cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraoperatively updated neuroimaging using brain modeling and sparse data.

OBJECTIVE: Image-guided neurosurgery incorporating preoperatively obtained imaging information is subject to spatial error resulting from intraoperative brain displacement and deformation. A strategy to update preoperative imaging using readily available intraoperative information has been developed and implemented. METHODS: Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging is used to generate a patient-specific three-dimensional finite element model of the brain by which deformation resulting from multiple surgical processes may be simulated. Sparse imaging data obtained subsequently, such as from digital cameras or ultrasound, are then used to prescribe the displacement of selected points within the model. Based on the model, interpolation to the resolution of preoperative imaging may then be performed. RESULTS: The algorithms for generation of the finite element model and for its subsequent deformation were successfully validated using a pig brain model. In these experiments, the method recovered 84% of the intraoperative shift resulting from surgically induced tissue motion. Preliminary clinical application in the operating room has demonstrated feasibility. CONCLUSION: A strategy by which intraoperative brain deformation may be accounted for has been developed, validated in an animal model, and demonstrated clinically.
God is great, God is good: medieval conceptions of divine goodness and the problem of hell

Medieval views of both divine goodness and the doctrine of hell are examined and shown to be incompatible with our best understandings of goodness. The only manner in which God could be good to those in hell - by permitting their continued existence - is not sufficient to outweigh «the dreadful pains of eternal fire». One might claim that God is good to them in the retributive sense; but I argue that retributive punishment is inadequate justification of eternal torment. The medieval notions of goodness and hell seem to make God more a sadistic torturer than a caring parent. Eleonore Stump, accepting the medievals' axiology, ameliorates the doctrine of hell. However, I argue that her Dantean version of hell fails because «not to be» in certain circumstances is rationally preferable to continued existence. In addition, life under those conditions would result in frustration, not fulfilment, of one's second nature and would result in a progressive loss of being. Indeed, it seems more reasonable to reject the identity of being and goodness which both the medievals and Stump embrace or to accept being as a prima facie good that is defeasible in the face of eternal damnation.
Tyrosine 116 of the herpes simplex virus type 1 IEalpha22 protein is an ocular virulence determinant and potential phosphorylation site.

PURPOSE. To determine whether tyrosine 116 of the HSV-1 22 protein is involved in virulence and is a potential phosphorylation site. METHODS. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to revert the Y116C mutation in the 22 gene of the strain OD4 to wild type (C116Y), and the effect of virulence was tested by using a marker transfer–infection protocol in mice. Immunoblot analysis, tryptic phosphopeptide mapping, and phosphotyrosine pulldown–immunoblot protocols were used to assess the OD4 22 isoforms. RESULTS. Reversion of the Y116C mutation resulted in a significant increase in the severity of ocular disease compared with the OD4 virus alone. Reversion of the Y116C and a previously identified mutation (S34A) together did not alter the severity of virulence compared with either mutation alone. Immunoblot analysis revealed a loss or reduction in 22 isoforms in the OD4 virus compared with wild type (CJ394 virus). The OD4 virus had numerous alterations in the 22 tryptic phosphopeptide pattern, including loss of specific peptides and shifts in the position of several peptides. Phosphotyrosine pulldowns revealed a loss of one or more isoforms and shifts in the apparent size of others. CONCLUSIONS. The data indicate that Y116 is a determinant of peripheral virulence in mice and that mutations at S34 and Y116 affect virulence independently. The data also show that the S34 and Y116 mutations substantially alter phosphorylation of the 22 protein, that Y116 is a potential phosphorylation site, and that the 22 protein contains at least two phosphotyrosines. These results are the first to show that mutation of a specific tyrosine in the 22 protein is associated with virulence. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44:4601– 4607)
The effect of femoral tunnel placement on ACL graft orientation and length during in vivo knee flexion

Abstract Anatomically placed grafts are believed to more closely restore the function of the ACL. This study measured the effect of femoral tunnel placement on graft orientation and length during weight-bearing flexion. Both knees of twelve patients where the graft was placed near the anteroproximal border of the ACL and ten where the graft was placed near the center of the ACL were imaged using MR. These images were used to create 3D models of the reconstructed and intact contralateral knees, including the attachment sites of the native ACL and graft. Next, patients were imaged using biplanar fluoroscopy while performing a quasi-static lunge. The models were registered to the fluoroscopic images to reproduce in vivo knee motion. From the relative motion of the attachment sites on the models, the length and orientation of the graft and native ACL were measured. Grafts placed anteroproximally on the femur were longer and more vertical than the native ACL in both the sagittal and coronal planes, while anatomically placed grafts more closely mimicked ACL motion. In full extension, the grafts placed anteroproximally were 12.3±5.2° (mean and 95%CI) more vertical than the native ACL in the sagittal plane, whereas the grafts placed anatomically were 2.9±3.7° less vertical. Grafts placed anteroproximally were up to 6±2 mm longer than the native ACL, while the anatomically placed grafts were a maximum of 2±2 mm longer. In conclusion, grafts placed anatomically more closely restored native ACL length and orientation. As a result, anatomic grafts are more likely to restore intact knee kinematics.
Brief Overview of Screening and Assessment for Co-occurring Disorders

This paper discusses screening, assessment, and treatment planning for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. Screening indicates the likelihood that a person has, or doesn’t have, a disorder, thus whether or not additional assessment is needed. While many instruments may provide adequate screening, any single instrument will be more or less preferable depending upon a variety of situational factors, which each agency should consider when choosing an instrument to suits its purposes. The paper lists some instruments that screen for substance use or mental disorders or both, and provides an evaluation matrix and guidelines to aid the selection process. Assessment acquires information through administering instruments, conducting in-depth clinical interviews, reviewing client histories, etc. Assessment instruments are listed and discussed, and advice for counselors is included. In essence, screening and assessment warrant equivalent attention and should be accompanied by careful treatment planning and the provision of (or referral to) appropriate services.
Why bother with x-ray lithography?

The manufacture of state-of-the-art integrated circuits uses UV optical projection lithography. Conventional wisdom (i.e., the trade journals) holds that this technology will take the industry to quarter-micrometer minimum features sizes and below. So, why bother with X-ray lithography? The reason is that lithography is a 'system problem', and proximity X-ray lithography is better matched to that system problem than any other technology, once the initial investment is surmounted. X-ray lithography offers the most cost-effective path to the future of ultra-large-scale integrated circuits with feature sizes of tenth micrometer and below (i.e., gigascale electronics and quantum-effect electronics).
Experiences in the surgical alleviation of congenital pulmonic stenosis.

Experiences with 115 cases of congenital pulmonary stenosis treated by the direct operative approach of Brock and the operative mortality incurred are reported. A new rongeur for resection of infundibular stenosis is presented. A guillotine-type knife is also presented which has been used successfully to alleviate pulmonary valvular stenosis by a blind "closed technique." It is believed that these two technical aids will render it possible more safely and more adequately to relieve the pulmonic obstruction associated with the tetralogy of Fallot and isolated forms of pulmonic stenosis without the necessity for employing the more complicated and inherently more dangerous open techniques.
TU-EE-A4-06: Analysis of Dose-Related Data Logged for Fluoroscopic Cardiac Interventional Procedures

Purpose: In response to FDA advisories of the potential for skin injuries from fluoroscopically‐guided interventions, logs have been recorded of procedure‐related information for all fluoroscopic cardiac studies performed at our hospital. The data includes dose‐area product (DAP), estimated entrance‐skin dose (ESD), fluoroscopy time, number of digital runs, image‐intensifier magnification mode, and patient weight and height as well as procedure type and physician. Method and Materials: Dose‐related data was recorded for over 2000 cardiac catheterization and over 800 electrophysiology procedures. This information was transferred to a database spreadsheet and analyzed to determine distribution shape, range and median values and correlations between factors. ESD values were calculated from DAP readings using the estimated field size at the patient entrance and included backscatter.Fluoroscopy times and dose values are compared by procedure and physician. Those procedures evaluated included percutaneous‐coronary interventions (PCI) performed in the catheterization laboratory and radiofrequency ablation(RFA) and biventricular‐implantable‐cardioverter defibrillator (BIV ICD) placement performed in the electrophysiology lab. Results: All procedures had a wide range of DAP values, ESD values and fluoroscopy times with distributions skewed toward the lower end. PCI procedures generally had the greatest ranges (216 to 88,971 cGy‐cm2 DAP, 2 to 726 cGy ESD, 1 to 96 minutes fluoroscopy) and the highest median values (16,000 cGy‐cm2, 130 cGy, 20 minutes). There was some correlation demonstrated between DAP values and fluoroscopy time and patient body mass index. ESD values calculated from DAP values had a large uncertainty primarily due to uncertainty in the exposure geometry. Conclusion: Although an inexact measure of skin exposure during interventional procedures, DAP values provide some guidance in identifying those patients with ESD values potentially above thresholds for deterministic effects. Tracking of this parameter can provide an indicator of when cautionary notes should be placed in the patient's chart for medical observation and followup.
The Biochemistry and Structural Biology of Plant Cell Wall Deconstruction

The cell walls of plants are the most abundant source of organic carbon on the planet. This photosynthetically fixed carbon is recycled by microbial enzymes that convert cell wall polysaccharides to monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, a process that is of biological and industrial importance ([
Christianity Without Civilization: Anglican Sources for an Alternative Nineteenth-Century Mission Methodology

La theorie des missionnaires chretiens du XIX e siecle comporte deux maitre-mots: christianiser et civiliser. Cependant, des sources renseignent l'historien et lui montrent que l'interet pour les cultures indigenes et la possibilite de leur accorder une valeur existent dans la mentalite des missionnaires. En ce qui concerne l'Eglise anglicane, trois missions temoignent de cet interet a l'epoque victorienne: la Mission des Universites en Afrique Centrale (1858), la Mission Anglicane en Papouasie (1894) et la Mission Melanesienne (1849). C'est cette derniere qui est etudiee par l'A. et notamment la constitution d'un clerge indigene seul capable d'assurer la communication de la verite chretienne
Modeling and analysis of nest-site selection by honeybee swarms: the speed and accuracy trade-off

Nest-site selection in honeybees is a process of social decision making in which the scout bees in a swarm locate several potential nest sites, evaluate them, and select the best one by means of competitive signaling. We develop a model of this process and validate that the model possesses the key features of the bees' decision-making process, as revealed by prior empirical studies. Next, we use the model to study the “design” of the nest-site selection process, with a focus on how certain behavioral parameters have been tuned by natural selection to achieve a balance between speed and accuracy. First, we study the effects of the quorum threshold and the dance decay rate. We show that evolution seems to have settled on values for these two parameters that seek a balance between speed and accuracy of decision making by minimizing the time needed to achieve a consensus and maximizing the probability that the best site is chosen. Second, we study the adaptive tuning of the tendency of bees to explore for vs be recruited to a site. We show that this tendency appears to be tuned to regulate the positive feedback process of recruitment to ensure both a reasonably rapid choice and a low probability of a poor choice. Finally we show that the probability of choosing the best site is proportional to its quality, but that this proportionality depends on its quality relative to other discovered sites.
A simple purification of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase for full-length transcription of 35 S RNA.

Abstract Complete transcription of large RNA templates by avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase requires a purified and concentrated enzyme. This report describes a simple 2-day procedure consisting of a DEAE column, a carboxymethyl-Sepharose column, and a concentration step. Sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that the enzyme is free of contaminating protein and a series of rigorous assays reveal little if any exogenous ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease activity. The reverse transcriptase purified by this method readily catalyzes synthesis of full-length complementary DNA from viral RNAs.
Connecting complex disorders through biology

Mutations in CTC1, which encodes a key telomere component, have been identified as the cause of Coats plus syndrome. This discovery provides an important pathophysiological link between Coats plus and the clinically related telomere disorders dyskeratosis congenita, Revesz syndrome and Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome.
Clinical utility of rapid clonidine-naltrexone detoxification for opioid abusers.

Summary Clonidine hydrochloride (an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist) and naltrexone hydrochloride (an opioid antagonist), given in combination, provide a safe and effective treatment of abrupt opioid withdrawal over 4 or 5 days in an outpatient/day setting. Following a naloxone challenge test to verify and quantify opioid dependence, 14 of 17 (82%) heroin users successfully withdrew from opioids and attained maintenance levels of naltrexone. Eight of 9 (89%) successfully completed the 4-day study in which naltrexone therapy was begun on day I. Three to 5 days of clonidine hydrochloride treatment with a peak mean dose of 0.6 mg/day on day 2 for the patients in the S-day study, and 0.5 mg on days 1 and 2 for patients in the 4-day study, attenuated the withdrawal inducing effects of naltrexone. Both groups received naltrexone in single morning doses which were rapidly increased from 12.5 mg on the first day of naltrexone therapy to SO mg on the third day. Clonidine significantly decreased blood pressure in both groups without producing clinical problems. This study has improved the availability of the clonidine-naltrexone combination by developing a single dose per day naltrexone regimen with naltrexone doses generally available to any opioid treatment facility.
Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Changes at 1 Year in Postmenopausal Women Who Are Not Receiving Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer (BCA).

Background: Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BCA) may be associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis. This prospective, observational study evaluates BMD changes in postmenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) for early stage BCA, in the absence of endocrine therapy.Methods: Women who have been postmenopausal for at least 5 years, and who were recently diagnosed with Stage 0-III BCA were eligible to undergo serial BMD if adjuvant endocrine therapy was not recommended. Study BMDs were performed at baseline, 1 and 2 years. All patients (pts) were counseled on calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise. This study was designed to assess serial changes in BMD in the individual and to compare changes in those treated with CTX to those who received no systemic therapy (observation). The study was closed prior to reaching target sample size due to slow accrual.Results: Sixteen pts enrolled. Eleven pts received CTX with a dose dense anthracycline and taxane containing regimen and 5 pts received no systemic adjuvant therapy. Twelve pts, median age 63 (range 52-80), have completed the 1 year assessment and are reported here. Two pts treated with CTX and 1 pt on observation were on bisphosphonates at study entry. Baseline BMD mean in gm/cm2 at the lumbar spine (LS) was 1.112 (range 0.807-1.389) and total hip (TH) was 0.989 (range 0.760-1.213). At 1 year, mean BMD at LS was 1.078 (range 0.767-1.347) and TH was 0.956 (range 0.753-1.210). For all 12 pts at 1 year, the individual BMD changes in LS & TH BMD ranged from 10% loss to 2% gain, with 8 of the 9 CTX treated pts losing 1-10% of BMD and the 3 pts on observation staying within 2% of baseline. The mean dosage of dexamethasone used during CTX by the 9 CTX pts was 230 mg (range 156-288mg). The 3 observation pts had no exposure to steroids during the parallel time period.Conclusions: This prospective, observational study supports the hypothesis that adjuvant CTX, and/or its supportive medications, may be associated with acute changes in BMD in postmenopausal women. Patient follow up continues.Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure POP0402593 Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1066.
Residence time distribution in a size-exclusion SMB for insulin purification

This study analyzes for the first time the residence time distribution in a size-exclusion simulated moving bed (SMB) process. In an SMB, the raffinate port is located downstream from the feed port, whereas the extract port is located upstream from the feed port. The location of the product ports and periodic port movement results in a residence time distribution that strongly depends on solute injection time. The earlier a fast-moving solute is injected during the switching period, the earlier it exits the raffinate port. In contrast, the earlier a slow-moving solute is injected during the switching period, the later it exits the extract port. Furthermore, only a fraction of the stream is drawn as the raffinate product or the extract product. The rest is recycled. The recycle results in the splitting of a differential pulse into a pulse train with diminishing magnitude. The shape of the pulse train depends on the pulse injection time. A large recycle ratio, which results from a low selectivity, causes a long decay of the pulse train and increases tailing of the residence time distribution curve. Mass-transfer effects broaden the pulse train and the residence time distribution. To shorten the residence time of a fast-moving solute, one can increase the flow rate of zone II, decrease the length of zone III, or feed during the first half of the switching period. To shorten the residence time of a slow-moving solute, one can decrease the flow rate of zone III, decrease the length of zone II, or feed during the second half of the switching period. Rate model simulations show that these strategies can significantly reduce the residence time of insulin in SMB.
Simultaneous Localization of Multiple Unknown and Transient Radio Sources Using a Mobile Robot

We report system and algorithm developments that utilize a single mobile robot to simultaneously localize multiple unknown transient radio sources. Because of signal source anonymity, short transmission durations, and dynamic transmission patterns, the robot cannot treat the radio sources as continuous radio beacons. To deal with this challenging localization problem, we model the radio source behaviors using a novel spatiotemporal probability occupancy grid that captures transient characteristics of radio transmissions and tracks posterior probability distributions of radio sources. As a Monte Carlo method, a ridge walking motion planning algorithm is proposed to enable the robot to efficiently traverse the high-probability regions to accelerate the convergence of the posterior probability distribution. We also formally show that the time to find a radio source is insensitive to the number of radio sources, and hence, our algorithm has great scalability. We have implemented the algorithms and extensively tested them in comparison with two heuristic methods: a random walk and a fixed-route patrol. The localization time of our algorithms is consistently shorter than that of the two heuristic methods.
A powerful, yet easy to use, computerized analysis of competitive protein binding and radioimmunoassay data.

Abstract A computerized method has been developed and tested for the automatic computation of data obtained from competitive radio-binding assays, that is easily used by computer and non-computer oriented individuals. The program requires a series of only eleven parameter lines coded from the assay protocol, followed by the data exactly as it is produced from a standard sample counter. From the set of parameters the program is able to find standard curves at scattered locations through an assay, check their ‘log dose-logit response’ least squares linear regression equations statistically for homogeneity of slopes and elevations, pool the standard curves and check the pooled least squares linear regression equation statistically for linearity and non-linearity. The results of the pooled standard curve is presented graphically and in tabular form. Using the linear equation for the pooled standard curves, the concentration for each unknown sample is predicted with its corresponding 95% confidence interval and presented in a table of unknowns. Also provided in the table of unknowns is a mean and standard error of the mean for all biological replicates, including footnote flags to warn the user when an unknown concentration: (i) is outside the 0–100% bound range; (ii) is estimated from a range outside that covered by the standards; or (iii) was estimated from the unusable tail regions of the standard curve.
Low dose latrunculin-A inhibits dexamethasone-induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton and alters extracellular matrix protein expression in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells.

Abstract We determined the effects of a low dose of the actin-disrupting agent latrunculin (LAT)-A on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced changes in actin organization, focal adhesions, and production of extracellular matrix proteins in cultured human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells. HTM cells were cultured to a highly confluent stage with stable endothelium-like morphology and incubated with 0·1 or 0·2 μ m DEX and/or 0·1 μ m LAT-A. Changes in the actin cytoskeleton and vinculin-containing focal contacts were evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and fibronectin (FN) in HTM cells was evaluated by Western blot analysis. The results showed that DEX induced morphological changes and actin reorganization in HTM cells. The cells partly recovered after DEX withdrawal, but the addition of low dose LAT-A hastened the recovery. In addition, DEX failed to induce changes when co-incubated with LAT-A for at least 4 weeks, and for at least 2 weeks when cells were pre-treated with LAT-A for 2 weeks. HTM cells treated with 0·1 μ m LAT-A only for 5 days showed mild disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions, which persisted during the 4 weeks of treatment. DEX stimulated production of FN in HTM cells independent of LAT-A treatment. LAT-A and, to a lesser extent, DEX inhibited production of TSP1 by HTM cells. Although LAT-A is not a DEX receptor antagonist, it is able to prevent the effects of DEX on the actin cytoskeleton in cultured HTM cells at a dose subthreshold for increasing outflow facility in monkeys. This suggests that LAT-A at low doses may be useful in treating steroid and other glaucomas. TSP1 may be an important target of LAT-A in HTM cells and modulation of TSP may influence the actin cytoskeleton of the trabecular meshwork (TM), and consequently, intraocular pressure.
The Nature of the Paramagnetic States in SiO2-GeO2-Sol-Gel Glasses

The 9.5 GHz ESR-spectra of gamma-ray irradiated 94 SiO2 6 GeO2 (mol%) aero gels heat treated at 462°C were recorded at 300 K. The ESR-spectrum of this gel consisted of an asymmetric line (g1 = 2.001, g2 = 1.995, and g3 = 1.994) attributed to the Ge(3)-center and other components which have not yet been identified. The 94 SiO2 6 GeO2 gel was treated at 1000 and 1280°C and then exposed to gamma-ray radiation. The Ge(1)- and Ge(3)-centers were identified in the 94 SiO2 6 GeO2 gel with TH = 1000°C. At TH = 1280°C the signal of the Ge(1)-center dominated the spectrum of this sample. The spectra of the 58 SiO2 42 GeO2 gels with TH = 1200 and 1400°C can be described by the Ge(3)-center. The Ge(1)-center was of minor importance in these samples.
Service providers and customers: social exchange theory and service loyalty

Purpose – This paper extends Lawler's argument (in “An affect theory of social exchange”) that social exchanges can create a sense of shared responsibility to service settings, and predict that inseparability produces customer perceptions of shared responsibility for service outcomes, resulting in greater emotions. When emotions are positive, there should be increased loyalty to the service provider.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was used to obtain cross‐sectional data pertaining to our model's constructs: inseparability, shared responsibility, emotional response, and service loyalty. A structural equation model evaluated the strength of relationships between these constructs.Findings – Support was found for the predicted relationships between inseparability and shared responsibility, shared responsibility and emotions, and emotions and service loyalty.Research limitations/implications – Inseparability and shared responsibility have not been measured before, and more research is needed to v...
Sonographic appearance of plasmablastic lymphoma of the testes.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a subset of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically first presents in the oral cavity although there are cases occurring in the skin, nasopharyx, stomach, lung, and anus.1 Plasmablastic lymphoma accounts for about 2.6% of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related lymphomas. 2 In the original report describing PBL, 15 of the 16 oral cavity tumors were in HIV-infected individuals. 3 Plasmablastic lymphoma has morphologic features of large B-cell lymphoma but has minimal or absent expression of the leukocyte common antigen and B-cell antigen CD20. Instead, high levels of plasma cell-associated markers VS38c and CD79a are seen. 3 An association with the Epstein-Bar virus (EBV) is thought to exist in up to 60% of cases. 4 In 2004, Schichman and colleagues 5 described a case of PBL with disease that initially presented in the nasal sinus with recurrence in the testis and bones. Although the sonographic appearance of testicular plasmacytoma and large B-cell lymphoma has been documented previously, the sonographic appearance of PBL of the testis has not been described. 6 This report details the gray scale and Doppler sonographic findings of this entity.
Properties of the nonsymmetric Robinson–Schensted–Knuth algorithm

We introduce a generalization of the Robinson–Schensted–Knuth insertion algorithm for semi-standard augmented fillings whose basement is an arbitrary permutation σ∈S n . If σ is the identity, then our insertion algorithm reduces to the insertion algorithm introduced by the second author (Semin. Lothar. Comb. 57:B57e, 2006) for semi-standard augmented fillings and if σ is the reverse of the identity, then our insertion algorithm reduces to the original Robinson–Schensted–Knuth row insertion algorithm. We use our generalized insertion algorithm to obtain new decompositions of the Schur functions into nonsymmetric elements called generalized Demazure atoms (which become Demazure atoms when σ is the identity). Other applications include Pieri rules for multiplying a generalized Demazure atom by a complete homogeneous symmetric function or an elementary symmetric function, a generalization of Knuth’s correspondence between matrices of non-negative integers and pairs of tableaux, and a version of evacuation for composition tableaux whose basement is an arbitrary permutation σ.
In Vivo Priming of Cd4 T Cells That Produce Interleukin (Il)-2 but Not IL-4 or Interferon (Ifn)-γ, and Can Subsequently Differentiate into IL-4–Or IFN-γ–Secreting Cells

The differentiation of antigen-stimulated naive CD4 T cells into T helper (Th)1 or Th2 effector cells can be prevented in vitro by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and anti–interferon (IFN)-γ. These cells proliferate and synthesize interleukin (IL)-2 but not IFN-γ or IL-4, and can differentiate into either Th1 or Th2 cells. We have now used two-color Elispots to reveal substantial numbers of primed cells producing IL-2 but not IL-4 or IFN-γ during the Th1- or Th2-biased immune responses induced by soluble proteins or with adjuvants. These cells were CD4+CD44high and were present during immediate and long-term immune responses of normal mice. Naive T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) transgenic (DO11.10) T cells were primed in vivo after adoptive transfer into normal hosts and FACS® cloned under conditions that did not allow further differentiation. After clonal proliferation, aliquots of each clone were cultured in Th1- or Th2-inducing conditions. Many in vivo–primed cells were uncommitted, secreting IL-2 but not IL-4 or IFN-γ at the first cloning step, but secreting either IL-4 or IFN-γ after differentiation in the appropriate conditions. These in vivo-primed, uncommitted, IL-2–producing cells may constitute an expanded pool of antigen-specific cells that provide extra flexibility for immune responses by differentiating into Th1 or Th2 phenotypes later during the same or subsequent immune responses.
Effects of drought on avian community structure

Droughts are expected to become more frequent under global climate change. Avifauna depend on precipitation for hydration, cover, and food. While there are indications that avian communities respond negatively to drought, little is known about the response of birds with differing functional and behavioural traits, what time periods and indicators of drought are most relevant, or how response varies geographically at broad spatial scales. Our goals were thus to determine (1) how avian abundance and species richness are related to drought, (2) whether community variations are more related to vegetation vigour or precipitation deviations and at what time periods relationships were strongest, (3) how response varies among avian guilds, and (4) how response varies among ecoregions with different precipitation regimes. Using mixed effect models and 1989–2005 North American Breeding Bird Survey data over the central United States, we examined the response to 10 precipitation- and greennessbased metrics by abundance and species richness of the avian community overall, and of four behavioural guilds. Drought was associated with the most negative impacts on avifauna in the semiarid Great Plains, while positive responses were observed in montane areas. Our models predict that in the plains, Neotropical migrants respond the most negatively to extreme drought, decreasing by 13.2% and 6.0% in abundance and richness, while permanent resident abundance and richness increase by 11.5% and 3.6%, respectively in montane areas. In most cases, response of abundance was greater than richness and models based on precipitation metrics spanning 32-week time periods were more supported than those covering shorter time periods and those based on greenness. While drought is but one of myriad environmental variations birds encounter, our results indicate that drought is capable of imposing sizable shifts in abundance, richness, and composition on avian communities, an important implication of a more climatically variable future.
An experimental study of crude oil alteration in reservoir rocks by water washing

Abstract The objective of this research was to establish the effect of water washing on the physical and chemical properties of crude oils. To simulate water washing under reservoir conditions, crude oil was washed in sandstone and limestone cores by as much as 240 liters of a degassed, bacteria-free water over a period of up to 149 days at 90°C (194°F) under a confining pressure of 138 bars (2000 psi) in a flow-through core holder unit. The water-washed oils were recovered by Soxhlet extraction. Compared to the original oils, water-washed oils show lower API gravities, lower concentrations of light aromatic compounds such as phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene, lower metal and sulfur content, lower light paraffins with respect to heavy paraffins and isoprenoids, more negative stable carbon isotopic ratios for the NSO fraction, lower diterpane content relative to triterpane content, lower C 27 steranes relative to C 30 hopane and 4-methyl sterane, and altered bicyclic alkane and aromatic steroid biomarkers. Oils washed in limestone cores show a more severe reduction in API gravity and loss of aromatics than those in sandstone cores. These changes can be used to discern the effects of water washing from those caused by biodegradation, deasphalting, and maturation of related crude oils. Diterpane, triterpane, and sterane biomarkers are little affected by water washing and therefore can be used to correlate water-washed oils with related, unaltered oils and source rocks and to assess the depositional environments of the source rocks for the water-washed oils. Although these experiments did not produce tarmat, tarmat formation by water washing over geological time cannot be ruled out. The API gravity, sulfur, and metal content of oils may be reduced by water injection.
Three Ways to Avoid Commitments: Declarative Force Modifiers in the Conversational Scoreboard

We discuss three English markers that modify the force of declarative utterances: reversepolarity tags (Tom’s here, isn’t he?), samepolarity tags (Tom’s here, is he?), and rising intonation (Tom’s here?). The di erences among them are brought out in dialogues with taste predicates (tasty, attractive) and vague scalar predicates applied to borderline cases (red for an orange-red object), with consequences for the correct model of conversation, common ground, and speech acts. Our proposal involves a conversational “scoreboard” that allows speakers to make strong or tentative commitments, propose changes or raise expectations about the Common Ground, strongly or tentatively propose issues to be resolved, and hazard guesses about other participants’ beliefs. This model allows for distinctions among speech acts that are subtle and fine-grained enough to account for the behavior of these three markers.
Visualization of respiratory-related neural activity during sleep

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and intrinsic optical imaging provide a means to visualize activity in widely-dispersed brain sites that participate in mediating normal and disordered breathing patterns associated with sleep. Both fMRI and optical imaging studies in man and animals confirm participation of brain regions long-identified with respiratory regulation, as well as regions not classically associated with breathing control, such as cerebellar and limbic sites. Dysfunctions within cerebellar and limbic regions apparently underlie a portion of the pathologic respiratory patterns observed in sleep-disordered breathing, and emphasize the widespread nature of respiratory control.
The Modulation Transfer Function: Concept and Applications

This paper outlines the concept of the modulation transfer function used to relate fluctuations in power received by an active microwave system viewing the ocean to the dominant surface waves on the ocean which cause the fluctuations. Expressions are given for the purely geometric modulations related to surface tilting and changes in range. The manner in which the modulation transfer function enters into the interpretation of real and synthetic aperture radar images, wave spectrometer outputs, scatterometer wind retrievals, and altimeter measurements is reviewed. Finally, limitations of the concept are discussed.
Integrated Power Controlled Adaptive Rate Link Scheduling in Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, two new heuristic algorithms are developed for maximizing the network throughput in adaptive power and adaptive rate spatial-TDMA wireless networks. The underlying problem entails the optimal joint link scheduling combined with the simultaneous assignment of transmit power levels and data rates across active links. We note this problem to be NP-complete and proceed to develop and investigate two heuristic algorithms of polynomial complexity for solving the problem in a computationally effective manner. The first algorithm is based on the construction of a Power Controlled Rate adaptation Interference Graph. The desired schedule is then derived by using a greedy algorithm to construct an independence set from this graph. The second algorithm, in each time-slot, picks the transmission with highest SINR level at its intended receiver; then it iterates through the remaining transmissions and tries to fit as many simultaneous transmissions with each operating at the highest feasible data rate. Based on system analyses, we observe, for illustrative simulated networks, the performance behavior realized by the second heuristic algorithm to be generally better than that attained by using the first heuristic algorithm.
Experiments on the upstream wake in magneto-fluid dynamics

Measurements have been made of the perturbation magnetic field in front of a semi-infinite Rankine body moving parallel to a uniform impressed magnetic field in a conducting fluid. The purpose of these experiments was to investigate the so-called upstream wake effect which has been predicted by theory. It is believed that these are the first experiments in which the upstream wake was observed. Although the wake was found to exist as predicted when the Alfven number is greater than one, its decay behavior was remarkably different from that which was predicted. The solutions for infinite medium predicted that in the wake the perturbations should decay inversely as the distance from the body. However the experiments showed that the perturbations decayed exponentially. It was finally shown that this change in the decay behavior was an effect of the walls and the conducting material surrounding the fluid.
Choice of a medication to treat asthma: is an improvement in symptoms sufficient for deciding?

Selection of medications most appropriate to improve both short-term and long-term quality of life remains a major challenge for clinicians caring for patients with asthma. Underlying the choice of medicines for an individual patient is knowledge of the role of inflammation in asthma, the mechanism of action of a medication, the likelihood of patient adherence, and studies of outcomes of medication use. Typical studies of medication effectiveness compare the response to a medicine with the response to a placebo—a necessary comparison, given the possibility of patient and investigator bias in evaluating response to therapy. These studies are essential to give clinicians guidance in medication choice. Studies comparing medicines that are known to be effective are also important. Too few studies done by the pharmaceutical industry accomplish this latter goal. The article by Israel et al1 in this issue of the Journal makes such a comparison: it looks at 2 medications known to be effective for asthma, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LRA). This head-to-head comparison is a useful contribution to our management of patients. In their article, the investigators have chosen as their primary outcome days of asthma control. This outcome is obviously relevant to patients and to clinicians who are caring for them. The outcome is clearly defined, relating as it does to need for albuterol, presence of nighttime awakenings, and absence of asthma exacerbations. Associated outcomes of asthma attacks, flare-ups, and sustained control are also clearly defined. The authors find that the percentage of days of asthma control was almost identical for the ICS (beclomethasone) arm and the LRA (montelukast) arm. Montelukast was at least equal to beclomethasone in terms of frequency of asthma attacks, asthma flare-ups, and corticosteroid rescue. Symptoms and other clinical outcomes are obviously important in medication selection and follow-up of effectiveness, but information concerning the effects of medications on airway function is also important, both for selecting a medication initially and for following its usefulness over the longer term. In the article by Israel et al, beclomethasone had a greater effect than montelukast on improving FEV1. How are clinicians to use this information in their practice? Whereas patient acceptance of a medication is determined in large part by control of symptoms, for determination of the long-term outcome from asthma— and therefore of the medication’s effectiveness—one must consider its effectiveness in improving and maintaining improvement of lung function—specifically, FEV1. FEV1 is a powerful predictor of pulmonary and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.2-5 Low levels of FEV1 are associated with risk even for people without
Assessing wolves and cougars as conservation surrogates

Large carnivores have been posited as potential conservation surrogates to inform the design and prioritization of conservation planning. We show that wolves Canis lupus and cougars Puma concolor may have potential to serve as a surrogate suite for conserving landscape heterogeneity, hypothesized to be a determinant of biodiversity in some landscapes. We examined habitat and landscape features associated with the spatial distribution of wolf- and cougar-killed prey in the basin of the North Fork of the Flathead River in Montana. The spatial distribution of wolf-killed prey was driven largely by cover type, whereas physiographic characteristics were the primary driver of the distribution of cougar-killed prey. Spatial templates, generated using >0.66 probability quantiles from spatially explicit models of kill site distribution, estimated over three times as much high-quality habitat for wolves (1005 km2) than for cougars (381 km2). While there were only minor differences in the proportional representation of land cover types between the wolf and cougar templates, 40% of the cougar template fell outside the wolf template, and the former contained over three times more rugged terrain than the latter. The use of a combined wolf–cougar spatial template resulted in a 15% increase in total area and 91% increase in the amount of rugged terrain identified. Based on our models, the advantage of using both wolves and cougars as a focal suite in north-west Montana is the ability to identify a greater area of high-quality habitat, and capture landscape heterogeneity that may be important to conserving biodiversity.
Occurrence of Congenital Heart Defects in Relation to Maternal Multivitamin Use

The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between maternal multivitamin use and risk for cardiac defects in the offspring, using a population-based approach. The Atlanta Birth Defects Case-Control study is a population-based case-control study of infants born between 1968 and 1980 to mothers residing in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. The 958 case infants with nonsyndromic cardiac defects were actively ascertained from multiple sources. The 3,029 infants without birth defects (control infants) were selected from birth certificates by stratified random sampling. Periconceptional multivitamin use, defined as reported regular use of multivitamins from 3 months before pregnancy through the first 3 months of pregnancy, was contrasted with no use during the same time period. Periconceptional multivitamin use was associated with a reduced risk for nonsyndromic cardiac defects in the offspring (odds ratio (OR) = 0.76; 95% confidence interval (Cl): 0.60, 0.97). The risk reduction was strongest for outflow tract defects (OR = 0.46; 95% Cl 0.24, 0.86) and ventricular septal defects (OR = 0.61; 95% Cl: 0.38, 0.99). No risk reduction was evident when multivitamin use was begun after the first month of pregnancy. If these associations are causal, the results suggest that approximately one in four major cardiac defects could be prevented by periconceptional multivitamin use.
The Fiber-Matrix Interface in Fiber Reinforced Concrete Studied by Contact Electrical Resistivity Measurement

The contact electrical resistivity of the fiber-matrix interface was found to correlate strongly with the shear debonding strength. In the case of the interface between stainless steel fiber and cement paste, the contact resistivity increased linearly with increasing debonding strength and interfacial phase(s) of volume resistivity higher than that of cement paste enhanced the bonding.
Update on photodermatoses.

Abstract Interactions with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and chromophores in the skin happen on a daily basis. Photodermatoses, which are abnormal responses to UV exposure, can be classified into subgroups based on pathogenesis. This review will discuss the clinical features, pathogenesis, photobiologic evaluation, prognosis and therapies of the most common photodermatoses.
4-D voting for matching, densification and segmentation into motion layers

We present an approach for grouping from motion, based on a 4-D tensor voting computational framework. From sparse point tokens in two frames we recover the dense velocity field, motion boundaries and regions, in a non-iterative process that does not involve initialization or search in a parametric space, and therefore does not suffer from local optima or poor convergence problems. We encode the image position and potential velocity for each token into a 4-D tensor. A voting process then enforces the smoothness of motion while preserving motion discontinuities, selecting the correct velocity for each input point, as the most salient token. By performing an additional dense voting step we infer velocities at every pixel location, which are then used to determine motion boundaries and regions. We demonstrate our contribution with synthetic and real images, by analyzing several difficult cases-opaque and transparent motion, rigid and non-rigid motion.