cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of integrating commercial pronunciation software into an ESL pronunciation class

This study examines the effectiveness of integrating commercial pronunciation software into an ESL pronunciation class of learners at university level. The study partially replicates Seferoglu’s (2005) research design and seeks to confirm her findings through a revised methodology. Participants in this study were 18 international graduate students from various departments of the Iowa State University in the US. Students were assigned to two experimental groups which received traditional classroom pronunciation instruction and instruction that integrated the use of commercial pronunciation software, respectively, for six weeks. A pretest and a posttest using the same picture-description task were conducted in an attempt to find changes in the students overall pronunciation quality. As measured by the ratings of comprehensibility and accentedness from six native speaker raters, the group receiving software-integrated instruction did not show significant pronunciation improvement after the treatment. Neither did the two groups show significant difference in their pretest and posttest scores. Therefore the results did not confirm Seferoglu’s findings. In addition, the students’ reflection on the instruction received was analyzed to explore which features of the two types of pronunciation instruction were considered most useful and least useful by the language learners.
Identification of Clinical Isolates of Mycobacteria with Gas-Liquid Chromatography Alone

Identification of 18 mycobacterial species was performed by analysis of profiles obtained by using gas-liquid chromatography. Organisms were saponified in methanolic NaOH, and the reaction mixture was treated with BF3 in methanol and extracted with a hexane-chloroform mixture. An identification scheme was developed from 128 stock strains and tested against a collection of 79 clinical isolates. By using gas-liquid chromatographic profiles alone, 58% of specimens were correctly identified to species level, and an additional 41% were correctly identified to a group of two or three organisms. Use in a clinical laboratory over a 2-month period proved chromatography to be as accurate as and more rapid than concurrent biochemical testing. Of 81 isolates tested, 64% were identified to species level by chromatography alone. An additional 35% were differentiated to the same groups of two or three organisms as found in our analysis of stock strains. These groups consisted of: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. xenopi; M. avium complex, M. gastri, and M. scrofulaceum; or M. fortuitum and M. chelonei. Identification to species level from these groups could usually be done by colonial morphology alone and could always be done by the addition of one selected biochemical test. This study demonstrated the practical application of gas-liquid chromatography in the identification of mycobacteria in a clinical laboratory. In particular, all strains of M. gordonae and M. kansasii were identified to species level. M. tuberculosis was definitively identified in 85% of cases. When it could not be definitely identified, the only alternatives were M. bovis and M. xenopi, both of which are rare causes of infection.
Light Moves Mountains in the Cell

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Duan et al. (2015) report the use of a light-inducible protein-protein interaction system to dynamically control the movement of intracellular organelles with spatial and temporal precision in living cells.
Electrons at Interfaces

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the electronic structure of interfaces, in which one of the constituents is a semiconductor. Emphasis is placed on the studies of semiconductor-metal and semiconductor-semiconductor interfaces. Some discussion of the clean-surface properties of semiconductors is given as the background, since many concepts developed for the “semiconductor-vacuum interface” are needed to describe the semiconductor-solid cases. The purpose of the discussion on clean surfaces was to present a background for the description of the interface research that followed, and hence in no way reflected the vast amount of effort being applied in this area. The interdependence of the study of clean surfaces and solid-solid interfaces is large, and it is important for the researchers in these areas to be aware of developments in both the areas. The current calculations on clean surfaces have focused on the properties of surface states. These states have been observed experimentally and their properties have been studied for a number of surfaces.
In search of balance

The climate of Earth and its global mean surface temperature are the consequence of a balance between the amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earth's surface and atmosphere and the amount of outgoing longwave radiation emitted by the system. The former is governed by the albedo (reflectivity) of the system, whereas the latter depends strongly on the atmospheric content of gases and particles (such as clouds and dust). Although the theory of absorption of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere (1) is well accepted and embodied in climate models, the observational and theoretical treatments of albedo, aerosols, and clouds are still under development. One brevium (2) and two reports (3, 4) in this issue report estimates of Earth's albedo and of solar radiation reaching the surface, but the uncertainties remain large. The buildup of CO_2 (5), CH_4, and other greenhouse gases during the past century has led to an increased absorption of infrared radiation in the atmosphere (enhanced greenhouse effect) and a consequent warming (“positive forcing”) of the climate. But human-made changes in aerosols and clouds can cause enhanced albedo and hence cooling (“negative forcing”), and they may already have offset a substantial part of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Present trends suggest that by 2050, the magnitude of the enhanced greenhouse effect will be so large that the net anthropogenic forcing will be unequivocally positive and substantial in magnitude (6).
Impaired mixed-lymphocyte culture reactions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract We studied the response of lymphocytes from 43 patients with inflammatory bowel disease to allogeneic stimulation in one-way mixed-lymphocyte cultures. We found that 53% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, in contrast to 4% of normal and disease controls, had significant depression of mixedlymphocyte culture response (P ⪡ 0.01). The depression of mixed-lymphocyte culture response was independent of disease activity, duration (more or less than 10 yr), or presence of corticosteroid therapy. Removal of iron-ingesting mononuclear cells (macrophages) resulted in increased mixed-lymphocyte culture response in 6 of 7 patients tested.
[1-13C; methyl-2H3]methionine kinetics in humans: methionine conservation and cystine sparing.

Methionine (Met) conservation in healthy young adult men (4/diet group) was explored by supplying one of the following three L-amino acid based diets: 1) adequate Met but no cystine; 2) neither Met nor cystine; or 3) no Met but cystine supplementation. After 5 days, subjects received a continuous intravenous infusion of L-[1-13C; methyl-2H3]Met for 5 h while the diet was given as small isocaloric isonitrogenous meals. Estimates were made of rates of Met incorporation into protein synthesis (S) and release from body proteins (B), transmethylation (TM), remethylation of homocysteine (RM), and transsulfuration (TS). For the adequate Met diet, the rates were S = 24 +/- 2, B = 18 +/- 1, TM = 12.4 +/- 1.7, RM = 4.7 +/- 1.1, and TS = 7.6 +/- 0.6 (SE) mumol.kg-1.h-1. The sulfur amino acid-devoid diet significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced S, TM, RM, and TS. Supplementation of this diet with cystine reduced Met oxidation (P = 0.05). Therefore, two loci are quantitatively important regulatory points in Met conservation in vivo: 1) the distribution of Met between the pathways of protein anabolism and TM (Met locus) and 2) the distribution of homocysteine between RM and TS (homocysteine locus).
Quasi-Optical Polarization-Duplexed Balanced Mixer

A millimeter-wave antenna-mixer structure on a dielectric substrate is described. Measurements of a 10-GHz model in a quasi-optical system show good conversion loss and LO-to-RF isolation exceeding 30 dB. A GaAs monolithic integrated circuit seems feasible.
Equine multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) associated with seasonal pasture myopathy in the midwestern United States.

Background Seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM) is a highly fatal form of nonexertional rhabdomyolysis that occurs in pastured horses in the United States during autumn or spring. In Europe, a similar condition, atypical myopathy (AM), is common. Recently, a defect of lipid metabolism, multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), has been identified in horses with AM. Objective To determine if SPM in the United States is caused by MADD. Animals Six horses diagnosed with SPM based on history, clinical signs, and serum creatine kinase activity, or postmortem findings. Methods Retrospective descriptive study. Submissions to the Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota were reviewed between April 2009 and January 2010 to identify cases of SPM. Inclusion criteria were pastured, presenting with acute nonexertional rhabdomyolysis, and serum, urine, or muscle samples available for analysis. Horses were evaluated for MADD by urine organic acids, serum acylcarnitines, muscle carnitine, or histopathology. Results Six horses had clinical signs and, where performed (4/6 horses), postmortem findings consistent with SPM. Affected muscle (4/4) showed degeneration with intramyofiber lipid accumulation, decreased free carnitine concentration, and increased carnitine esters. Serum acylcarnitine profiles (3/3) showed increases in short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines and urinary organic acid profiles (3/3) revealed increased ethylmalonic and methylsuccinic acid levels, and glycine conjugates, consistent with equine MADD. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Similar to AM, the biochemical defect causing SPM is MADD, which causes defective muscular lipid metabolism and excessive myofiber lipid content. Diagnosis can be made by assessing serum acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles.
Experimental polyacrylamide-induced acute injury in rat lung.

We recently reported the first case of accidental aspiration of polyacrylamide occurring in a 26-year-old man. The patient developed severe airway obstruction and parenchymal lung damage and died. Autopsy revealed numerous polyacrylamide particles in his lungs, as well as extensive bronchiolar and alveolar damage. Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric assessment of the lung tissue failed to reveal polyacrylamide activity, although assessment of the suspending solvent of the polyacrylamide showed a pattern characteristic of an aliphatic hydrocarbon mixture with a prominent dodecane peak. This experimental study was performed to determine the nature and extent of damage to rat bronchial and alveolar epithelia following endotracheal instillation of polyacrylamide, hydrocarbon mixture (petroleum distillate), dodecane (C12H26), or normal saline. The rat lungs were examined grossly and microscopically 10 min and 24, 72, and 96 h after endotracheal instillation, following inflation and fixation with 10 percent buffered formaldehyde. Gross examination revealed congested, mottled visceral pleural surfaces in the rats treated with polyacrylamide and dodecane. There were no pleural exudates or effusions. Microscopically, vascular engorgement, bronchiolitis, and focal pneumonia were observed. Vascular engorgement was most pronounced at 72 to 96 h in rat lungs treated with polyacrylamide and dodecane and was moderate at 24 h in rats treated with petroleum distillate. Focal organizing pneumonia was marked at 96 h in rats treated with petroleum distillate, at 72 h in those treated with polyacrylamide, and at 24 h in those treated with dodecane. The saline-treated control animals showed no change. Our findings suggest that polyacrylamide, dodecane, and petroleum distillate are strong irritants to the airways. However, a direct obstructive/mechanical effect of the polyacrylamide upon the airway has not been excluded. Airway exposure to polyacrylamide may result in lung injury secondary to the polyacrylamide itself, its suspending agents, or both. (Chest 1992; 102:1591-94)
Investigating the impact of SPS standards on trade using a VES model

This study employs a novel nested variable elasticity of substitution (VES) utility model to investigate the impacts of food safety standards on international trade and social welfare. The nested VES utility model is applied to investigate the impact of the European Union (EU) Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standard on EU orange juice (OJ) trade and social welfare. Our results show that the standard's impact on trade and welfare is underestimated when the elasticity of substitution is restricted to be constant. Our findings indicate that the implementation of the EU HACCP standard increases EU OJ imports as well as consumer welfare. We also find that the EU HACCP standard has a greater impact on intra-EU OJ imports than on extra-EU OJ imports. , Oxford University Press.
The visual system manifestations of adrenoleukodvstrophy

The clinical and pathologic findings in a case of adrenoleukodystrophy are documented in this report. The diagnosis was established by an analysis of the gross and microscopic findings (light and electron microscopy) of the adrenal gland and brain. The laboratory evidence of adrenal deficiency coupled with the clinical course supported the diagnosis, The course of the visual loss was initially one of transient loss, later followed by permanent visual loss that was occasionally interrupted by apparent brief spells of partial return of vision. The visual fields were generally depressed without a definite sector defect. The fundi did not show optic atrophy until very late in the course of the disease. Electroretinographic and visual evoked response studies are presented for the first time.The pathology presented in this paper will primarily be that of the visual system. While other publications have presented some gross pathology of the visual system, no systematic presentation of the micropathology has been...
Numerical study of sink-flow boundary layers

Direct numerical simulations of sink-flow boundary layers, with acceleration parameters K between 1.5 x 10 to the -6th and 3.0 x 10 to the -6th, are presented. The three-dimensional, time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically, using a spectral method, with about one million degrees of freedom. The flow is assumed to be statistically steady, and self-similar. A multiple-scale approximation and periodic conditions are applied to the fluctuations. The turbulence is studied using instantaneous and statistical results. Good agreement with the experiments of Jones and Launder (1972) is observed. The two effects of the favorable pressure gradient are to extend the logarithmic layer, and to alter the energy balance of the turbulence near the edge of the boundary layer. At low Reynolds number the logarithmic layer is shortened and slightly displaced, but wall-layer streaks are present even at the lowest values of R(theta) for which turbulence can be sustained. Large quiescent patches appear in the flow. Relaminarization occurs at K = 3.0 x 10 to the -6th, corresponding to a Reynolds number R(theta) of about 330.
Seeding and Nitrogen Rates Required to Optimize Winter Wheat Yields following Grain Sorghum and Soybean

No-till planting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following summer crops requires different crop management than continuous wheat. A 3-yr study was conducted to determine if increased seeding rates and N fertilizer rates were required to maximize wheat grain yields following grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Wheat seeding rates of 67, 101, 134, and 168 kg ha -1 and N treatments of 0, 45, 90, and 134 kg N ha -1 were applied to areas previously planted to grain sorghum and soybean. Grain yield increased as seeding rate increased in all 3 yr, with yield optimized at seeding rates of ≥134 kg ha -1 regardless of the previous crop. Wheat response to N varied with previous crop, with wheat following grain sorghum requiring 21 kg ha -1 more N to maximize grain yields compared with wheat planted after soybean. These previous-crop effects were attributed to grain sorghum producing higher levels of residue and this residue immobilizing a greater amount of available N than soybean residue. Leaf N content decreased as seeding rates increased and increased as N rates increased. Leaf N content had a similar response to N rates and previous crops as grain yields. Grain N content increased as applied N increased. Results of this study indicate that different seeding and N rates are required to optimize wheat yields when no-till planted after grain sorghum and soybean.
Social Rehabilitation of Addicts: A Two-Year Evaluation

This paper points out the relationship that exists between treatment approaches with drug addicts and sociodemographic characteristics of the communities affected. It has been shown that while poor and middle class communities show good results with methadone maintenance approaches, in the area of secondary drug abuse they show marked dissimilarities. Also, the reasons for discharge are markedly different. It is speculated that the different attitudes existing at the two clinics studied provide contrasting environments that are selectively detrimental to program dropouts.
Racial disparity and their impact on hepatocellular cancer outcomes in inner-city New Orleans.

Background The role of socioeconomic factors that affect survival, particularly for hepatocellular cancer (HCC), has yet to be fully analyzed. This study attempts to elucidate those racial and socioeconomic factors that affect differences in survival for patients with HCC. Methods In a retrospective cohort study of 206 patients with HCC diagnosed in an inner-city urban center from 2003 to 2011, outcomes by race (African Americans versus white) were analyzed. Additional attention was paid to socioeconomic factors. Continuous variables were compared with the Student t-test, and categorical variables were compared with the χ2 or Fisher exact test. Multivariate analysis was conducted using a logistic regression model. Patient death and survival data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards. Results Comparison of 138 white and 68 African-American patients revealed that African-American patients were more likely to present with larger tumor size at the time of diagnosis (4.7 vs 3.7 cm; P Conclusion Despite presentation with less-favorable tumor characteristics, African-American patients are able to achieve survival that is comparable with their white counterparts when treated in a program that is attuned to the challenges faced by their specific population.
Acid phosphatase of the lysosomal and soluble fraction of rat liver.

Abstract In view of the possibility that the lysosomal and soluble acid phosphatases may be distinct forms of an enzyme which catalyze the same reaction, a study was made of the properties of the enzyme from these intracellular sites. It was not possible to demonstrate any difference in specificity, K m values or pH effects. Use of inhibitors indicated a difference in sensitivity to fluoride and l -(+)-tartrate but only in respect to activity when p -nitrophenylphosphate was used as substrate. Similar patterns were obtained when the fractions were separated by starch electrophoresis and column chromatography, although the latter process showed that there were some quantitative differences between the various forms of phosphatase activity present in each fraction. It is concluded that the major portion of the soluble acid phosphatase is similar to that of the lysosomal phosphatase and may be derived by the rupture of these labile particles. The possibility that a small amount of a distinctly different form of acid phosphatase may exist in the soluble fraction is discussed.
Emergence and re-emergence of vesicular stomatitis in the United States

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an important disease of cattle, horses and pigs. The causal agent is an arbovirus; vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) of which two distinct serotypes New Jersey (NJ) and Indiana (IN) have been described. The clinical signs in cattle and pigs are undistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), one of the most devastating viral infections of livestock. VSV is the most important cause of vesicular disease in FMD-free countries in the Americas, causing thousands of outbreaks every year from southern Mexico to northern South America. In the United States VS has two different patterns of occurrence; in the southeastern states (Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina) a pattern of yearly occurrence of clinical cases in livestock was reported from early 1900s until the mid 1970s. Since then, viral activity in the region has been focal and limited to isolated wildlife populations. In contrast in the southwestern states (New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado) VS outbreaks have occurred sporadically at approximately 10-year intervals, with the last cycle of activity occurring from 1995 to 1998. Phylogenetic analyses of VSV have shown that distinct viral lineages occur in the southwestern and southeastern US. Furthermore, in the last 70 years each sporadic outbreak in the Southwest was associated to viral lineages distant from those causing previous outbreaks in the US but closely related to viruses maintained in endemic areas of Mexico. This pattern of viral occurrence contrasts with that observed in endemic areas in Central and South America where viral genetic lineages are maintained in specific ecological areas over long periods of time. The phylogenetic data together with the geographical and temporal distribution of outbreaks indicate that VSV does not have a stable endemic cycle in the western United States.
Measurement of the molecular weight of a polyester and evaluation of its molecular volume

Abstract The micro- and macromanometer technique for the determination of molecular weight has been applied to a polyester (m.w. = 4000). The polymer was studied in several solvents; the values obtained for the molecular weight are practically the same. However, the surface area occupied by one molecule is a function of the solvent. This result leads to the hypothesis that a molecule deposited on the surface is more or less spread out depending on the degree of solvation.
Induction of Long-Term Protective Immune Responses by Influenza H5N1 Virus-Like Particles

Background: Recurrent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus pose a threat of eventually causing a pandemic. Early vaccination of the population would be the single most effective measure for the control of an emerging influenza pandemic. Methodology/Principal Findings: Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in insect cell-culture substrates do not depend on the availability of fertile eggs for vaccine manufacturing. We produced VLPs containing influenza A/Viet Nam1203/04 (H5N1) hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix proteins, and investigated their preclinical immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Mice immunized intranasally with H5N1 VLPs developed high levels of H5N1 specific antibodies and were 100% protected against a high dose of homologous H5N1 virus infection at 30 weeks after immunization. Protection is likely to be correlated with humoral and cellular immunologic memory at systemic and mucosal sites as evidenced by rapid anamnestic responses to re-stimulation with viral antigen in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions/Significance: These results provide support for clinical evaluation of H5N1 VLP vaccination as a public health intervention to mitigate a possible pandemic of H5N1 influenza.
Modeling and formulating fuzzy knowledge bases using neural networks

Abstract We show how the determination of the firing level of a neuron can be viewed as a measure of possibility between two fuzzy sets, the weights of connection and the input. We then suggest a way to represent fuzzy production rules in a neural framework. Central to this representation is the notion that the linguistic variables associated with the rule, the antecedent and consequent values, are represented as weights in the resulting neural structure. The structure used to represent these fuzzy rules allows learning of the membership grades of the associated linguistic variables. A self-organization procedure for obtaining the nucleus of rules for a fuzzy knowledge base is presented.
Multicenter randomized clinical trial of horne uterine activity monitoring for detection of preterrn labor

Home uterine activity monitoring has been described as an effective means of detecting uterine contractions, but controversy exists whether it is home uterine activity monitoring or increased nursing support in conjunction with it that contributes to earlier detection of preterm labor. In this study 377 women at risk for preterm labor from three centers were prospectively, randomly assigned to high-risk prenatal care alone (not monitored) or to the same care with twice-daily home uterine activity monitoring without increased nursing support (monitored). The two groups were medically and demographically similar at entry into the study. Routine visits, nonroutine visits, and gestational age at diagnosis of preterm labor were similar in both groups. Preterm labor occurred in 41 of 198 monitored and 39 of 179 not monitored patients. Mean cervical dilatation was 1.4 cm in 41 monitored compared with 2.5 cm for 37 not monitored (p = 0.0006); 73.1% of monitored and 27.5% of not monitored had preterm labor detected before 2 cm dilatation (p = 0.00009). Neonatal outcome of singleton pregnancies showed greater birth weight, fewer days in the neonatal intensive care unit, and fewer babies requiring oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation in the monitored group. The better outcomes are probably due to the increased likelihood of diagnosis of preterm labor before advanced cervical dilatation with home uterine activity monitoring, thus providing the clinician with a better chance to initiate tocolytic therapy directed at improving pregnancy outcome.
Adolescent human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted disease prevention programmes: Are gender-blind approaches justified?

Summary Objective To present findings that gender might be more predictive of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted disease (STD) knowledge, and sexual behaviour, compared with participation in knowledge-based HIV prevention programmes. Study design A cross-sectional study comparing students attending public high schools running an HIV and STD prevention programme. It is based on a study that evaluated the City of Houston HIV and STD prevention programme in public high schools. Comparison was initially between groups (intervention vs comparison) and subsequently between gender. The main variables for comparison were level of interest and knowledge of the subject of HIV and STD, and a range of sexual behaviour variables. Methods Self-administered questionnaires were used for eliciting both knowledge and behavioural data. A specific question required participants to rate their level of interest in the subject of HIV and STD on a scale of 1–4 (lowest to highest). The knowledge component was marked and scores awarded in percentage form. Descriptive statistical analysis was followed by stratified analysis. Finally, a select number of variables were used in a logistic regression model. STATA version 8 was the main statistical software. Results A significantly large proportion of girls reported the highest level of interest in the subject of HIV and STD (a score of 4); had higher HIV and STD knowledge scores; and reported less risk-taking sexual behaviour compared with boys. The only variable in which boys faired better was condom use, reporting higher rates of condom use than girls. Conclusions Gender-blind HIV and STD prevention programmes seem to have a minimal effect on boys. Although a myriad of other factors influence male response to such programmes, the relatively low level of interest in the subject of HIV and STD among boys might be contributory. HIV and STD prevention programmes need to be re-designed using approaches that are more appealing to boys. Boys will otherwise remain the weak link and therefore the rate-limiting step in the quest for sexual behaviour change among adolescents.
Half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo imaging in the diagnosis of Morgagni hernia.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with multi-planar, gated Half-Fourier Acquisition Single-Shot Turbo Spin-Echo (HASTE) imaging was performed to evaluate a woman with dysrhythmia. MR examination for right ventricular dysplasia revealed a Morgagni hernia. The HASTE images depicted well the diaphragmatic defect and the organs involved, yielding valuable diagnostic and pre-operative information. HASTE imaging may be beneficial in the evaluation of Morgagni hernia. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:653–657. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE PHOTO‐REACTIVITY OF AROMATIC SUBSTANCES WITH OXYGEN*

Summary The quenching reaction of oxygen with photo-excited aromatics, although almost diffusion-controlled in many cases, has some specific requirements with respect to the electronic details of the excited state. This is shown in the difference between the quenching constants for monomer and dimer of the same dye, where the dimer is recognized principally by excitation delocalization. Evidence is reviewed for the view that oxygen becomes vibrationally excited as a result of the quenching reaction, and that this hot oxygen is an essential intermediate in photo-oxidations. A new result is the stimulation of O2 quenching by CO2, a known catalyst for vibrational relaxation in O2.
Immune neglect in affective forecasting.

Abstract Research on emotional prediction, or affective forecasting, shows that people regularly overestimate the emotional intensity of events. Particularly for negative events, people fail to consider how coping resources will ameliorate negative affect, a phenomenon termed immune neglect. In an affective forecasting study of nine football games, participants ( n = 180) overestimated emotional reactions to wins and losses, and an experimental manipulation helped reduce bias. Further, those reporting greater use of emotional processing coping strategies recovered more effectively from losses, but failed to foresee this when making predictions, leading to increased bias. This is the first study to document individual differences in immune neglect. Results support the generalizability of biased predictions and contribute to the understanding of affective forecasting and coping.
Combinatorial pharmacologic effects of gemcitabine and its metabolite dFdU.

Recent evidence has shown that the gemcitabine metabolite, dFdU, is pharmacologically active. Though less potent, dFdU has a longer half-life and could potentiate or antagonize the activity of gemcitabine. Hence, studies were undertaken to evaluate the combined effects. Following chemical synthesis, an improved purification procedure for dFdU was developed (80 % yield; >99 % purity). Zebrafish phenotype-based embryo screens revealed no acute toxicity after gemcitabine or dFdU treatment. Only gemcitabine affected zebrafish development in a dose-dependent manner. Synergy or antagonism for the combination was not observed. Antitumor effects for dFdU were dose dependent. Antagonism was tumor cell-line dependent and did not depend on formation of the intracellular active metabolite of gemcitabine, suggesting that the drug-metabolite interaction occurs later. These studies highlight a platform for testing the pharmacologic activity for anticancer agent and metabolite combinations. Such analyses are expected to provide insight into the beneficial or harmful effect(s) of metabolites towards parent drug activity.
A Computational Model of Neglect Dyslexia

This paper presents a straightforward theory of neglect (a pre-attentive salience system selects objects' centers for the focus of an attentional "spotlight") as a computational model. This construction permits simulations of model "lesions" and allows checking unequivocally the model's implications. The current model can account for some of the common patterns of observations of neglect dyslexia: that errors increase with word length and that short words may be read as "too long". Most importantly, it also accounts for a dissociation between neglect dyslexia and neglect on line bisection tasks. A two stage model can account for the patterns of performance seen in many neglect subjects, but more important is the demonstration that a theory's implementation as a computational model permits unambiguous evaluation of the theory's implications.
A divergent strategy for synthesis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids renieramycin G and a lemonomycin analog

Abstract A divergent synthesis to the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (±)-renieramycin G and (±)-lemonomycinone amide is reported. A strategy was developed that allowed access to both the diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring systems of the respective targets from a common advanced intermediate. The high diastereoselectivity observed throughout the synthesis is controlled by the first stereocenter formed from alkylation of an unactivated isoquinoline. Key findings include the synthesis of isoquinolines under palladium-free Larock conditions, diastereoselective ionic hydrogenation conditions to set the 1,3-cis-tetrahydroisoquinoline architecture, a highly diastereoselective reprotonation, and a thiophilic Lewis acid-catalyzed 5-endo-trig N-acyl iminium ion silyl enol ether cyclization. This divergent approach to the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids offers an alternative strategy to further structural diversity in this family of natural products.
Cultural innovation in software design: the new impact of innovation planning methods

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe innovation planning methods used at Microsoft.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the cultural environment and changes that needed to occur to implement these methods and looks at a selection of product development efforts at Microsoft that used these methods and were successful.Findings – This paper shares the steps taken to enable innovation planning methods to be successful organizationally and describes the specific approaches that were most successful from a product development perspective.Research limitations/implications – The findings demonstrate that innovation in the large enterprise is a repeatable and reproducible process when the right environment and methods are utilized.Practical implications – Because enterprises are increasingly being called on to provide breakthrough and disruptive innovations innovation planning methods are increasingly becoming a necessary core discipline that is required in the enterprise.Originality/valu...
Design and Control of a Methanol Reactor/Column Process

Methanol is one of the prime candidates for providing an alternative to petroleum-based liquid transportation fuels. It can be made from any renewable biomass hydrocarbon source by partial oxidation in an oxygen-blown gasifier to produce synthesis gas, which is then converted into methanol. The purpose of this paper is to develop the economically optimum design of a methanol reactor/distillation column system with three gas recycle streams to produce high-purity methanol from synthesis gas. The economics consider capital costs, energy costs, the value of the methanol product, and the heating value of a vent stream that is necessary for purging off inert components entering in the feed. A plantwide control structure is developed that is capable of effectively handling large disturbances in the production rate and synthesis gas composition. The unique features of this control scheme are a lack of control of pressure in the reactor/recycle gas loop and a high-pressure override controller to handle stoichiome...
Maintenance or Emergence of Chronic Phase Secondary Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses after Loss of Acute Phase Immunodominant Responses Does Not Protect SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques from Disease Progression

The simian immunodeficiency virus- (SIV-) infected rhesus macaque is the preferred animal model for vaccine development, but the correlates of protection in this model are not completely understood. In this paper, we document the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to SIV and its effects on viral evolution in an effort to identify events associated with disease progression regardless of MHC allele expression. We observed the evolution of epitopes targeted by CTLs in a group of macaques that included long-term nonprogressing (LTNP), slowly progressing (SP), normally progressing (NP), and rapidly progressing (RP) animals. Collectively, our data (1) identify novel CTL epitopes from an SP animal that are not restricted by known protective alleles, (2) illustrate that, in this small study, RP and NP animals accrue more mutations in CTL epitopes than in SP or LTNP macaques, and (3) demonstrate that the loss of CTL responses to immunodominant epitopes is associated with viral replication increases, which are not controlled by secondary CTL responses. These findings provide further evidence for the critical role of the primary cell-mediated immune responses in the control of retroviral infections.
Inferring conflict-sensitive phosphorylation dynamics

Phosphorylation is a ubiquitous and fundamental regulatory mechanism that controls signal transduction in living cells. It acts as switches in cell communications. One of the most important factors contributing to the dynamics is the binding competition, which refers to the existence of more than one protein that physically binds to the same or an overlapping residue on a protein.By integrating data from different sources on the HeLa cancer cells and all available Homo sapiens (human) cells and iteratively examining the phosphorylation interfaces, we found a number of conflicting interaction pairs. We extended the search into indirect conflicts over direct upstream cascades and further into the whole network and calculated a min-max conflict-sensitive decomposition of phosphorylation network by graph-theoretical methods. Further we used EGF-stimulation phosphoproteome data and obtained activation patterns of phosphorated proteins by soft clustering. By combining these two groupings, we calculated an optimal conflict-free activation patterns using maximum bipartite matching. Sorting the average peak time of the activation patterns brought forth an activation order of min-max conflict-sensitive decomposition subnetworks.We evaluated conflict-sensitive phosophorylation dynamics by analyzing the importance of the conflicting interactions in the whole networks, the distribution of serine/threonine/tyrosine phosphorylation, and the direct or indirect activation order of phosphorylated proteins. Compared with a previously published approach [15], our solution discovered conflict-sensitive dynamics that resolved conflicts and it inferred more practical causal effects consistent with EGFR signaling pathways.
Conceptual design and configuration performance analyses of polygenerating high temperature fuel cells

Abstract The use of a high temperature fuel cell (HTFC) to continuously and simultaneously polygenerate hydrogen in combination with electricity and heat represents a promising technology as a source of fuel for fuel cell vehicles. Different configurations of polygenerating HTFC, including different designs with internal and external reforming are options to polygenerate electricity, hydrogen and heat. The current study analyzes and compares six different configurations based on solid oxide technology. Efficiency results based upon the Supplemental Input Method demonstrate that internal reforming configurations achieve higher performance than when hydrogen product is produced in an external reformer. The overall efficiency and the efficiency in the generation of each product are used as the basis for comparison.
Imaging and Biomarkers in Early Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

A major focus of research on aging and dementia pertains to the prediction of future cognitive decline. Toward this end, several longitudinal studies are under way that are designed to explore early predictors of cognitive impairment. Neuroimaging techniques and biomarkers have shown promise in this application. Ultimately, it is likely that the use of a combination of neuroimaging and chemical biomarkers will be involved in predicting the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
The gold standard in contemporary economic principles textbooks: A survey

ful for comments from Jorg Guido Hulsmann, Jeffery Herbener, Mark Thornton, and Walter Block. An earlier version of this paper took second place in the ASSC symposium. 1Silver and other precious metals and commodities have also often served as common media-of-exchange, however, not nearly to the extent that gold did. 2The 65 texts were selected from the Auburn University Library. Auburn University had a Ph.D. program in economics until 1999. They still have a Ph.D. program in applied economics in their Agricultural Economics department. This survey is based on the assumption that this is a representative sample of what would be found in other contemporary U.S. research universities. All the texts were undergraduate level general economics or money and banking textbooks. In most cases, the most recent edition available of THE GOLD STANDARD IN CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES TEXTBOOKS: A SURVEY
Immediate-Early Signaling Induced by E-cadherin Engagement and Adhesion

Epithelial cell-cell interactions require localized adhesive interactions between E-cadherin on opposing membranes and the activation of downstream signaling pathways that affect membrane and actin dynamics. However, it is not known whether E-cadherin engagement and activation of these signaling pathways are locally coordinated or whether signaling is sustained or locally down-regulated like other receptor-mediated pathways. To obtain high spatiotemporal resolution of immediate-early signaling events upon E-cadherin engagement, we used laser tweezers to place beads coated with functional E-cadherin extracellular domain on cells. We show that cellular E-cadherin accumulated rapidly around beads, reaching a sustained plateau level in 1-3 min. Phosphoinositides and Rac1 co-accumulated with E-cadherin, reached peak levels with E-cadherin, but then rapidly dispersed. Both E-cadherin and Rac1 accumulated independently of Rac1 GTP binding/hydrolysis, but these activities were required for Rac1 dispersal. E-cadherin accumulation was dependent on membrane dynamics and actin polymerization, but actin did not stably co-accumulate with E-cadherin; mathematical modeling showed that diffusion-mediated trapping could account for the initial E-cadherin accumulation. We propose that initial E-cadherin accumulation requires active membrane dynamics and involves diffusion-mediated trapping at contact sites; to propagate further contacts, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Rac1 are transiently activated by E-cadherin engagement and initiate a new round of membrane dynamics, but they are subsequently suppressed at that site to allow maintenance of weak E-cadherin mediated adhesion.
Approximate methods for the fast computation of EPR and ST-EPR spectra. V. Application of the perturbation approach to the problem of anisotropic motion

Abstract The modulation perturbation treatment of Galloway and Dalton is applied to the solution of the stochastic Liouville equation for the spin density matrix which incorporates an anisotropic rotational diffusion operator. Pseudosecular and saturation terms of the spin hamiltonian are explicitly considered as is the interaction of the electron spins with the applied Zeeman modulation field. The modulation perturbation treatment results in a factor of four improvement in computational speed relative to inversion of the full supermatrix with little or no loss of computational accuracy. The theoretical simulations of EPR and ST-EPR spectra are in nearly quantitative agreement with experimental spectra taken under high resolution conditions.
Abstract 5134: Mechanistic dissection of EWS-FLI impact on Ewing's sarcoma cell behavior

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Ewing's sarcoma is caused by the oncogenic fusion of the EWS and FLI genes to encode a chimeric EWS-FLI protein product. The disease is often metastatic at presentation. This study aims to define the molecular mechanism by which the EWS-FLI oncoprotein influences metastatic potential by testing the impact of EWS-FLI expression on cytoarchitecture, adhesion, and migration of Ewing's sarcoma cells. We compared the behavior of A673 Ewing's sarcoma cells with A673 cells in which we knocked down expression of EWS-FLI by RNA-interference. Knock-down of EWS-FLI results in enhanced cell spreading and the establishment of robust actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. Consistent with these morphological attributes, a quantitative cell adhesion assay revealed that parental A673 cells are less adhesive than those in which EWS-FLI expression was reduced by RNA interference. Knockdown of EWS-FLI in A673 cells is also associated with increased cell motility and loss of anchorage-independent cell growth. Gene expression profiling revealed that expression of EWS-FLI causes downregulation of transcripts encoding several focal adhesion proteins and integrin adhesion receptors by 2-4 fold. By Western immunoblot analysis, we demonstrated that knock-down of EWS/FLI oncoprotein expression in human A673 cells leads to increased expression of focal adhesion constituents such as the actin regulator, zyxin. Introduction of a zyxin expression construct into A673 Ewing's sarcoma cells was sufficient to restore the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions, and to enhance cell adhesion. In contrast, restoration of zyxin expression in A673 sarcoma cells did not affect cell motility, matrigel invasion, or anchorage-independent cell growth. Thus, oncogenic transformation by EWS-FLI is associated with changes in cytoskeletal architecture, cell adhesion, cell motility/invastion, and cell growth control. Re-expression of a single focal adhesion protein, zyxin, is sufficient to restore cytoskeletal integrity and partially rescue the adhesion deficits seen in A673 sarcoma cells. These studies provide evidence for a zyxin-dependent pathway downstream of EWS-FLI that controls cell morphology and adhesion, as well as zyxin-independent pathways that influence motility/invasion and anchorage-independent cell growth. Loss of adhesion coupled to reduced zyxin expression may be an early step in the establishment of metastatic potential of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5134.