cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytokine Networks with Infection: Mycobacterial Infections, Leishmaniasis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, and Sepsis

Distinct cytokine profiles are clearly associated with and relate to the severity of several types of infections. Cytokine networks are apparent with selected human infectious diseases, such as mycobacterial infections (leprosy, tuberculosis), the parasitic infection leishmaniasis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and gram-negative sepsis. Cytokine profiles are determined to some extent by two functional subsets of T lymphocytes, Th1 and Th2. The Th1 cytokines (interferon gamma, interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-12) enhance cell-mediated immunity, inhibit humoral immunity, and result in protective effect for pathogens that are removed primarily through cell-mediated immunity (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, Leishmania). The Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) enhance humoral immunity and inhibit cell-mediated immunity, and result in protective effect for pathogens removed primarily through humoral mechanisms. Progression of HIV infection is associated with a switch from a Th1 to a Th2 profile. For sepsis, uncontrolled activation of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma) may be a fundamental defect that promotes the detrimental aspects of inflammation, whereas Th2 cytokines may be beneficial in controlling inflammation. Knowledge of basic cytokine immunopharmacology, networks, and relationships with infectious processes will aid clinicians in determining treatment approaches that are likely to be effective.
Summary of on Aumann's notion of common knowledge: an alternative approach

We provide a bayesian model of knowledge which is based on the of infinite recursion of beliefs. The framework allows a direct formalisation of statements such as "everyone knows that (everyone knows)m that an event A has occurred" and "A is common knowledge". An important and novel feature of our approach is that we explicitly formalise the statement "the information partitions are common knowledge" when we demonstrate the equivalence of our approach to the seminal contribution of Professor Aumann. This allows us to circumvent the self-reference which exists in that definition. The main theorem of the paper shows that given an Aumann structure, there exists a structure in the infinite recursion such that an event is common knowledge in the sense of Aumann if and only if it is common knowledge in our sense.
Pressure Dependence of the Morin Transition in the Weak Ferromagnet α-Fe 2 O 3

The pressure dependence of the Morin transition in $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ has been measured directly using NMR techniques and is found to be +3.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K/kbar. An analysis in terms of the contributions to the total magnetic anisotropy energy was made, and it is suggested that superexchange anisotropy should not be neglected in accounting for the pressure dependence of the transition.
California Sea Lion Myoglobin: COMPLETE COVALENT STRUCTURE OF THE POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN

The following sequence has been derived for the myoglobin of the California sea lion: [see PDF for sequence]. The sequence differs from that of harbor seal myoglobin at 17 positions and from that of sperm whale myoglobin at 27 positions. By comparison with these and other myoglobins it appears that those residues that in the sperm whale protein make direct contact with the heme or are directed inward are most closely conserved, followed by residues in the nonhelical regions, lastly followed by those in helical segments. The methodology made use of cleavages by trypsin, thermolysin, chymotrypsin, or cyanogen bromide, with or without exhaustive carboxymethylation of the apomyoglobin substrate. Sequence were determined by Edman degradation, both manual and automated, with frequent use of aminopeptidase M and carboxypeptidase C.
Editors' Introduction: Forays into the Trading Zone of Image and Logic

Many critics of Peter Galison’s Image and Logic have made light of the fact that this is a heavy book, heavy not in the sense of portentous or dense, but heavy as in rich and voluminous. This heaviness places a considerable burden on its reader who is systematically overtaxed by it. Though it keeps its historical focus on the study of elementary particles from the use of cloud chambers to the development of electronic images in the 1980s, its more than 800 pages make for a multi-faceted book that draws on anthropology, linguistics, philosophy of science and experiment, the sociology of scientiac knowledge, and histories of science, technology, politics, economics, and architecture. It thus creates and inhabits what Galison calls a trading zone, a place to meet and interact for members of the various academic subcultures that study science. People enter these trading zones with interests and interpretations of their own, seeking to and something that will suit their purposes. Almost inadvertently, however, their interactions in the trading zone stabilize practice and their coordinated action leads to the coordination of belief. The following pages show members of diverse subcultures entering the Image and Logic-trading zone and returning from it with goods, booty, or gifts of their own.1 If Galison’s interest in scientiac images invites the art historian into the study of science, art theorist and historian James Elkins returns the favor by taking up Galison’s emphasis on “logic” and the ideal
An introduction to quantum monte carlo methods

This is an overview of some numerical many-body methods in the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulation family. First, the classical Monte Carlo technique (the Metropolis algorithm) is briefly reviewed. Then, the problem of rewriting a quantum mechanical expectation value as a form accessible to similar stochastic methods is considered. The transformations leading to three different finite-temperature lattice QMC algorithms — the worldline method, the fermion determinant method and a power series expansion method (“stochastic series expansion”) — are discussed in some detail.
Probabilistic fault-containment

Research on fine tuning stabilization properties has received attention for nearly a decade. This paper presents a probabilistic algorithm for fault-containment, that confines the effect of any single fault to the immediate neighborhood of the faulty process, with an expected recovery time of O(Δ3). The most significant aspect of the algorithm is that the fault-gap, defined as the smallest interval after which the system is ready to handle the next single fault with the same efficiency, depends only on Δ, and is independent of the network size. We argue that a small fault-gap increases the availability of the fault-free system.
Interaction of Inflammatory Cells and Oral Microorganisms VII. In Vitro Polymorphonuclear Responses to Viable Bacteria and to Subcellular Components of Avirulent and Virulent Strains of Actinomyces viscosus

Both virulent (V) and avirulent (AV) strains of Actinomyces viscosus T14 are capable of colonizing the oral cavity of gnotobiotic rats, but only T14-V causes destructive periodontal disease. The basis for this difference in in vivo pathogenicity has not been adequately defined. In the present study we compared the capacities of T14-AV and T14-V to provoke in vitro extracellular release of lysosomal constituents from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In serum-free cultures, viable T14-V but not T14-AV stimulated discharge of PMN lysosomes. The release response was correlated with PMN phagocytic activity; thus, PMNs readily ingested T14-V but not T14-AV. To explain these differences in PMN-bacteria interactions, subcellular fractions of T14-AV or T14-V were incubated with PMNs. A crude, insoluble sonic extract derived from T14-V caused PMN lysosome release, but a similar fraction from T14-AV was inactive. However, following extensive washing and treatment with deoxyribonuclease or sodium dodecyl sulfate, cell wall fractions of T14-AV stimulated lysosome release. These procedures apparently removed an extracellular polysaccharide slime which is synthesized by T14-AV but not by T14-V. There was a significant reduction in the capacities of viable T14-V or cell wall fractions of T14-V or T14-AV to provoke PMN lysosome release when these agents were preincubated with a slime material isolated from T14-AV. This inhibitory influence of slime was overcome by the addition of fresh or heated (56 degrees C, 30 min) serum to the PMN-bacteria cultures. The data suggest a relationship between the abilities of the avirulent and virulent strains of A. viscosus T14 to act as periodontal pathogens in vivo and to serve as stimuli for PMN lysosome release in vitro.
Pulmonary vasoactivity of lung endocrine cell-related peptides

Lung endocrine-like cells are believed to contain three immunohistochemically distinct peptides: bombesin, calcitonin, and Leu-enkephalin. Because these peptides exhibit smooth muscle stimulatory or inhibitory activity in some tissues, it has been suggested that their release from endocrine-like cells may influence airway or pulmonary vascular smooth muscle tone. To determine whether lung endocrine cell-related peptides could exert a regulatory influence in the pulmonary circulation, we evaluated their ability to constrict or dilate the vasculature of isolated perfused rat lungs. Neither bombesin nor calcitonin exhibited any pulmonary vascular effects. However, Leu-enkephalin provoked dose-dependent pulmonary vasoconstriction. These results suggest that Leu-enkephalin released from lung endocrine-like cells could be involved with regulation of pulmonary vascular tone.
Incidence of arrhythmias during air transportation following intravenous streptokinase therapy

Abstract Patients receiving intravenous streptokinase (IV-STK) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be at risk for arrhythmias complicating aeromedical transportation to a tertiary care center. A brief report of forty adult patients prospectively studied during helicopter transport utilizing continuous ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter monitor) to determine the incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias is presented. Patients with AMI treated with IV-STK were compared to patients with a variety of other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions transported by air. Although high grade ventricular arrhythmias were more common in the patients receiving IV-STK, no patient experienced symptomatic arrhythmias requiring defibrillation or cardioversion. The arrhythmias recorded did not correlate with clinical reperfusion of the infarct related vessel. We conclude that aeromedical transport of patients with AMI treated with IV-STK can be accomplished safely.
Effect of the Baffle on the Asymmetric Gravity-Jitter Excited Slosh Wave and Spacecraft Moment and Angular Momentum Fluctuations

The dynamic behaviour of fluids affected by asymmetric gravity jitter oscillations, in particular the effect of surface tension on partially-filled rotating fluids in a dewar tank, with and without installing baffle-board, imposed by time-dependent directions of background gravity have been investigated. Results show that lower frequency gravity jitter imposed on the time-dependent variations of the direction of background gravity induced a greater amplitude of oscillations and a stronger degree of asymmetry in liquid–vapour interface geometry than that made by the higher frequency gravity jitter. As the viscous force, between liquid and solid interface, greatly contributes to the damping effect of slosh wave excitation, a rotating dewar installed with baffles provides more area of liquid-solid interface than a rotating dewar without baffles. Results show that the damping effect provided by the baffles reduce the amplitude of slosh wave excitation, lowers the degree of asymmetry in the liquid–vapour distr...
Factors affecting endotoxin release from the cell surface of avian strains of Pasteurella multocida.

Two avian strains of Pasteurella multocida, a vaccine strain and a virulent field isolate, were investigated to determine their propensity to release endotoxin from the cell surface. Both organisms released comparable amounts of endotoxin when plasma complement proteins were present, however the virulent strain did so without the loss of viability that occurred in the vaccine strain. Blocking complement activity decreased the ability of plasma to elicit endotoxin release from the bacteria. When the cells were treated with divalent metal chelators such as trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N1,N1-tetraacetic acid (CDTA), more endotoxin was released from the vaccine strain than from the virulent isolate. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from both strains revealed virtually identical patterns. Both had patterns considered typical of rough LPS. Challenge studies in 8 week old turkeys showed that the field strain induced endotoxemia of longer duration than the vaccine strain and produced greater mortality.
A Behavioral Science Assessment of Selected Principles of Consumer Education.

This study examines the behavioral science support for a set of twenty food-buying principles that a content analysis revealed are the most commonly cited in consumer education textbooks in the 1980s. Three types of principles are found; they differ in the consumer behaviors they recommend as well as in the nature and strength of support they receive in the behavioral science literature. In addition, a Multiple Gatekeeping Model is developed to account for low consumer usage of many of the food-buying principles.
Relationship between Self-Consciousness, Autonomic Perception, and Psychosomatic Disorders

The Self-consciousness Scale, Autonomic Perception Questionnaire, and the Medical History Questionnaire were administered to 127 undergraduate students in psychology. Although scores on self-consciousness were not related to those on any other measure, autonomic perception was significantly correlated with a self-report of psychosomatic disorders.
Cobalt as a mitochondrial density marker in a study of cytoplasmic exchange during mating of Schizophyllum commune.

A slow in vivo uptake of cobalt from a growth medium resulted in an increase in density of mitochondria of Schizophyllum commune . Differential labeling of donor and resident mycelia, and subsequent analysis of resident mycelia surrounding donor implants, detected cobalt-dense mitochondria and demonstrated exchange of mitochondria after hyphal fusion. Transfer of mitochondria occurred in fully compatible, common- A , and common- AB matings, but was not detected in common- B matings of the tetrapolar Basidiomycete S. commune .
Prospective study of Candida endophthalmitis in hospitalized patients with candidemia.

• To determine the frequency of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis in patients with candidemia, we prospectively evaluated 32 inpatients with fungemia by weekly indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations. Chorioretinitis compatible with Candida infection was found in 9 (28%) patients. Patient age, sex, underlying diseases, or hospital-acquired factors, such as presence of central venous or Foley catheters, bacteremia, use of multiple antibiotics, hyperalimentation, or surgery, did not distinguish between groups. Groups were also similar in number of sites colonized with yeast and species of Candida recovered. Patients with endophthalmitis tended to have more blood cultures positive for Candida (mean, 4.3) than the patients without endophthalmitis (mean, 2.8), but this trend did not reach statistical significance. Based on these results, we recommend periodic ophthalmoscopic examinations in all patients with documented candidemia. ( Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:2226-2228)
Consecutive Morphological Transitions in Nanoaggregates Assembled from Amphiphilic Random Copolymer via Water-Driven Micellization and Light-Triggered Dissociation

Most of the effort,however, has focused on the design of block copolymers withwell-deﬁned architectures and narrow polydispersity, which areoften found synthetically challenging. In comparison, randomcopolymers with a wide range of chemical functionalities andcompositions are readily available. Nevertheless, because of theirill-deﬁned structures and broad polydispersity, little has beenexploited of their assemblies in aqueous solution. Therefore, itwill be intriguing to see whether it is possible to form well-ordered nanoassemblies from an amphiphilic random copolymersolution, which can undergo continuous morphological transi-tions. Moreover, once the desired nanoassembly is formed, itwill be interesting to trigger its dissociation by an externalstimulus for controlled release of encapsulants. Among variousexternal stimuli, including pH, temperature, and ionic strength,light potentially offers better spatial and temporal control
PI3-Kinase Controls Smooth Muscle Contraction Via Regulation Of MLCP Activity

We demonstrated for the first time that PI3-kinase plays a role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction by controlling MLCP. The inhibition of PI3-kinase markedly inhibited Ca2+-induced contraction and GTPγS induced Ca2+ sensitization of α-toxin permeabilized vascular smooth muscle as well as K+-induced contraction of intact vascular smooth muscle. The contractile inhibition was accompanied by the decrease in MLC phosphorylation and MBS phosphorylation at Thr696 and Thr853, which are responsible for the inhibition of MLCP activity. On the other hand, the inhibition of PI3-kinase had no effect on MLCK activity. These results suggest that PI3-kinase is involved in the regulation of MLCP, thus regulating MLC phosphorylation. An Akt specific inhibitor, SH-6, had no effect on the contraction, suggesting that Akt, one of the major down-stream effecter of the PI3-kinase pathway is not involved in this mechanism. MBS phosphorylation at Thr853, a Rho kinase specific site, was decreased by the inhibition of PI3-kinase even at rest, when Rho kinase is not activated. These results suggest that PI3-kinase does not influence the MBS kinases, such as Rho kinase. In fact, we found that the PI3-kinase inhibition activated MBS phosphatase activity. Furthermore, we found that PI3-kinase inhibition increased MBS phsophorylation at the PKG site, suggesting the activation of PKG pathway. Since the activation of the cGMP/PKG pathway decreases MLC phosphorylation by activating MBS phosphatase (Nakamura et al., 2007), our results suggest that PI3-kinase regulates smooth muscle contraction by modulating the PKG pathway.
Ependymal Reactions to Injury. A Review

The ependyma reacts to injury with a few stereotypical responses and does not regenerate at any age. Non-neoplastic ependymal cells do not undergo mitotic proliferation and do not re-express fetal cytoskeletal or secretory proteins. Atrophy of ependymal cells accompanies generalized cerebral atrophy. The ependyma may be damaged by stretching during ventricular dilatation, by infarcts of the ventricular wall or by infection and inflammation. Tearing of the epithelium leaves discontinuities that become filled with processes of subventricular astrocytes. In some cases reactive gliosis is minimal, but in most it is extensive and gliotic nodules form beneath intact ependyma and within gaps between ependymal islands. Ependymal rosettes may form in several ways: sequestration of diverticuli from the surface; curling of a torn edge or penetration of an edge into the parenchyma; reactive gliosis overgrowing an ependymal edge; in situ differentiation of ependymal cells from deep neuroepithelial cells. Migration and metaplasia are unlikely mechanisms. Bacterial and fungal ependymitis are highly destructive. Several viruses, especially mumps, selectively infect ependymal cells and are an important cause of acquired aqueductal stenosis without inflammation. Damaged ependyma may not be able to perform its function in the regulation of transport of fluid, ions and small molecules between cerebral parenchyma and ventricular fluid and thus may contribute to hydrocephalus. Damage to the fetal ependyma may result in secondary focal dysplasias of the developing brain.
The Cardiovascular Effects of Nitrous Oxide During Halothane Anesthesia in the Dog

Nitrous oxide-oxygen, halothane-oxygen, and nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane were administered in random order to each of 12 dogs. Thirteen cardiovascular parameters—cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systolic arterial pressure, total peripheral resistance, mean transit time, left ventricular pressure, right ventricular pressure, the time derivatives of the pressures, and the left ventricular ejection time—were plotted against concentrations of nitrous oxide and halothane. Except for a greater decrease in systemic pressure and resistance with halothane-oxygen anesthesia, there was no significant difference between the performance of the cardiovascular system with halothane-oxygen and nitrous oxide-halothane-oxygen anesthesia. Since considerably greater analgesia was achieved when nitrous oxide was added to a given concentration of halothane, nitrous oxide and used with halothane spares the cardiovascular system, in a relative way.
Photochemical formation of electrically conductive silver nanowires on polymer scaffolds.

Abstract A photochemical method has been exploited for the synthesis of electrically conductive silver (Ag) nanowires in a polymer solution in the presence of negatively charged Au seed particles. The synthesis was completed within 8 min of UV-photoirradiation in ambient conditions. The nanowires were fabricated on a PVA template having an average diameter of 135 ± 20 nm and a length of 10–20 μm. The current–voltage ( I – V ) characterization showed that the PVA–Ag nanowires were continuous, having Ohmic behavior with low contact resistance. Results indicate that the PVA acted as a reducing agent, stabilizing agent, and a template for the nucleation and growth of Ag nanowires. The Ag deposition was highly selective and on the PVA only. Our research indicated that the PVA–Ag nanowires might be useful as interconnects in nanoscale integrated circuitry, functional nanodevices, and in optoelectronics.
Commentary 3: The Ethicality of In-text Advertising

It's official. The mass media are full … of advertising. For years, researchers had estimated people see somewhere between 500 (Bovee & Arens, 1995) and 3,000 (Lasn, 1999) ads a day. According to t...
Antigenic polymorphism of the T4 differentiation antigen expressed on human T helper/inducer lymphocytes

The human TH lymphocyte population has been established to express a differentiation antigen (T4) which appears to function in cellular collaboration and T cell recognition of Class II MHC alloantigens. Because we observed altered immunofluorescence staining of the TH cells of some individuals using the OKT4 mAb, a systematic investigation on both the epitopic structure of the T4 glycoprotein molecule and possible polymorphism of these epitopes was undertaken. From competitive blocking assays using eight murine anti-T4 mAbs coupled with quantitative flow cytometry, at least five and possibly seven different epitopes can be recognized on the T4 molecule. Population studies showed some individuals had a reduced phenotypic expression of the OKT4 reactive determinant to one-half that of normal and others completely lacked this epitope. The OKT4 reactive epitope variations are common but have so far been racially restricted to American Blacks and do not appear related to the stage of TH cell differentiation, any identifiable immune abnormality in vitro, or a definable disease process. The OKT4 epitope cannot be unmasked by neuraminidase treatment or T cell stimulation with lectins, soluble antigens, or allogeneic lymphocytes. Coupled with a family study, the alterations in OKT4 phenotype are best explained by autosomal, codominant expression of the T4 gene product. The significance of this polymorphism on TH cell function remains unclear.
A simple method for studying whole sections of rice grain

We developed a new and simple method to collect sections of a whole brown rice kernel for investigation of histological properties. A single kernel of rice was dehydrated through a graded ethanol series, transferred to xylene, and embedded in paraffin. During sectioning of the blocks using a rotary microtome, we used a special adhesive tape to collect and place the sections on slides so they remained flat. The use of the adhesive tape technique combined with autofluorescence characteristics allowed us to visualize cell walls throughout an entire longitudinal or transverse section of a whole rice kernel. We obtained scanning electron microscopy images of the sections to determine section quality.
The long-term impact of surgical complications after resection of stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer: a population-based survival analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical morbidity may influence long-term cancer survival. Because resection of early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is primary therapy, we sought to determine the survival impact of surgical complications for elderly patients undergoing resection of stage I NSCLC. METHODS: Using the linked Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database (2000-2005), we identified elderly patients who underwent lobectomy for stage I NSCLC. We then assessed the unadjusted association between in-hospital, postoperative complications, and long-term survival for patients who survived more than 30 days after resection using the Kaplan-Meier method. Finally, we used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the relationship between postoperative complications and 5-year cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) after adjusting for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 3996 eligible patients. The overall in-hospital, postoperative complication rate was 54.2%. Pulmonary complications were the most common (n = 1464) followed by cardiac (n = 916). Unadjusted 5-year CSS was significantly worse for those who had an in-hospital, postoperative complication (70.9%) compared to those who did not (78.9%, P < 0.001). OS was also significantly worse (P < 0.001) for patients who developed a complication. Complications continued to predict worse 5-year CSS and OS after adjusting for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics (HR: 1.38, 95% CI, 1.17-1.64). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of in-hospital postoperative complications was an independent predictor of worse 5-year CSS after resection of stage I NSCLC. Importantly, the impact of surgical complications extends well after the initial perioperative period. These findings may help identify important targets for best practice guidelines and quality-of-care measures.
Immunological and pathological responses of salmonids to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV)

Abstract The aquatic birnavirus IPNV is commonly found in association with apparently healthy, mature salmonids. Some birnaviruses cause lethal diseases in fry; however, many of those discovered in fish may not be pathogenic for the species from which they were isolated. More pathogenic virus may be produced from the acinar cells of the pancreas; less pathogenic virus by skin and gut cells. Skin infection could explain the lack of virus clearance after development of circulating antibody; the less pathogenic form of the virus may not induce protective antibodies. True vertical transmission to progeny fish would seem not to occur, but virus may adhere to egg cases and spread to fry which ingest them at the time of first feeding. When viruses are found with moribund mature fish, alternative causes of death must be considered. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts, which have high levels of virus during pre-smolting, can develop pancreatic lesions (possibly mediated by the immune system) on transfer to salt water. IPNV infection may be linked to immunosuppression; possible controlling genes have been found.
Millimeter Wave Fabry-Perot Interferometer For The Measurement Of The Conductivity Of Thin Films For Solar Cells

The conductivity of a thin film on a metal plate can be calculated from measurements of the Q of the cavity of a Fabry-Perot interferometer and the thin film if the cavity without the film has been previously measured. The theory for the conductivity which shows a cubic dependence on the thickness of the film has been developed. The measurement system at 93 gigahertz is described. Experimental results are presented.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Problems in the Sociology of Deviance: Social Definitions and Behavior

The sociology of deviance faces two basic and interrelated problems: How and/or why some people engage in deviant acts. The meaning of these two problems, the nature of theories and research revolving around them, and their implications for the future direction of the sociology of deviance are explored. The goal is not to account for either social definitions or deviant behavior, but rather to account for both and ultimately to specify the interaction and integrate explanations of behavior and social definitions. T fe conflict criminologist, George Vold reminded us some years ago that the phenomenon of crime involves two major dimensions-the behavioral and the defini-
Fully anisotropic string cosmologies, Maxwell fields, and primordial shear

We present a class of exact cosmological solutions of the low energy string effective action in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic fields. We discuss the physical properties of the obtained (fully anisotropic) cosmologies paying particular attention to their vacuum limit and to the possible isotropization mechanisms. We argue that quadratic curvature corrections are able to isotropize fully anisotropic solutions whose scale factors describe accelerated expansion. Moreover, the degree of isotropization grows with the duration of the string phase. We follow the fate of the shear parameter in a decelerated phase where, dilaton, magnetic fields and radiation fluid are simultaneously present. In the absence of any magnetic field a long string phase immediately followed by radiation is able to erase large anisotropies. Conversely, if a short string phase is followed by a long dilaton dominated phase the anisotropies can be present, in principle, also at later times. The presence of magnetic seeds after the end of the string phase can induce further anisotropies which can be studied within the formalism reported in this paper.
Effect of dietary protein quality on alteration of serum proteins and lipoproteins in the rat.

SummarySerum proteins and lipoproteins were fractionated in sera from male and female rats fed 4 pure protein sources respectively. Almost all lipo- and serum protein fractions were affected by sex. Serum protein fractions did not vary greatly in magnitude but statistically significant changes were attributed to dietary proteins. Type of dietary protein markedly altered the fractions of lipoproteins in the rats.
Teaching “loaded” subjects to concerned students

How does a teacher deal with a minority student whose subject of interest is not the class but racial inequality?
Platelet-derived growth factor: A potentially important cytokine in glomerular disease

Many glomerular diseases, including IgA nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), variants of idiopathic focal sclerosis, and lupus nephritis are characterized by mesangial cell proliferation. There is increasing evidence that mesangial cell proliferation in GN may not be a benign process, but may be associated with activation of the mesangial cell, as reflected by the acquisition of a smooth muscle cell-like pheno-type [1] and by the synthesis and secretion of increased amounts of normal and abnormal mesangial matrix components [2] and proteinases (David Lovett, manuscript submitted). Thus, an understanding of the mechanisms that initiate and maintain the proliferative response in active GN may provide useful insights into future therapeutic strategies of these diseases.
Postprocessing technique for Lagrangian artificial neural network approach to hyperspectral image classification

Lagrangian Artificial Neural Network (LANN) has been proposed recently for hyperspectral image classification. It is anunsupervised technique that can simultaneously estimate the endmembers and their abundance fractions without any priorinformation. Since the implementation of the LANN is completely unsupervised, the number of estimated abundancefraction images (AFI) is equal to the number of bands, which display the distribution of the corresponding endmembermaterials in the image scene. We find out that many AFIs are highly correlated and visually similar. In order to facilitatethe following data assessment, a two-stage post-processing approach will be proposed. First, the number of endmembersns resident in the image scene is estimated using a Neyman-Pearson hypothesis testing-based eigen-thresholding method.Next, an automatic searching algorithm will be applied to find the most distinct AFIs using the divergence as criterion,
Focused mantle upwelling beneath mid-ocean ridges: evidence from seamount formation and isostatic compensation of topography

Abstract Observational evidence for the geometry of mantle flow beneath mid-ocean ridges is often considered limited. I offer two constraints supporting interpretations of strong focusing of upwelling through the depths where MORB magmas are generated. The first is based on a modification of the model of Davis and Karsten [ 1 ] for the formation of near-axis seamounts by the melting of fertile mantle heterogeneities. Several types of observations indicate that most seamounts in the eastern Pacific form in a remarkably narrow range of distance from the axis, about 6–15 km. The outer limit of this range is interpreted to represent the width of the upwelling zone in the upper part of the garnet stability field (depth ∼ 80 km) where the most fertile mantle melts, while the inner limit indicates the width of most magma generation (perhaps depths of 30–50 km). The diverse and depleted chemistry of young seamount lavas is inferred to reflect originally enriched magmas generated at depth that bypass the principal zone of melting and interact with strongly depleted material at intermediate depths. A comparable and entirely independent constraint on the width of most magma generation is available from the assumption that anomalously shallow topography at ridge axes is isostatically compensated by melt at depth. The width of the topographic anomaly limits the melt zone to within 10 km from the axis, while the amplitude of the gravity anomaly, at least in some places, requires most of the melt to be deeper than 15 km. If the fraction of melt is assumed to be small ( ∼ 2%), the partial melt must extend to depths exceeding 40 km.
Uses of Fluorophotometry in Glaucoma Research

The observation of the rate of clearance of fluorescein from the cornea and the anterior chamber by fluorophotometry permits calculation of the rate of aqueous humor flow. This technique permits studies of normal human subjects and glaucoma patients under a number of circumstances including treatment with drugs for glaucoma. A brief summary of experimental results derived from this technique is given. Simplified tables are given to assist clinicians in calculating the rate of flow of aqueous humor from fluorophotometric measurements.
Fenestrated endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms is associated with increased morbidity but comparable mortality with infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair

Objective A recent prospective study found that fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (FEVAR) was safe and effective in appropriately selected patients at experienced centers. As this new technology is disseminated to the community, it will be important to understand how this technology compares with standard endovascular AAA repair (EVAR). The goal of this study was to compare the outcomes of FEVAR vs EVAR of AAAs. Methods The American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005 to 2012 was queried for AAAs (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 441.4). Patients were stratified according to procedure (FEVAR vs EVAR). A bivariate analysis was done to assess preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for postoperative outcomes. Thirty-day postoperative mortality and complication rates were described for each procedure type. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between the type of procedure and the risk of postoperative complications. Results A total of 458 patients underwent FEVAR and 19,060 patients underwent EVAR for AAA. Patients undergoing FEVAR were older ( P = .02) and less likely to have a bleeding disorder ( P = .046). Otherwise, the incidence of comorbidities in both groups was similar. FEVAR was associated with increased median operative time (156 vs 137 minutes; P P = .03). There was a statistically significant increase in overall complications (23.6% vs 14.3%; P P P = .09) and the need for dialysis (1.5% vs 0.8%; P = .08) in the FEVAR group. Mortality (2.4% vs 1.5%; P = .12) was not statistically different. On multivariable analysis, FEVAR remained independently associated with the need for postoperative transfusions when operative time was P = .02) as well as when operative time was >75th percentile for respective procedures (adjusted odds ratio, 5.33; 95% confidence interval, 3.55-8.00; P Conclusions Patients undergoing FEVAR are more likely than patients undergoing EVAR to receive blood transfusions postoperatively and are more likely to sustain postoperative complications. Although mortality was similar, trends toward increased cardiac and renal complications may suggest the need for judicious dissemination of this new technology. Future research with larger number of FEVAR cases will be necessary to determine if these associations remain.
C1GALT1 polymorphisms are associated with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis.

Henoch–Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is the most serious long-term complication of Henoch–Schonlein purpura and aberrant galactosylation of IgA1 plays a role in its development. However, the precise role of genetic factors contributing to the abnormal IgA1 galactosylation remains unknown. In order to examine the effects of C1GALT1 gene encoding core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase, an important role in the β1,3 glycosylation of IgA1, on HSPN susceptibility, we conducted a case–control association genetic study in 269 HSP and 61 HSPN in China. Five tagging SNPs, SNP1(-734 C/T), SNP4(-465A/G), SNP6(-330 G/T), SNP7(-292 C/-), and SNP8(1365 G/A) in C1GALT1 were studied using single-locus and haplotype-based multilocus analysis. Our results demonstrated that 1365 G allele frequency was significantly higher in HSPN patients than in HSP patients without nephritis (0.459 vs 0.331, p = 0.0008, adjusted p’ = 0.004) with an odds ratio (OR) = 1.716, 95%CI 1.151–2.560). The GG genotype of 1,365 G/A was significantly different in HSP without nephritis and HSPN (p = 0.008, adjusted p’’ = 0.04). We did not observe statistically significant differences in haplotype frequencies between HSPN and HSP patients. In conclusion, our study suggested that the 1365 G/A polymorphism of the C1GALT1 gene may contribute to HSPN development.
Analysis of Tumor-Motion Surrogate Signals Under Different Coaching Conditions Using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Hilbert-Huang Transformation

to be correlated with previous days’ shifts. However, approximately 22% of H&N cases had autocorrelation in AP direction and 13% in other two directions. For prostate, approximately 29% of the AP shifts, 24% of the ML shifts, 14% of the CC shifts and 14% of the rotation were autocorrelated. Autocorrelation were normally found in one or two directions but rarely found in all directions for patients at both tumor sites. Patient characteristics such as initial body weight or weight loss did not seem to be associated with autocorrelation series. The shifts in 52% H&N and 60% prostate patients appeared to be random and demonstrated no autocorrelation in any of the shift directions. Autoregression (AR), moving average (MA) and ARMA modeling were then performed for autocorrelated series. First order model AR(1) was adequate for most autocorrelated series. Conclusions: Daily shifts for the majority of prostate and H&N patients were random in any directions. However, interfraction shifts of a subset of patients demonstrated autocorrelation and appeared to be predictable by previous days’ shifts. Although the factors to identify these subsets of patients are unclear in this initial analysis, we remain hopeful that these factors will be identified in future investigations. Author Disclosure: A. Hu: None. S. Qi: None.
Modified End-to-End Anastomosis for the Treatment of Congenital Tracheal Stenosis With a Bridging Bronchus

An infant with a ventricular septal defect; Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiac anomalies, Tracho Esophageal fistula (TEF), Renal anomalies, Limb anomalies syndrome; and tracheal stenosis with a bridging bronchus underwent repair of the ventricular septal defect and trachea-bronchial reconstruction at age 11 months. Herein we describe our surgical approach to resection of the bridging bronchus and a technique using a modified end-to-end tracheal anastomosis for the correction of this complex anomaly.
Computing the Abel map

We present the next step in an ongoing research program to allow for the black-box computation of the so-called finite-genus solutions of integrable differential equations. This next step consists of the black-box computation of the Abel map from a Riemann surface to its Jacobian. Using a plane algebraic curve representation of the Riemann surface, we provide an algorithm for the numerical computation of this Abel map. Since our plane algebraic curves are of arbitrary degree and may have arbitrary singularities, the Abel map of any connected compact Riemann surface may be obtained in this way. This generality is necessary in order for these algorithms to be relevant for the computation of the finite-genus solutions of any integrable equation.
Diverged Copies of the Seed Regulatory Opaque-2 Gene by a Segmental Duplication in the Progenitor Genome of Rice, Sorghum, and Maize

ABSTRACT Comparative analyses of the sequence of entire genomes have shown that gene duplications, chromosomal segmental duplications, or even whole genome duplications (WGD) have played prominent roles in the evolution of many eukaryotic species. Here, we used the ancient duplication of a well known transcription factor in maize, encoded by the Opaque-2 ( O2 ) locus, to examine the general features of divergences of chromosomal segmental duplications in a lineage-specific manner. We took advantage of contiguous chromosomal sequence information in rice ( Oryza sativa Nipponbare), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor Btx623), and maize ( Zea mays B73) that were aligned by conserved gene order (synteny). This analysis showed that the maize O2 locus is contained within a 1.25 million base-pair (Mb) segment on chromosome 7, which was duplicated ≈56 million years ago (mya) before the split of rice and maize 50 mya. The duplicated region on chromosome 1 is only half the size and contains the maize OHP gene, which does not restore the o2 mutation although it encodes a protein with the same DNA and protein binding properties in endosperm. The segmental duplication is not only found in rice, but also in sorghum, which split from maize 11.9 mya. A detailed analysis of the duplicated regions provided examples for complex rearrangements including deletions, duplications, conversions, inversions, and translocations. Furthermore, the rice and sorghum genomes appeared to be more stable than the maize genome, probably because maize underwent allotetraploidization and then diploidization.
Pairing interactions and pairing mechanism in high-temperature copper oxide superconductors

The polaron binding energy ${E}_{p}$ in undoped parent cuprates has been determined to be about $1.0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ from the unconventional oxygen-isotope effect on the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature. The deduced value of ${E}_{p}$ is in quantitative agreement with that estimated from independent optical data and that estimated theoretically from the measured dielectric constants. The substantial oxygen-isotope effect on the in-plane supercarrier mass observed in optimally doped cuprates suggests that polarons are bound into the Cooper pairs. We also identify the phonon modes that are strongly coupled to conduction electrons from the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, tunneling spectra, and optical data. We consistently show that there is a very strong electron-phonon coupling feature at a phonon energy of about $20\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ along the antinodal direction and that this coupling becomes weaker towards the diagonal direction. We further show that high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates is caused by strong electron-phonon coupling, polaronic effect, and significant coupling with $2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ $\mathrm{Cu}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{O}$ charge transfer fluctuation.
Linkage and association analyses identify a candidate region for apoB level on chromosome 4q32.3 in FCHL families.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is a complex trait leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Elevated levels and size of apolipoprotein B (apoB) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are associated with FCHL, which is genetically heterogeneous and is likely caused by rare variants. We carried out a linkage-based genome scan of four large FCHL pedigrees for apoB level that is independent of LDL: apoB level that is adjusted for LDL level and size. Follow-up included SNP genotyping in the region with the strongest evidence of linkage. Several regions with the evidence of linkage in individual pedigrees support the rare variant model. Evidence of linkage was strongest on chromosome 4q, with multipoint analysis in one pedigree giving LOD = 3.1 with a parametric model, and a log Bayes Factor = 1.5 from a Bayesian oligogenic approach. Of the 293 SNPs spanning the implicated region on 4q, rs6829588 completely explained the evidence of linkage. This SNP accounted for 39% of the apoB phenotypic variance, with heterozygotes for this SNP having a trait value that was ~30% higher than that of the high-frequency homozygote, thus identifying and considerably refining a strong candidate region. These results illustrate the advantage of using large pedigrees in the search for rare variants: reduced genetic heterogeneity within single pedigrees coupled with the large number of individuals segregating otherwise-rare single variants leads to high power to implicate such variants.
Central versus eccentric lesions of long tubular bones.

O NE OF THE important features of some of the tumors or tumor-like lesions of bone is their location in bone in relation to the central axis. This is particularly true if the lesion is located in the long tubular bone, such as humerus, radius, femur, and tibia. For example, a simple bone cyst, enchondroma, or fibrous dysplasia are almost always centrally located. In contrast, aneurysmal bone cyst, chondromyxoid fibroma, and nonossifying fibroma, among others, have been observed to be characteristically eccentrically located lesions. Some lesions, by nature of their anatomic location, are always eccentric, eg, fibrous cortical defect, periosteal desmoid, periosteal chondroma, cortical osteoid osteoma, cortical stress fracture, and subperiosteal hematoma. Obviously, on scintigraphy, this central or eccentric location may be appreciated, thus helping to include or exclude specific lesions in the differential diagnosis.