-discriminating items. However, students with knowledge of the subject area were able to distinguish discriminating items at a statistically significant level.
MassHealth Succeeds in Expanding Coverage for Adults

This study provides the first rigorous evaluation of the impacts of MassHealth, Massachusetts' ambitious effort in the late 1990s to expand coverage to the entire low-income population. We find clear evidence that MassHealth led to an expansion of insurance coverage relative to what was happening to similar populations in comparison states. The success of MassHealth provides support for the value of investing in ambitious new state efforts to find effective strategies to reach the remaining uninsured populations. While current budget shortfalls have forced many states, including Massachusetts, to scale back their expansion efforts, the current economic downturn is not permanent. Understanding the impacts of the expansion efforts in Massachusetts adds to the base of knowledge that will be critical for guiding states when the economy recovers and the resources needed for expansion again become available.
Monitoring, mitigation, and verification at sequestration sites: SEQURE technologies and the challenge for geophysical detection

Editor's note: SEQURE is a trademark of The National Energy Technology Laboratory. A critical component of the National Energy Technology Laboratory's Sequestration Program is the development of tools that can reliably monitor and quantify the amount of CO2 that leaks to the surface. One major requirement for the commercial application of geologic sequestration is accurate leak detection; i.e., leak monitoring and accurate estimation of leak volumes through continued monitoring. This is essential to assure that long-term sequestration is achieved. Significant leakage from the sequestration reservoir defeats the purpose of sequestration, which is to stabilize and then reduce atmospheric concentrations of CO2 for several hundreds to thousands of years. Multiple investigators have attempted to estimate the amount of leakage that is acceptable (e.g., Pacala, 2002; Hepple and Benson, 2002; Dooley and Wise, 2002; Herzog, 2002). Their estimates vary considerably, and range from 1% to 0.01% per annum which leads to leakage of 50% of the injected CO2 volume in 70 to 7000 years, respectively.
Characterization of Recombinant Mouse Tryptophan Hydroxylase Expressed in Escherichia coli

Recombinant mouse tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) was expressed in large quantities in Escherichia coli strain MC 1061, using a bacterial expression vector, pKS, containing the full coding region of mouse TPH. Specific polyclonal antiserum to the subunit of the recombinant mouse TPH was produced in rabbit by injecting the TPH band cut from SDS-polyacrylamide slab gels. The resultant antiserum recognized a single identical protein band (MW = 54,000) from rat dorsal raphe area, pineal gland, and brain stem by Western blot analysis. The specific activity of recombinant mouse TPH obtained was equivalent to that of TPH purified from rat brain. The recombinant mouse TPH was stable for 3 days at 4 degrees C but lost 25% of the original activity for the same period at -20 degrees C. A serotonin concentration greater than 1 mM inhibited TPH activity under our assay conditions in a concentration-dependent fashion. The recombinant mouse TPH exhibited a charge isozyme corresponding to that of pineal gland TPH as applied to chromatofocusing column chromatography. Taken together, our results show that recombinant mouse TPH, expressed in large quantities in E. coli is not only enzymatically highly active but also shares many biochemical and immunochemical properties with native TPH.
Effect of elevated CO2 on interactions betwe en the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.

We measured the effect of elevated CO2 on populations of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis and on the amount of leaf damage inflicted by the thrips to one of its host plants, the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Plants grown at elevated CO2 had significantly greater aboveground biomass and C:N ratios, and significantly reduced percentage nitrogen. The number of thrips per plant was not affected by CO2 treatment, but the density of thrips (numbers per gram aboveground biomass), was significantly reduced at high CO2. Consumption by thrips, expressed as the amount of damaged leaf area per capita, was significantly greater at high CO2, and the amount of leaf area damaged by thrips was increased by 33%. However overall leaf area at elevated CO2 increased by 62%, more than compensating for the increase in thrips consumption. The net outcome was that plants at elevated CO2 had 3.6 times more undamaged leaf area available for photosynthesis than plants at ambient CO2, even though they had only 1.6 times the overall amount of leaf area. This study highlights the need for measuring the effects of herbivory at the whole-plant level and also the importance of taking herbivory into account when predicting plant responses to elevated CO2.
A self-test system architecture for reconfigurable WSI

Progress in wafer scale integration (WSI) has brought the problem of electronic system testing into the semiconductor manufacturing arena. The problem is complicated by the reduced controllability and observability implicit at the full wafer integration level. Structured methods must be employed to generate and apply tests in a hierarchical fashion at the function, chip, and system levels. The author describes a methodology which addresses these problems for both the manufacturing and field test environments. A uniform testing interface is defined for each functional chip (cell), with built-in self-test incorporated whenever possible on all new designs. Use of a standard interface will reduce test complexity and costs by allowing entire wafer probing by a common standardized probe card, irrespective of the number of different species of functional cells. Details are provided for the function (cell-), chip-, and wafer-level testing standards, as well as for the procedures to be followed at wafer level restructuring and testing. The proposed methods will allow current generation wafer restructuring methods to be applied to the next generation of WSI designs, which will require numerous cell types and increasing on-wafer complexity. >
Design, technology, and science: Sites for learning, resistance, and social reproduction in urban schools

The teaching of science through activities that emphasize design and technology has been advocated as a vehicle for accomplishing science for all students. This study was situated in an inner7-city neighborhood school populated mainly by African American students from life worlds characterized by poverty. The article explores the discourse and practices of students and three coteachers as a curriculum was enacted to provide opportunities for students to learn about the physics of motion through designing, building, and testing a model car. Some students participated in ways that led to their building viable model cars and interacting with one another in ways that suggest design and technological competence. However, there also was evidence of resistance from students who participated sporadically and refused to cooperate with teachers as they endeavored to structure the environment in ways that would lead to a deeper understanding of science. Analysis of in-class interactions reveals an untapped potential for the emergence of a sciencelike discourse and diverse outcomes. Among the challenges explored in this article is a struggle for respect that permeates the students' lives on the street and bleeds into the classroom environment. Whereas teachers enacted the curriculum as if learning was the chief goal for students, it is apparent that students used the class opportunistically to maintain and earn the respect of peers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 38: 746–767, 2001
Adaptive state feedback control of systems with actuator failures

Direct adaptive state feedback control schemes are developed for linear time-invariant plants with actuator failures characterized by the patterns that some of the plant inputs are stuck at some fixed or varying values which cannot be influenced by control action. Conditions and controller structures for achieving state model matching in the presence of actuator failures are derived. Adaptive laws are designed for updating the controller parameters when both the plant parameters and actuator failure parameters are unknown. Closed-loop stability and asymptotic state tracking are ensured.
DNA Microarray Gene Expression Profile of Marginal Zone versus Follicular B Cells and Idiotype Positive Marginal Zone B Cells before and after Immunization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Marginal zone (MZ) B cells play an important role in the clearance of blood-borne bacterial infections via rapid T-independent IgM responses. We have previously demonstrated that MZ B cells respond rapidly and robustly to bacterial particulates. To determine the MZ-specific genes that are expressed to allow for this response, MZ and follicular (FO) B cells were sort purified and analyzed via DNA microarray analysis. We identified 181 genes that were significantly different between the two B cell populations. Ninety-nine genes were more highly expressed in MZ B cells while 82 genes were more highly expressed in FO B cells. To further understand the molecular mechanisms by which MZ B cells respond so rapidly to bacterial challenge, Id-positive and -negative MZ B cells were sort purified before (0 h) or after (1 h) i.v. immunization with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae, R36A, and analyzed via DNA microarray analysis. We identified genes specifically up-regulated or down-regulated at 1 h following immunization in the Id-positive MZ B cells. These results give insight into the gene expression pattern in resting MZ vs FO B cells and the specific regulation of gene expression in Ag-specific MZ B cells following interaction with Ag.
Advance directives are associated with "good deaths" in chronic dialysis patients.

The effect of prior advance directives (AD) on the outcome when chronic dialysis patients died was evaluated in a retrospective review of consecutive deaths over a period of more than 6 yr in a large academic dialysis center. Among 182 patients who died during the period under review, 74 (41%) had previously stated their AD verbally or in writing and the prevalence of AD was highest among patients with age-related or chronically debilitating diseases. Previous statement of AD was significantly more prevalent (P < 0.001) among patients who withdrew from treatment in reconciled fashion than among patients who died suddenly and unexpectedly or who died without a reconciled decision to forego life-sustaining intervention (e.g., dialysis, intubation, emergency surgery). Further analysis shows that patients stating prior AD and patients withdrawing from treatment were most often those who made their own medical decisions ("internal" locus of decision making), rather than relying on relatives or other agents ("external" locus), and tended to be those with a definite spouse or spouse-equivalent relationship. Finally, retrospective assessment suggests that cases in which patients stated prior AD and cases in which patients withdrew from treatment were associated more frequently with a favorable outcome. It was concluded that addressing AD before a medical crisis ensues may increase the likelihood of a "good death" when complications bring the course of chronic dialysis to termination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The determination of minority carrier lifetimes in direct band‐gap semiconductors by monitoring intensity‐modulated luminescence radiation

When an extrinsic, direct band‐gap semiconductor sample is irradiated by photons of an energy higher than the energy of the band gap between valence and conduction bands, excess electron‐hole pairs are generated which, while diffusing through the sample, produce luminescence via radiative recombination. If, furthermore, the intensity of the impinging beam of photons is modulated sinusoidally, the luminescence radiation escaping from the sample will be phase shifted with respect to the original photon beam in a characteristic way. It will be shown that by measuring the phase shift at different modulation frequencies, the Shockley‐Read‐Hall lifetime of minority carriers may be ascertained. The method is nondestructive inasmuch as there is no need to fabricate p‐n junctions or Ohmic contacts, nor is it necessary to remove already existing Ohmic contacts or angle lap the surface, etc., procedures often needed when determining lifetimes with the scanning electron microscope (in which case a p‐n junction must be present).
Epeirogeny in the Southern Rocky Mountains region: Evidence and origin

The mountain peaks of the present-day Southern Rocky Mountains are the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountain system. They represent a second generation of mountains, one that originated from a different tectonic mechanism from that of the predecessor Laramide Rockies. Epeirogeny lifted the Laramide ranges in Colorado and New Mexico after their Late Cretaceous–early Cenozoic orogenic creation. The area was lifted tectonically from 1300 m to perhaps as much as 2000 m, the result of heating of the lithosphere stemming from its thinning, as well as inflation of the crust by the intrusion of extensive, relatively low density batholiths and plutons of middle Tertiary age. This uplift produced an elongate north-striking crustal swell that cuts across major structural features in the crust, including the northeast-trending fundamental sutures that resulted from assembly of the North American plate, the northwest-striking trends of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and the northeast-trending Colorado Mineral Belt. The contemporary Southern Rockies are unique in that their eastern piedmont slope is quite unlike that of other prominent orogenic mountain ranges around the globe owing to the presence of this supporting swell, or epeirogen. The lithosphere beneath the epeirogen9s summit is characterized by a coincident geoid anomaly, diminished seismic velocities in the upper mantle, and a north-trending, elevated Curie isothermal surface in the lower crust, all suggestive of elevated temperatures. Surface heat flow on the summit is complex, revealing both shallow crustal heat sources and a much deeper, more profound source that strikes north. Uplift resulting from these factors was initiated in post–middle Eocene time. At the wavelength of topographic smoothing employed here, the epeirogen9s regional topography makes it the highest general feature on the North American plate, individual mountain peak elevations, here and elsewhere, excepted. A first-order, re-leveled survey line in southern Colorado suggests that the epeirogen is still rising today.
Geometrical approach to surface wave finite frequency effects

[1] A simple geometrical result for the finite frequency effects of surface waves is derived by examining a normal mode formula in its asymptotic limit. An ellipse, determined by wavelength and locations of source and receiver, is shown to give the spread due to finite frequency effects in an analytically continued latitude coordinate. This spread has the form of the Gaussian distribution and its width is determined by the ellipse. Since this Gaussian distribution function is normalized at each distance, in the direction perpendicular to the ray path, peak values along ray path change from source to receiver, making a contrast to ray theoretical results which put equal weights along ray path. The result is valid only for laterally homogeneous earth models, but since finite frequency effects are important for low frequency waves for which lateral heterogeneity effects are less severe, this geometrical relation may be useful for tomographic studies.
Tracking Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Infection of Germinal Center B Cells In Vivo

Infection of mice with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) provides a tractable small animal model to study various aspects of persistent gammaherpesvirus infection. We have previously utilized a transgenic MHV68 that expresses enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) to identify infected cells. While this recombinant MHV68 has been useful for identifying infected cell populations by flow cytometry, it has been suboptimal for identification of infected cells in tissue sections due to the high solubility of EYFP. Efficient detection of EYFP expressed from the MHV68 genome in tissue sections requires fixation of whole organs prior to sectioning, which frequently leads to over-fixation of some cellular antigens precluding their detection. To circumvent this issue, we describe the generation and characterization of a transgenic MHV68 harboring a fusion gene composed of the EYFP coding sequence fused to the histone H2B open reading frame. Because the H2bYFP fusion protein is tightly bound in nucleosomes in the nucleus it does not freely diffuse out of unfixed tissue sections, and thus eliminates the need for tissue fixation. We have used the MHV68-H2bYFP recombinant virus to assess the location and distribution of virus infected B cells in germinal centers during the peak of MHV68 latency in vivo. These analyses show that the physical location of distinct populations of infected germinal center B cells correlates well with their surface phenotype. Furthermore, analysis of the distribution of virus infection within germinal center B cell populations revealed that ca. 70% of MHV68 infected GC B cells are rapidly dividing centroblasts, while ca. 20% have a clear centrocyte phenotype. Finally, we have shown that marking of infected cells with MHV68-H2bYFP is extended long after the onset of latency - which should facilitate studies to track MHV68 latently infected cells at late times post-infection.
Coking and activity of porous catalysts in supercritical reaction media

In this paper, a mathematical model is presented to describe coking and activity characteristics of porous catalysts in supercritical reaction mixtures. These characteristics are determined by the way in which temperature and pressure affect the simultaneous physiochemical rate processes involving the effective diffusion of reactants in the pore, coke formation, and coke extraction. For a parallel coking reaction, the model predicts that when the reaction mixture density is isothermally increased from subcritical to low-to-moderate values, the ensuing higher reaction rates and restricted diffusion lead to pore-mouth plugging and decreased catalyst effectiveness factors. At dense supercritical conditions, however, the enhanced coke solubilities in the reaction mixture alleviate pore-mouth restrictions, resulting in a recovery of catalyst activity and increased effectiveness factors. The model predicts an optimum supercritical density at which catalyst activity is maintained at a maximum value.
Predictors of survival in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive intravenous drug users.

In an ongoing prospective study of street-recruited intravenous drug users (IDUs) in Miami, Fla., 116 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected IDUs were monitored for up to 7 years. This provided an opportunity to evaluate baseline immunological parameters as potential predictors of survival among HIV-1-infected IDUs. As expected, HIV-1-infected IDUs who had an advanced stage of the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification III or IV); p24 antigenemia; human T-cell leukemia virus type 1/2 seropositivity; low CD4 counts ( 500 mg/dl), or high serum IgG (> or = 3,500 mg/dl) levels; or low proliferative responses to pokeweed mitogen (< or = 1,500 cpm) and to phytohemagglutinin (< or = 80,000 cpm) at baseline had worse survival rates. Results from multivariate Cox's models of survival showed that the baseline serum IgG level, serum IgA level, and CD4 count independently predict survival in HIV-1-infected IDUs. Cross-validation procedures verified the above-mentioned findings. These findings support the routine consideration of serum immunoglobulin levels in addition to CD4 count, especially in early evaluation of disease stage, as these evaluations may modify application of prophylaxis and treatment for HIV-1-infected IDUs. We recommend consideration of use of serum IgG and IgA as immunological markers for long-range prediction of survival in HIV-1-infected IDUs. These determinations are less onerous and more appropriate for use in field studies and financially less favored settings.
T cell clonality and the effect of photopheresis in systemic sclerosis and graft versus host disease

Photopheresis, a leukapheresis-based therapy that combines 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet-A irradiation, has been shown to be an effective treatment for advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), but also appears to be effective in certain patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). In CTCL, clinical responsiveness to photopheresis has been shown to be dependent on the presence of detectable circulating clonal T cells in peripheral blood. Herein we review recent work from our group demonstrating that circulating clonal populations of T cells are detectable in a subgroup of patients with SSc and cGVHD. Furthermore, we provide initial evidence that the presence of a T cell clone in such patients may be associated with responsiveness to photopheresis.
The Generation Time of Marrow Nucleated Erythroid Cells in 6-Day-Old and Adult Rats

SummaryThe generation time of marrow nucleated erythroid cells was estimated with a colchicine technic in adult and 6-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Extrapolation of metaphase accumulation to 100% provided comparable estimates for these age groups. Cell cycle parameters were: generation time (tG)≈ 10.5 hr: mitotic interval (tM) 40 min adult vs 60 min 6 day old; metaphase interval (tMetaphase) 31 min adult vs 53 min 6 day old. The higher erythroid mitotic index (MI) in the neonatal animal appears best explained by a longer duration of mitosis. Neonatal animals were more sensitive to the stathmokinetic effects of colchicine. The change in sensitivity to colchicine appeared to parallel the transition of neonatal to adult erythropoiesis.
Haemogregarine Specificity in Two Communities of Florida Snakes, With Descriptions of Six New Species of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) and a Possible Species of Haemogregarina (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae)

Five species of snakes in Florida, from Palm Beach County in the south and Alachua County 450 km to the north, occur in similar habitat but have distinctive Hepatozoon species characteristic of each host species. In Palm Beach County, Diadophis punctatus is host to Hepatozoon punctatus n. sp., Thamnophis sauritus sackenii to Hepatozoon sauritus n. sp., and Nerodia fasciata pictiventris to Hepatozoon pictiventris n. sp. In Alachua County, N. fasciata pictiventris is parasitized by Hepatozoon fasciatae n. sp., Seminatrix p. pygaea by Hepatozoon seminatrici n. sp., and Thamnophis s. sirtalis by Hepatozoon sirtalis n. sp. Each Hepatozoon sp. has distinctive gamonts and sporogonic characters and, in the 4 species where known, meronts. Nerodia floridana is host to Haemogregarina floridana n. sp. in both localities, with generic identification tentative, based upon presence of erythrocytic meronts. The presence of sporocysts in the proboscis of 31% of Aedes aegypti infected by H. pictiventris is the first report...
Klotho connects intermedin1–53 to suppression of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease

Vascular calcification is one of the leading causes of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Klotho protein encoded by the anti-aging gene, Klotho , and intermedin 1–53 have both been shown to protect the vasculature from calcification in CKD. The study by Chang and colleagues links Klotho and intermedin 1–53 in prevention of vascular calcification in CKD by showing that intermedin 1–53 increased renal, vascular, and plasma Klotho, and reduced vascular calcification in CKD rats. Intermedin 1–53 may be a novel therapeutic agent for CKD.
Cavitation in Hydraulic Structures: A Symposium: Nature of Cavitation

As part of the program of the Hydraulic Research Committee of the Hydraulics Division, a Subcommittee on Cavitation in Hydraulic Structures was appointed in the summer of 1942. Its first objective ...
Microzone electrophoresis of unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid using cellulose acetate strips and nigrosin dye.

A unique method of microzone electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid protein using cellulose acetate strips, nigrosin dye, and less than 0.50 μ l. of unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid is easily performed, and the results are superior to those of methods using conconcentrating technics. Albumin and globulin bind nigrosin dye equally, and the bound dye follows Beer’s law up to a concentration of 80 mg. per 100 ml. protein. Precision and accuracy are similar to those of serum protein electrophoresis. Two striking advantages of this method are that it is unnecessary to concentrate the spinal fluid, thereby eliminating protein denaturation and a tan fraction, and that only a minute quantity is needed for electrophoresis. Specimens from 300 consecutive patients having spinal fluid studies were evaluated by this technic. Abnormal electrophoretic patterns were found in patients with multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, hydrocephalus, central nervous system neoplasms, and herniated intervertebral disks. Electophoretic study of the spinal fluid proved helpful in establishing a diagnosis.
Malignant Carcinoid of the Stomach and Distal Esophagus Review of the Literature and a Case Report

The first case of a gastric carcinoid involving the distal esophagus is reported, with a brief summary of reviewed literature of gastric carcinoids. Emphasis should be made of the relatively benign nature of this malignant condition and, therefore, an aggressive surgical approach should be carried out.
Lysosomal iron modulates NMDA receptor-mediated excitation via small GTPase, Dexras1

Activation of NMDA receptors can induce iron movement into neurons by the small GTPase Dexras1 via the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1). This pathway under pathological conditions such as NMDA excitotoxicity contributes to metal-catalyzed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neuronal cell death, and yet its physiological role is not well understood. We found that genetic and pharmacological ablation of this neuronal iron pathway in the mice increased glutamatergic transmission. Voltage sensitive dye imaging of hippocampal slices and whole-cell patch clamping of synaptic currents, indicated that the increase in excitability was due to synaptic modification of NMDA receptor activity via modulation of the PKC/Src/NR2A pathway. Moreover, we identified that lysosomal iron serves as a main source for intracellular iron signaling modulating glutamatergic excitability. Our data indicates that intracellular iron is dynamically regulated in the neurons and robustly modulate synaptic excitability under physiological condition. Since NMDA receptors play a central role in synaptic neurophysiology, plasticity, neuronal homeostasis, neurodevelopment as well as in the neurobiology of many diseases, endogenous iron is therefore likely to have functional relevance to each of these areas.
Prevention of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist induced luteal regression by concurrent exogenous pulsatile gonadotropin administration in monkeys * †

We studied the effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist given in midluteal phase. Monkeys received the antagonist (n = 6), [N-Ac-D-p-Cl-Phe 1,2 ,D-Trp 3 ,D-Arg 6 ,D Ala 10 ]-GnRH: hydrochloride or vehicle (n = 5). Absent luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility, diminished progesterone (P) secretion ( P
Three-dimensional printed trileaflet valve conduits using biological hydrogels and human valve interstitial cells

Tissue engineering has great potential to provide a functional de novo living valve replacement, capable of integration with host tissue and growth. Among various valve conduit fabrication techniques, three-dimensional (3-D) bioprinting enables deposition of cells and hydrogels into 3-D constructs with anatomical geometry and heterogeneous mechanical properties. Successful translation of this approach, however, is constrained by the dearth of printable and biocompatible hydrogel materials. Furthermore, it is not known how human valve cells respond to these printed environments. In this study, 3-D printable formulations of hybrid hydrogels are developed, based on methacrylated hyaluronic acid (Me-HA) and methacrylated gelatin (Me-Gel), and used to bioprint heart valve conduits containing encapsulated human aortic valvular interstitial cells (HAVIC). Increasing Me-Gel concentration resulted in lower stiffness and higher viscosity, facilitated cell spreading, and better maintained HAVIC fibroblastic phenotype. Bioprinting accuracy was dependent upon the relative concentrations of Me-Gel and Me-HA, but when optimized enabled the fabrication of a trileaflet valve shape accurate to the original design. HAVIC encapsulated within bioprinted heart valves maintained high viability, and remodeled the initial matrix by depositing collagen and glyosaminoglycans. These findings represent the first rational design of bioprinted trileaflet valve hydrogels that regulate encapsulated human VIC behavior. The use of anatomically accurate living valve scaffolds through bioprinting may accelerate understanding of physiological valve cell interactions and progress towards de novo living valve replacements.
Influence of Organizational Learning on Trust in Strategic Supply Chains

One of critical strategies that many firms have increasingly applied to enhance a competitive advantage in the strategic supply chains is organizational learning (OL). The effects of OL on trust and cultural competitiveness are examined. Particularly, the study investigates (1) the effects of OL on trust in supply chain members and (2) the effects of trust on cultural competitiveness and (3) the moderation effect of a cultural dimension (individualism and collectivism) on the relationship between OL and trust. The study concludes with contributions and academic and managerial implications.
WebGPU: A Scalable Online Development Platform for GPU Programming Courses

The popularity of computer science classes offered through Massive Open On-line Courses (MOOCs) creates both opportunities and challenges. Programming-based classes need to provide consistent development infrastructures that are both scalable and user friendly to students. The "Heterogeneous Parallel Programming" class offered through Coursera teaches GPU programming and encountered these problems. We developed WebGPU -- an online GPU development platform -- providing students with a user friendly scalable GPU computing platform throughout the course. It has been used as the CUDA, OpenACC, and OpenCL programming environment for large Coursera courses, short-running summer schools, and traditional semester-long graduate and undergraduate courses. WebGPU has since replaced our traditional development infrastructure for the GPU classes offered at UIUC. This paper presents the original, revised, and upcoming WebGPU designs that address the requirements and challenges of offering sophisticated computing resources to a large, quickly-varying number of students.
COX-2 Inhibitors: Effects on Blood Pressure in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Background: Traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with elevated blood pressure. The effect of COX-2 inhibitors on blood pressure, however, has not been well established. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on blood pressure and whether these effects represented a class effect or specific drug differences. Methods: Patients were randomly selected from a computer-generated list of all patients actively taking a COX-2 inhibitor as of July 2001; electronic and paper medical records for these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Data collection included patient demographics, medication history, and blood pressure measurements. Results: A total of 75 patients receiving rofecoxib and 25 patients receiving celecoxib were evaluated. After initiation of rofecoxib therapy, average systolic blood pressure increased from 131.4 ′ 13.1 mmHg to 135.7 ′ 17.4 mmHg (P = 0.012). Patients started on celecoxib demonstrated an average systolic blood pressure decrease, from 136.3 ′ 23 mmHg to 129.6 ′ 21.9 mmHg (P = 0.042). No statistically significant changes in diastolic blood pressure were observed. No change in systolic blood pressure was observed in 16 celecoxib-treated patients (64%) and 29 rofecoxib-treated patients (38.7%). A total of 8 patients (8%) (1 celecoxib-treated and 7 rofecoxib-treated) experienced increases in systolic blood pressure greater than 20 mmHg during therapy. Conclusion: Blood pressure changes may be unique for each COX-2 inhibitor agent and not the result of a class effect. Blood pressure should be monitored in all patients receiving COX-2 inhibitors. Additional prospective studies that assess the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes should be conducted.