cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical Defense by the Native Winter Ant (Prenolepis imparis) against the Invasive Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)

The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is established worldwide and displaces native ant species. In northern California, however, the native winter ant (Prenolepis imparis) persists in invaded areas. We found that in aggressive interactions between the two species, P. imparis employs a potent defensive secretion. Field observations were conducted at P. imparis nest sites both in the presence and absence of L. humile. These observations suggested and laboratory assays confirmed that P. imparis workers are more likely to secrete when outnumbered by L. humile. Workers of P. imparis were also more likely to secrete near their nest entrances than when foraging on trees. One-on-one laboratory trials showed that the P. imparis secretion is highly lethal to L. humile, causing 79% mortality. The nonpolar fraction of the secretion was chemically analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and found to be composed of long-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons. Chemical analysis of dissected P. imparis workers showed that the nonpolar fraction is derived from the Dufour's gland. Based on these conclusions, we hypothesize that this chemical defense may help P. imparis to resist displacement by L. humile.
Thermal chromatography of lysine-specific transfer ribonucleic acid from Escherichia coli B.

Abstract Two Escherichia coli B tRNA Lys isoacceptors have been separated by thermal chromatography on hydroxyapatite demonstrating the potential of this approach in the fractionation of single-stranded polynucleotides. Elution temperatures were reproducible and depended primarily on the cation present and its concentration. Cesium phosphate was a more effective eluent than sodium phosphate. The integrity of the polynucleotide following thermal chromatography was examined by ultracentrifugation in a 60% dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing urea and oligonucleotide mapping. Adsorption to hydroxyapatite did not noticeably increase phosphodiester bond breakage compared with that in solution. Minimal, if any, rupture of covalent linkages was detected under the conditions of preparative separation of the isoacceptors. Several observations suggest that only one tRNA Lys was transcribed by the E. coli B cell.
Widening the bottleneck: Increasing the utilisation of long distance AC transmission corridors

This paper considers the challenges faced by power system planners and operators with regards to heavily loaded transmission corridors which constrain power flows within the AC system, that is, they are ‘bottlenecks’ within the AC system. Particular reference is made to long distance inter-area AC transmission lines. The addition of back-to-back HVDC schemes within these AC transmission circuits is considered and the benefits that could be realised are reviewed with some qualitative examples.
Kinetics of cutaneous drug penetration

L'absorption par la peau des differents medicaments est tres variable mais est en general faible. Il faut noter que l'efficacite therapeutique et une bonne absorption ne sont pas synonymes. L'absorption est un des nombreux facteurs entrant dans l'efficacite du medicament etudie
Sampled-data controller design for uncertain systems

Presents a sampled-data controller design methodology for uncertain systems. A continuous system with bounded time-varying uncertainty is sampled at intervals of length T. The controller is designed using a Riccati equation approach by neglecting O(T/sup 2/) uncertainty terms in the discretized system. Stability is verified for this choice of T with the U(T/sup 2/) terms included. If there exists a stabilizing continuous controller, then there also exists a stabilizing sampled-data controller for a sufficiently small choice of T. >
Trace-element chemistry of fish tissues: Uptake routes in genus Moxostoma

This study assesses the unique chemistry of the Spring River of Arkansas. The Spring River supports one of the most diverse fish fauna in the south-central region of the United States and is an economic base for this region of Arkansas. The mouth of the Spring River in northeast Arkansas is located at Mammoth Spring where 34 million L of water per hour flow out of the spring mouth at a constant temperature of about 15°C. This slightly alkaline, high-Ca water, “warm” end member mixes with cooler downstream waters derived primarily from surface runoff. The variation in temperature and activity of complexing ligands leads to speciation of metals. We examined the temporal and spatial variations in metal species abundances and found that the availability of toxic forms of metals such as Pb, V, Cd, and Cu is highest during base flow and decreases at times of high runoff. Bioavailability of toxic metal species, in the context of ecotoxicology, was also explored. Metal content in fish gills, liver, and muscle was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. These concentrations were compared to the chemistry of dissolved load, with particular attention to the relative abundance of metal species. This study establishes the link between metal accumulation in predatory fish with high abundances of bioavailable metals in regions of the river dominated by base flow.
Identification of Hydroxymethanesulfonate in Fog Water

Previous studies have suggested that hydroxymethanesulfonate ion (HMSA) can be an important species in fog and cloud water. Formation of HMSA explains observed excesses of sulfur in the S(IV) state (+4 oxidation state) and formaldehyde (CH_2O) in fogs and clouds. HMSA was determined in fog water by a novel ion-pairing chromatographic technique. Concentrations in samples collected in Bakersfield, California, within 5 kilometers of major sources of sulfur dioxide (SO_2), were as high as 300 micromoles per liter. Total CH_2O and S(IV) concentrations, which were measured independently, ranged from 10 to 200 and 5 to more than 300 micromoles per liter, respectively. Concentrations of CH_2O, S(IV), and HMSA at Buttonwillow, California, which is 15 kilometers from the nearest source of SO_2, were less than those at Bakersfield but not absent. These data confirm that HMSA forms in atmospheric water droplets and can reach appreciable concentrations. HMSA represents an important source of acidity for water droplets and may also play a role in long-distance transport and transformation of SO_2.
Plans and procedures on the International Space Station

The International Space Station will be the most complex and expensive spacecraft ever to fly. Making best use of this costly resource requires tools to assist the planning of operations, and to automate the execution of operational procedures. These capabilities, which operate in close association with each other, are known as "plans and procedures". The "plans" system maintains and executes the "onboard short term plan", an integrated schedule that includes all space station manual and automated activities. This software supports a graphic display presenting the plan to the crew; allows the ground and onboard crew to add, delete and edit activities; tracks the status of each activity; and automatically initiates automated procedures. The "procedures" capability involves procedure executors installed in various space station computers. This software provides the ability to create on the ground, and execute onboard, automated procedures to supplement the human role in operating the spacecraft and its payloads.
PEM fuel cell degradation

The durability of PEM fuel cells is a major barrier to the commercialization of these systems for stationary and transportation power applications. While significant progress has been made in understanding degradation mechanisms and improving materials, further improvements in durability are required to meet commercialization targets. Catalyst and electrode durability remains a primary degradation mode, with much work reported on understanding how the catalyst and electrode structure degrades. Accelerated Stress Tests (ASTs) are used to rapidly evaluate component degradation, however the results are sometimes easy, and other times difficult to correlate. Tests that were developed to accelerate degradation of single components are shown to also affect other component's degradation modes. Non-ideal examples of this include ASTs examining catalyst degradation performances losses due to catalyst degradation do not always well correlate with catalyst surface area and also lead to losses in mass transport.
Minimal molecular surfaces and their applications.

This article presents a novel concept, the minimal molecular surface (MMS), for the theoretical modeling of biomolecules. The MMS can be viewed as a result of the surface free energy minimization when an apolar molecule, such as protein, DNA or RNA is immersed in a polar solvent. Based on the theory of differential geometry, the MMS is created via the mean curvature minimization of molecular hypersurface functions. A detailed numerical algorithm is presented for the practical generation of MMSs. Extensive numerical experiments, including those with internal and open cavities, are carried out to demonstrated the proposed concept and algorithms. The proposed MMS is typically free of geometric singularities. Application of the MMS to the electrostatic analysis is considered for a set of twenty six proteins. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
C-Reactive Protein: Initiator or Product of Inflammation?

C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins and is highly conserved throughout evolution. In humans, CRP is a major acute phase protein with well-defined roles in innate and adaptive immunity.1 CRP expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines; primarily interleukin-6 (IL-6) with other factors, including IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α acting to enhance expression.2 In response to the presence of pathogenic bacteria and apoptotic cells, CRP binds C1q and activates the classical complement cascade. In addition to roles in opsonizing pathogens and assisting in pathogen clearance, CRP binds FCγRI, FCγRIIa, and FcαRIIb receptors and activates neutrophils. CRP also stimulates uptake and presentation of bacterial antigens by dendritic cells as part of the adaptive immune response.1 Binding of CRP to the FcγRI receptor on macrophages induces the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, leading to the downregulation of inflammation. Article, see p 672 As an acute phase protein, circulating levels of CRP are associated with multiple proinflammatory states including atherosclerosis. The association of higher CRP levels with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis and clinical cardiovascular disease has been documented by numerous studies.3 Based on these associations, a hypothesis was put forward that CRP may have a direct role in atherosclerosis progression or conversion to clinical events. CRP has been reported to support the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis through CRP-mediated effects on several vascular cells. Among these, CRP has been reported to stimulate production of inflammatory cytokines in monocytes …
Effect of Inbreeding on Host Discrimination and Other Fitness Components in a Seed Beetle

ABSTRACT Inbreeding is well known to have adverse effects on fitness-related traits in insects, but less is known about its effect on behavior, particularly outside the context of mating success. We used the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) to determine the effect of moderate inbreeding (inbreeding coefficient F = 0.25) on host discrimination, that is, the ability of ovipositing females to avoid occupied hosts and thereby reduce competition among larval offspring. Inbreeding depression was simultaneously estimated for morphological (body mass), physiological (egg hatch), and life-history (realized fecundity) traits in the same population. Compared with outbred females, inbred females exhibited an 11% reduction in mass, a 9% reduction in fecundity, and a small (4%) but significant reduction in egg hatching success. Nearly all of the decline in fecundity among inbred females could be explained by the decline in body mass. In contrast to the other three traits,...
Sunflower Meals in Pullet Developer Diets

Abstract Two experiments were conducted with egg strain replacement pullets from the ages of 12 weeks (Experiment 1) or 8 weeks (Experiment 2) to 20 weeks of age to evaluate the replacement value of sunflower meal for soybean meal. Sunflower meal with or without lysine, and with lysine and methionine completely replaced soybean meal. In Experiment 1, two sunflower meals (28 and 34% protein) were used. The addition of lysine to either of the two sunflower meals failed to improve growth or feed efficiency. When birds were housed in cages, the diets utilizing 28% protein meal produced pullets smaller and less efficient than did the other diets. This effect was not observed when the floor management system was used. In Experiment 2, only one sunflower meal (34% protein) was used. The additions of methionine, or lysine, or both to sunflower meal did not improve the weight gains. However, from 8 to 12 weeks, the addition of lysine alone and the combination of lysine and methionine to the sunflower diet did improve feed efficiency. For the period 12 to 20 weeks, the combination improved feed efficiency for the caged birds. In 11 of 14 weight comparisons the complete substitution of sunflower meal for soybean meal did not significantly reduce weight gain. Due to the weight gain and the feed efficiency data, the feed costs per pullet for either 12 to 20 weeks or 8 to 20 weeks were generally lower for the sunflower meal. The result was less cost because sunflower meal was about 30% cheaper than soybean meal.
The Contributions of an Interactionist Approach to Research and Theory on Criminal Careers

The term `criminal career' is treated in different ways by two distinct approaches, with differing ontological assumptions about human social behavior—a positivist approach and a pragmatist/ symbolic interactionist approach. Our major argument is that those interested in criminal careers and in stability and change in `criminal propensity' have much to gain by attending to symbolic interactionist conceptions of careers in crime and deviance, which are based on pragmatist rather than positivist ontological assumptions. These symbolic interactionist conceptions of criminal careers emphasize that continuity and change are inseparable, and that social constraints and opportunities, socialization, and even biology may influence, but never totally determine the contingencies and choices involved in criminal activity throughout the life course. Such symbolic interactionist conceptions would therefore provide those interested in both quantitative and qualitative research on criminal careers with a theoretical fra...
Gender differences in modulatory effects of tamoxifen upon the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system

It has been demonstrated that the gonadal steroid hormone estrogen can exert neuroprotective effects upon the nigrostriatal dopaminergic (NSDA) system against methamphetamine (MA)-induced neurotoxicity in female, but not male, mice. In contrast, the anti-estrogen, tamoxifen (TMX) can function as a NSDA neuroprotectant within both female and male mice. In an attempt to understand these effects of TMX, the effects of this anti-estrogen upon both behavioral and neurochemical indices of NSDA function were examined within female and male mice following treatment with MA. In general, TMX exerted markedly different (bi-directional) effects upon NSDA function between female and male mice. Notably, treatment with TMX resulted in a relative decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) concentrations within male mice and a relative increase in female mice when treated with MA to produce a significant gender difference. Similar effects were obtained for locomotor behaviors related with NSDA function. That is, TMX produced increases in horizontal activity, number of movements and total distance traveled within MA-treated female mice resulting in statistically significant gender differences for the two former parameters. For non-locomotor behaviors, like time occupying the center and margin of the cage, TMX-treated male mice showed statistically significant increases and decreases compared within TMX-treated female mice, respectively. These results show that in contrast to the similar neuroprotective effects of TMX upon MA-induced NSDA neurotoxicity, a number of other NSDA indices induced by MA show markedly different response profiles between TMX-treated female and male mice.
Expression and functional involvement of N-cadherin in embryonic limb chondrogenesis

Cell adhesion molecules have been shown to be important mediators of morphogenesis and pattern formation. In this study, we have shown that N-cadherin is expressed in a specific spatiotemporal manner in the developing limb bud during chondrogenesis in vivo and in cultured limb mesenchyme in vitro. The time period of maximal expression of N-cadherin corresponds to the period of active cellular condensation, an event believed to be a necessary prerequisite for chondrogenic differentiation. To directly assess the functional involvement of N-cadherin in cellular condensation, we have examined the effects of perturbing N-cadherin activity on both cell aggregation and chondrogenesis using NCD-2, a rat monoclonal antibody directed against the binding region of N-cadherin. Non-immune rat IgG was used as a control. Our results show that functional N-cadherin is necessary for chondrogenesis to proceed both in vivo and in vitro. Limb mesenchymal cells exhibited characteristic Ca(2+)-dependent cell aggregation in suspension, which was inhibited in the presence of exogenous NCD-2. In micromass cultures of limb mesenchymal cells, NCD-2 inhibited overt chondrogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, NCD-2 inhibition of chondrogenesis in micromass cultures was time-dependent, suggesting that N-cadherin is crucially involved during the latter half of the first 24 hours of culture, a time period most likely corresponding to active cellular condensation. NCD-2 also significantly influenced limb development when injected into embryonic limb buds in vivo. In addition to significant inhibition of chondrogenesis and developmental delays, gross developmental deformities and perturbation of overall pattern formation were also observed. Taken together, these results demonstrate that N-cadherin is functionally required in mediating the cell-cell interactions among mesenchymal cells important for chondrogenesis in micromass culture in vitro and in the intact limb bud in vivo.
Six-beam models in radiative transfer theory

A critical analysis is given of the applicability of six-beam models to radiative transfer in particulate materials. The method of introducing transverse scattering in these models is shown to cause fundamental difficulties in the case of physically plausible phase functions; in particular, the effective absorptivity is abnormally large and thus results in incorrect reflectances and transmittances. Six-beam calculations for several media are compared with accurate solutions, with Chu-Churchill two-beam results, and with a simple modification to the Eddington approximation, the last being generally superior over a wide range of conditions.
Psychopathy, reactive aggression, and precarious proclamations: A review of behavioral, cognitive, and biological research.

Psychopathic personality (psychopathy) is associated with a heightened risk for physical aggression, although the nature of this link remains unclear. Despite widespread claims that psychopathy is associated with reactive aggression, the evidence for this assertion is mixed. We provide a comprehensive review of behavioral, cognitive, and biological research on the relation between psychopathy and aggression, and conclude that although psychopathy is clearly associated with instrumental aggression, its association with reactive aggression is not robust. In fact, at least some research points to a potential protective role of psychopathy against reactive aggression. We conclude that future research must clarify the differential implications of the separable components of the broad psychopathy construct before the relations between psychopathy and physical aggression can be adequately understood.
A Comparison of Genetic Variation Between an Anadromous Steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss , Population and Seven Derived Populations Sequestered in Freshwater for 70 Years

In 1926 cannery workers from the Wakefield Fisheries Plant at Little Port Walter in Southeast Alaska captured small trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a portion of Sashin Creek populated with a wild steelhead (anadromous O. mykiss) run. They planted them into Sashin Lake which had been fishless to that time and separated from the lower stream by two large waterfalls that prevented upstream migration of any fish. In 1996 we sampled adult steelhead from the lower creek and juvenile O. mykiss from an intermediate portion of the creek, Sashin Lake, and five lakes that had been stocked with fish from Sashin Lake in 1938. Tissue samples from these eight populations were compared for variation in: microsatellite DNA at 10 loci; D-loop sequences in mitochondrial DNA; and allozymes at 73 loci known to be variable in steelhead. Genetic variability was consistently less in the Sashin Lake population and all derived populations than in the source anadromous population. The cause of this reduction is unknown but it is likely that very few fish survived to reproduce from the initial transplant in 1926. Stockings of 50–85 fish into five other fishless lakes in 1938 from Sashin Lake did not result in a similar dramatic reduction in variability. We discuss potential explanations for the observed patterns of genetic diversity in relation to the maintenance of endangered anadromous O. mykiss populations in freshwater refugia.
Microstrip quasi-horn antenna for UWB radars and sensors

A microstrip quasi-horn antenna for UWB radars and sensors has been developed. The antenna achieves good performance in both frequency domain for CW signals from 0.3-6 GHz and time domain for monocycle pulses of various durations. The time-domain measurement, particularly, shows that the antenna can transmit and receive monocycle pulses effectively with minimum distortion, little ringing, and small reflection, clearly demonstrating the signal fidelity of the antenna in reproducing the waveform of UWB signals which is critical for UWB radars and sensors. For time-domain applications, such as UWB radars which transmit and receive pulse signals, characterizing the antenna's transient responses directly is useful and important for accurate assessment of its signal fidelity and matching. The developed antenna employs non-uniform microstrip transmission line and has good linear phase, simple fabrication, and easy integration with microwave integrated circuits. It requires no transition or balun at its input, leading to wide bandwidths and high operating frequencies. The antenna has been successfully used in several UWB surface-penetrating radars.
The synthesis of several tritiated non-nucleoside, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors

The synthesis of three tritiated reverse transcriptase inhibitors is described herein. These compounds contained the benzoxazole ring linked to a 2-pyridinone ring by an aminomethylene group. The tritiated compounds were synthesized by hydrogenolysis of bromobenzoxazole precursors. The final tritiated compounds had specific activities ranging from 3-10 Ci/mmol.
Saturation of the Internal Tides and Induced Mixing in the Abyssal Ocean

As part of an ongoing effort to develop a parameterization of wave-induced abyssal mixing, the authors derive an heuristic model for nonlinear wave breaking and energy dissipation associated with internal tides. Then the saturation and dissipation of internal tides for idealized and observed topography samples are investigated. One of the main results is that the wave-induced mixing could be more intense and more confined to the bottom than previously assumed in numerical models. Furthermore, in this model wave breaking and mixing clearly depend on the small scales of the topography below 10 km or so, which is below the current resolution of global bathymetry. This motivates the use of a statistical approach to represent the unresolved topography when addressing the role of internal tides in mixing the deep ocean.
Implications of Observations of Very High Energy Gamma Rays from Pulsars

OBSERVATIONS of gamma rays of energy greater than 3 × 1012 eV with a flux of 5 × 10−11 photons cm−2 s−1 from the pulsar CP 1133 have been reported by O'Mongain et al.1. In addition, Charman et al.2 reported a pulsed flux of 2 × 10−12 photons cm−2 s−1 above an energy 7 × 1013 eV. Fazio et al.3 do not observe gamma rays above 3 × 1012 eV from CP 1133 (or from some other pulsars), but their upper limits are consistent with the results of O'Mongain et al. Here I examine the ways in which these high energy photons can be produced and derive some implications from the observations.
The role of cytogenetics and molecular genetics in soft tissue tumour diagnosis—a realistic appraisal

Summary Molecular genetic and cytogenetic analysis has revealed that many soft tissue tumours, both benign and malignant, carry simple, reproducible karyotypic aberrations that are tumour-specific. Many of these mutations are chromosomal translocations and the resulting fusion gene products have been cloned. Classification, diagnosis and prognostication of soft tissue tumours has already been influenced by these genetic findings. Furthermore, examination of fusion gene products has helped increase our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of soft tissue tumours and will hopefully aid in the development of new therapeutic agents. However, in current ‘routine' practice, it remains to be defined when molecular genetic and cytogenetic techniques should be used, which technique should be used and how testing should be performed. Herein we briefly review the impact that cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis has had on soft tissue tumour pathology and discuss both the benefits and limitations of these techniques in the current practice of diagnostic pathology.
Inequality among Equals: Disparities in the Judicial Treatment of Free Speech and Religious Exercise Claims

The constitutional models governing the religion clauses of the First Amendment have undergone significant transformations. These transformations have sought to bring a greater consistency and historical harmony to the Court's religious liberty decisions. The success of this endeavor can be gauged in part by comparing the judicial treatment of religion clause claims with free speech claims. However, such a comparison reveals that the former occupy a lower constitutional status than do the latter.
RE3Sb3Zn2O14 (RE = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd): a new family of pyrochlore derivatives with rare earth ions on a 2D Kagome lattice

We report the synthesis and crystal structures of compounds of the type RE3Sb3Zn2O14 (La3Sb3Zn2O14, Pr3Sb3Zn2O14, Nd3Sb3Zn2O14, Sm3Sb3Zn2O14, Eu3Sb3Zn2O14, and Gd3Sb3Zn2O14), a series of novel rhombohedral pyrochlore derivatives with rare earth ions on a two-dimensional Kagome lattice. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction was used to solve the structures of the compounds. The rare earth ions are fully atomically ordered in a symmetric magnetic Kagome lattice. The nonmagnetic lattice contains one ion (Zn) that is displaced from the center of its coordination polyhedron in a random fashion. The structure differs from the common cubic A2B2O7 pyrochlore type because it forms a layered rather than three-dimensional structure through ordering of ZnRE3 in the A sites and ZnSb3 in the B sites. Magnetic property measurements indicate the compounds display dominantly antiferromagnetic interactions between spins, and no signs of magnetic ordering above 1.8 K except possibly the Pr and Eu cases. RE3Sb3Zn2O14 is the first series of this structure type in which the rare earth is the only magnetic ion in the structure. This family is therefore an archetype for exploring rare earth magnetism on a two-dimensional Kagome lattice.
Strategies to Cope with Regulatory Uncertainty in the Auto Industry

Automotive assemblers and suppliers have employed a number of different strategies to deal with external uncertainty. These strategies have evolved relatively rapidly of late in part because of changes in the locus of innovation from OEMs to suppliers, changing market conditions, and the future regulations of greenhouse gases. This presents a unique challenge for the industry. Some auto firms have been more effective in dealing with market and regulatory uncertainty due to technology resource integration across platforms and integration between functions on the value added chain from suppliers to retailers.
Streaky Behavior: Runs in Binomial Trials

When they have made several baskets in succession, basketball players are often described as being “hot.” When they have been unsuccessful for a while, they are described as being “cold” or “in a slump.” Fans and basketball players alike tend to believe that players shoot in streaks.
Biotic Factor of System Genesis

Planet Earth houses millions of species of plants and animals and all may perform as biotic factors.
Role of NudE in transporting Golgi outposts during dendrite morphogenesis

Dynein and kinesin motor proteins are cells' primary method of transporting cargo, but our knowledge of transport regulation is incomplete. Misregulation of transport in neurons causes multiple dif...
Frequency synthesis with chip-scale microresonators

We describe the generation of low-noise optical and microwave signals via Kerr and Brillouin nonlinearities in high-quality-factor optical microresonators. Applications to clocks, timing, communications and sensing are discussed.
Pneumococcal bacteraemia: serotype distribution and its implication for an Australian vaccination programme

The investigations of MacLeod and his colleagues among American Service recruits in 1942 to 1946 established the potential value of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia. These workers showed that the administration of a single dose of about 50 μ g pneumococcal polysaccharide gave substantial immunity. Antibody appeared within 2 wk and persisted for several yr. Recent work by Austrian in Philadelphia has revived interest in the use of pneumococcal vaccines and trials have recently been conducted in the United States, South Africa and New Guinea. Results have been satisfactory and it is probable that suitable vaccines will be licensed in the United States this year and become commercially available in 1977. Especially in elderly patients, bacteraemic pneumonia remains a potentially lethal disease, as does pneumococcal meningitis at all ages. Because there are 46 known serotypes of pneumococci, all of which are potentially pathogenic for man, it is essential to establish which are the common serotypes causing severe infection in a community before embarking on a vaccination programme. We have serotyped the pneumococci isolated from 113 bacteraemic patients in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney during 1970–4 inclusive. Among the 113 cases (69 in adults and 44 in children) the predominant serotypes were 14, 1, 19, 4, 9. 3, 6 and 18, in that order. These 8 serotypes caused 82 (72%) of the bacteraemias. A vaccine containing purified polysaccharides from each of these 8 serotypes can be prepared.
A One-Step Method for the Numerical Integration of the Differential Equation y″ = f(x)y + g(x)

1. The numerical integration of ordinary differential equations by the use of Gaussian quadrature methods was introduced into the literature by Hammer and Hollingsworth (1955), for subsequent developments, see Morrison and Stoller (1958), Korganoff (1958), Kuntzmann (1961), Henrici (1962). In this paper we develop a one-step method for the numerical integration of the ordinary differential equation y" = f(x)y + g{x), y(o) — .Vo> y(*o) — yo based on the Gauss two-point rule (see Hildebrand, 1956). Theoretical and computational comparison of the new method with other methods is given.
Plasma half-lives of vasopressin and oxytocin analogs after iv injection in rats.

SummaryThe curve-fit method for estimating plasma half-lives from vasopressor responses in rats (2) was used to estimate the plasma half-lives of vasopressin and oxytocin analogs substituted in the 1, 1 and 6, and 8 positions. Deamino-vasopressin and 1-hydroxy-oxytocin did not seem to be long-acting. Deamino-dicarba analogs of arginine-vasopressin and arginine-vasotocin were long-acting to the same degree, respectively, as deamino-vasopressin and deamino-vasotocin. Three 8-substituted analogs of oxytocin, [8-ornithine]-oxytocin, [8-glutamine]-oxytocin, and [8-proline]-oxytocin, were also long-acting.
The kallikrein-kinin system in blood pressure homeostasis.

1. The acute effects of the kallikrein inhibitor aprotinin (498 ki.u./min), and the kininase II inhibitor SQ 14 225 (250 μg), given intravenously during saralasin-induced angiotensin blockade, were studied in conscious sham-operated rats and rats with benign and malignant two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertension during dietary sodium restriction. 2. The blood pressure of conscious sham-operated rats increased significantly in response to aprotinin. It remained unchanged after SQ 14 225 in contrast to the significant vasodepressor effect seen when SQ 14 225 was given to the same rats under surgical stress and pentobarbital anaesthesia. 3. Benignly hypertensive rats showed a consistent vasopressor response to aprotinin and a marked vasodepressor response to SQ 14 225. The effects of both inhibitors were markedly and significantly blunted in malignantly hypertensive rats. 4. Our demonstration that two agents with known opposite actions on the kallikrein—kinin system produced predictable and opposite effects on blood pressure may indicate that this system is involved in the homeostatic regulation of blood pressure. It may play an important antihypertensive role in benign two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertension, a role which might be impaired in malignant hypertension.
The innovative perception of space (Europe) in late medieval German literature: the spatial turn in light of Eleonore of Austria’s Pontus und Sidonia (ca. 1450–1460)

The meaning of space with respect to human beings finds vivid expression in literary texts throughout world history. But even though literary protagonists travel on a regular basis and thus experience themselves and the reality around them quite dramatically, space remained a rather vague dimension far throughout the Middle Ages. By the fifteenth century, however, we recognize a noteworthy paradigm shift regarding the perception and relevance of space as a relevant entity determining the individual’s life, as reflected by poets and writers across Europe. After reviewing how most medieval poets dealt with space, this phenomenon is then discussed particularly in light of Eleonore of Austria’s Pontus und Sidonia (ca. 1450–1460), where the western world of Europe in its geo-political dimension emerges perhaps more clearly than ever before and where space in concrete geo-political terms matters significantly, setting a new tone which would lead over to the early modern age and facilitated an astounding popularity of this novel far into the eighteenth century.
EEG Mapping and BECT

Sequential topographic EEG mapping performed to differentiate “epileptic” from “non-epileptic” rolandic spikes has shown a characteristic pattern significantly related to classical BECT (benign focal epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes) in a study at the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Department of Child Neurology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Perception based navigation for underactuated robots

Robot autonomous navigation is a very active field of robotics. In this thesis we propose a hierarchical approach to a class of underactuated robots by composing a collection of local controllers with well understood domains of attraction. We start by addressing the problem of robot navigation with nonholonomic motion constraints and perceptual cues arising from onboard visual servoing in partially engineered environments. We propose a general hybrid procedure that adapts to the constrained motion setting the standard feedback controller arising from a navigation function in the fully actuated case. This is accomplished by switching back and forth between moving "down" and "across" the associated gradient field toward the stable manifold it induces in the constrained dynamics. Guaranteed to avoid obstacles in all cases, we provide conditions under which the new procedure brings initial configurations to within an arbitrarily small neighborhood of the goal. We summarize with simulation results on a sample of visual servoing problems with a few different perceptual models. We document the empirical effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by reporting the results of its application to outdoor autonomous visual registration experiments with the robot RHex guided by engineered beacons. Next we explore the possibility of adapting the resulting first order hybrid feedback controller to its dynamical counterpart by introducing tunable damping terms in the control law. Just as gradient controllers for standard quasi-static mechanical systems give rise to generalized "PD-style" controllers for dynamical versions of those standard systems, we show that it is possible to construct similar "lifts" in the presence of non-holonomic constraints notwithstanding the necessary absence of point attractors. Simulation results corroborate the proposed lift. Finally we present an implementation of a fully autonomous navigation application for a legged robot. The robot adapts its leg trajectory parameters by recourse to a discrete gradient descent algorithm, while managing its experiments and outcome measurements autonomously via the navigation visual servoing algorithms proposed in this thesis.
Survey for ticks on feral swine within a cattle fever tick-infested landscape in Texas, U.S.A.

We collected ticks from feral swine, Sus scrofa L., during 1–3 September 2015, in pastures known to be infested by southern cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas, U.S.A. All 81 examined feral swine were infested by ticks, but none was infested by R. microplus. Tick species collected were Amblyomma maculatum Koch, Amblyomma mixtum Koch, Amblyomma tenellum Koch, Dermacentor halli McIntosh, and Dermaentor variabilis (Say). This is the first formal report of A. tenellum infesting feral swine.
A monolithic CMOS compatible photonic/electronic platform and short reach data link transmitter figures of merit

CMOS Integrated Nano Photonics (CINPs) hold promise for bringing semiconductor industry efficiency and dramatic cost reductions to optical interconnect applications [1]. IBM has developed a CINP technology (TX) (CMOS9WG) in a sub-100nm CMOS platform where electronic and photonic components are monolithically integrated into the CMOS circuit analog and mixed-signal frontend. This minimizes processing steps, mask levels, component parasitics, and packaging/assembly complexity, and is designed to enabled multi-channel short reach optical interconnects up to 25 Gbaud rates [2]. Hybrid technology solutions also exist, where electrical and optical components are on separate chips [3]. Hybrid and monolithic platforms each offer unique advantages. However, the monolithic platform has the distinct advantage of being able to address both the hybrid and monolithic approaches.
Understanding the Role of Mutations in SF3B1 and Splicing in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract Abstract SCI-15 A major challenge in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the tremendous clinical heterogeneity of this disease, ranging from indolent disease kinetics to a rapidly fatal course despite aggressive therapy. While some prognostic markers have been established, the advent of deep-sequencing technologies has enabled identification of most or all genetic alterations underlying malignancy, which is leading to new genetic prognostic markers across cancers. We recently sequenced the exomes of 91 CLLs with matched germline controls and identified nine recurrently mutated genes, six pathways involved in CLL pathogenesis (1), as well as new prognostic factors. From this study, a striking finding was the high frequency of mutations in SF3B1, part of the catalytic core of the spliceosome. We found that 14 independent SF3B1 mutations (15% of 91 CLL samples) localized to a single region of the gene (with unknown function) with 50 percent being identical K700E mutations. This finding has been since verified by other investigators. SF3B1 mutations were significantly associated with del(11q), a cytogenetic abnormality that is associated with aggressive disease, and whose minimally deleted region contains the critical DNA damage response gene ATM. Importantly, a Cox multivariate regression model identified mutated SF3B1 as an independent predictive marker of poor prognosis. Mechanistically, CLL samples harboring SF3B1 mutation demonstrated altered pre-mRNA splicing, with increased intron retention in known spliceosome target genes. Finally, SF3B1-K700E was also identified as a recurring mutation in myelodysplasia. In short, mutations in SF3B1 are positively selected in CLL, alter splicing patterns, and represent a novel oncogenic mechanism in hematologic malignancies. Our genetic and clinical evidence suggests that altered pre-mRNA splicing is a novel cancer pathway of importance to CLL and to blood malignancies in general. An ongoing focus of investigation in our group is trying to understand the CLL-promoting activity of SF3B1 mutation by linking alterations in transcripts with functional changes in B-cell biology. Precise identification of driver transcripts and their functional characterization will enable the development of novel therapeutics that can target this pathway more efficaciously and with minimal toxicity. This is especially important in the treatment of a clinically aggressive subgroup of CLL for which effective therapies are presently unavailable. Spliceosome targeting drugs have been identified—discovered through medicinal screens of natural products with tumoricidal properties, and only later found to target the SF3b complex—and may have promise for this subset of patients. Elucidation of this novel cancer pathway has broad implications for cancer biology, from the vantage of both understanding disease mechanism and the potential for therapeutic targeting. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Yin/Yan of CCL2: a minor role in neutrophil anti-tumor activity in vitro but a major role on the outgrowth of metastatic breast cancer lesions in the lung in vivo

The role of the chemokine CCL2 in breast cancer is controversial. While CCL2 recruits and activates pro-tumor macrophages, it is also reported to enhance neutrophil-mediated anti-tumor activity. Moreover, loss of CCL2 in early development enhances breast cancer progression. To clarify these conflicting findings, we examined the ability of CCL2 to alter naive and tumor entrained neutrophil production of ROS, release of granzyme-B, and killing of tumor cells in multiple mouse models of breast cancer. CCL2 was delivered intranasally in mice to elevate CCL2 levels in the lung and effects on seeding and growth of breast tumor cells were evaluated. The TCGA data base was queried for relationship between CCL2 expression and relapse free survival of breast cancer patients and compared to subsets of breast cancer patients. Even though each of the tumor cell lines studied produced approximately equal amounts of CCL2, exogenous delivery of CCL2 to co-cultures of breast tumor cells and neutrophils enhanced the ability of tumor-entrained neutrophils (TEN) to kill the less aggressive 67NR variant of 4T1 breast cancer cells. However, exogenous CCL2 did not enhance naive or TEN neutrophil killing of more aggressive 4T1 or PyMT breast tumor cells. Moreover, this anti-tumor activity was not observed in vivo. Intranasal delivery of CCL2 to BALB/c mice markedly enhanced seeding and outgrowth of 67NR cells in the lung and increased the recruitment of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ central memory T cells into lungs of tumor bearing mice. There was no significant increase in the recruitment of CD19+ B cells, or F4/80+, Ly6G+ and CD11c + myeloid cells. CCL2 had an equal effect on CD206+ and MHCII+ populations of macrophages, thus balancing the pro- and anti-tumor macrophage cell population. Analysis of the relationship between CCL2 levels and relapse free survival in humans revealed that overall survival is not significantly different between high CCL2 expressing and low CCL2 expressing breast cancer patients grouped together. However, examination of the relationship between high CCL2 expressing basal-like, HER2+ and luminal B breast cancer patients revealed that higher CCL2 expressing tumors in these subgroups have a significantly higher probability of surviving longer than those expressing low CCL2. While our in vitro data support a potential anti-tumor role for CCL2 in TEN neutrophil- mediated tumor killing in poorly aggressive tumors, intranasal delivery of CCL2 increased CD4+ T cell recruitment to the pre-metastatic niche of the lung and this correlated with enhanced seeding and growth of tumor cells. These data indicate that effects of CCL2/CCR2 antagonists on the intratumoral leukocyte content should be monitored in ongoing clinical trials using these agents.
Bringing the Polls to the People: How Electoral Access Encourages Turnout But Exacerbates Political Inequality

New or fragile democracies often suffer from low political participation. In these contexts attempts to increase electoral access are generally seen as unambiguously desirable. But while these policies can increase the size of the electorate, they may carry costs. Improving access affects the composition of the electorate by differentially enfranchising those who are highly sensitive to voting costs. Using new administrative data from post-Apartheid South Africa and a difference-in-differences design, I show that the Independent Electoral Commission's large scale expansion of access to voting stations has increased national turnout by between 2.3 and 4.7 percentage points over the period 1999 to 2014. This accounts for roughly 5% of the electorate. By spatially linking approximately 39,000 survey respondents to their nearest voting station, I then demonstrate, in the context of a natural quasi-experiment, that those of high socio-economic status and those who are older are much more sensitive to electoral access than others. Improving access expands the franchise in general, but does so more for those already economically or politically over-represented, who happen to be more opposed to redistributive public policies, and who have particular partisan preferences.
The Relation of Dietary Restraint and Affect with Food Choice and the Experience of Guilt after Eating

This study examined the relation of affect and the desire to restrict intake (i.e., dietary restraint) with food choice and the experience of guilt after eating. We hypothesized that restraint would predict choosing lower-calorie foods except when individuals with high restraint experienced negative affect, and guilt after eating would be associated with restraint among individuals with high negative affect. Participants (N = 309) completed measures of restraint and eating psychopathology before experiencing a positive, negative, or no mood induction. Participants then chose foods from four menus and ate one food item before rating their momentary guilt. Restraint predicted choosing lower calorie foods, but negative affect did not influence this relationship. An interaction of restraint and negative mood predicted guilt after eating. Thus, dietary restraint predicts restriction at the choice-level, and individuals high on restraint may interpret negative emotion while eating as a failure of behavioral control, producing guilt.