cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyber Maneuvers and Maneuver Keys

This paper presents an overview of cyber maneuvers and their roles in cyber security. As the cyber war escalates, a strategy that preemptively limits and curtails attacks is required. Such a proactive strategy is called a cyber maneuver and is a refinement of the concept of a moving-target defense, which includes both reactive and proactive network changes. The major advantages of cyber maneuvers relative to other moving-target defenses are described. The use of maneuver keys in making cyber maneuvers much more feasible and affordable is explained. As specific examples, the applications of maneuver keys in encryption algorithms and as spread-spectrum keys are described. The integration of cyber maneuvers into a complete cyber security system with intrusion detection, identification of compromised nodes, and secure rekeying is presented. An example of secure rekeying despite the presence of compromised nodes is described.
Asthma and gastroesophageal reflux: acid suppressive therapy improves asthma outcome

Purpose To determine (1) the appropriate omeprazole (Prilosec) dose required for adequate acid suppression in asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux, (2) whether aggressive acid suppressive therapy of gastroesophageal reflux improves asthma outcome in asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux, (3) the time course of asthma improvement, and (4) demographic, esophageal, or pulmonary predictors of a positive asthma response to antireflux therapy. Patients and methods Thirty nonsmoking adult asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux (asthma defined by American Thoracic Society criteria and reflux defined by symptoms and abnormal 24-hour esophageal pH testing) were recruited from the outpatient clinics of a 900-bed university hospital. Patients underwent baseline studies including a demographic questionnaire, esophageal manometry, dual-probe 24-hour esophageal pH test, barium esophogram, and pulmonary spirometry. During the 4-week pretherapy phase, patients recorded reflux and asthma symptom scores and peak expiratory flow rates (PEFs) upon awakening, 1 hour after dinner, and at bedtime. Patients began 20 mg/d omeprazole, and the dose was titrated until acid suppression was documented by 24-hour pH test. Patients remained on this acid suppressive dose for 3 months. Responders were identified by a priori definitions: asthma symptom reduction by >20% and/or PEF increase by >20%. Asthma symptom scores, PEFs, baseline and posttherapy pulmonary spirometry were analyzed. Results Twenty-two (73%) patients were asthma symptom and/or PEF responders: 20 (67%) were asthma symptom responders, and 6 (20%) were PEF responders. Responders reduced their asthma symptoms by 57% ( P P P P P Conclusions Acid suppressive therapy with omeprazole improves asthma symptoms and/or PEFs by >20% and improves pulmonary function in 73% of asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux after 3 months of acid suppressive therapy. Many asthmatics (27%) required >20 mg/d of omeprazole to suppress acid. The presence of regurgitation and/or excessive proximal esophageal reflux predicts a positive asthma outcome.
Patient Outcomes After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Breast Cancer: Use of Postoperative Continuous Local Anesthesia Infusion

Background. Although considered a safe surgical procedure, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with postoperative numbness, paresthesias, pain, and muscle weakness. Despite meticulous surgical technique and the absence of long thoracic or thoracodorsal nerve injury, the risk of these complications are reported as great as 35% to 50%, with a subset of patients developing chronic pain syndromes. Methods. Female patients (n = 27) undergoing Level I-II ALND for breast cancer were recruited. After ALND, patients were randomized to three groups. Group 1 received standard axillary lymph node dissection. Patients assigned to group 2 or 3 (double-blinded) received 120 h continuous 0.9% saline solution or 0.5% bupivacaine using a catheter placed into the axilla and delivered by an elastomeric pump device. After routine postoperative care, patients were discharged with oral opioid analgesics. Twice-daily assessment of pain, sedation, and nausea were conducted using validated visual-analog scale measures. Daily and total opioid analgesic requirements after surgery were recorded. Results. Patients treated with a continuous infusion of bupivacaine experienced significantly lower pain scores (P < 0.001) during the first 5 postoperative days. Postoperative opioid analgesic requirements also were significantly decreased in the bupivacaine group, and these effects persisted until postoperative day 14 (P < 0.001). Concomitant to the observed decreases in pain and oral opioid requirements, nausea and morning sedation also were significantly reduced. There were no pump-related complications, wound infections, or postoperative axillary fluid collections. Conclusions. The use of continuous administration of bupivicaine after ALND significantly decreases pain and opioid analgesic requirements, with concomitant decreases in nausea and sedation. This study provides encouraging evidence of the therapeutic benefits of continuous infusion of local anesthesia and may represent a valuable adjunct for surgical patients who require ALND, including those with breast cancer and melanoma.
Crystal Structure of Silicon Powders Produced from Laser-Heated Silane

The crystallinity and microstructure of fine silicon particles produced by the decomposition of laser-heated silane gas were studied in as-synthesized and annealed states. Amorphous, partially crystalline, and fully crystalline particles can be produced. With annealing at 550°C, partially crystalline particles become fully crystalline; amorphous particles remain amorphous. The results agree with previous interpretations of formation, growth, and crystallization processes in the reaction zone based on light scattering and transmission diagnostics.
CAMP-dependent protein kinase enhances CYP17 transcription via MKP-1 activation in H295R human adrenocortical cells.

Steroid hormone biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex is controlled by adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), which increases intracellular cAMP, resulting in the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase(PKA) and subsequent increase in steroidogenic gene transcription. We have found that a dual-specificity phosphatase is essential for conveying ACTH/cAMP-stimulated transcription of several steroidogenic genes in the human adrenal cortex. In the present study, the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a nuclear dual-specificity phosphatase, in the transcriptional activation of human CYP17 (hCYP17) in H295R human adrenocortical cells is established. Stimulation of H295R cells with dibutyryl-cAMP (Bt2cAMP) induces MKP-1 mRNA and protein expression within 30 min of exposure. In transient-transfection studies, transcriptional activity of an hCYP17 promoter-reporter construct was increased by Bt2cAMP and by overexpression of PKA or MKP-1. Furthermore, PKA phosphorylated an MKP-1-glutathioneS-transferase fusion protein in in vitroassays and Bt2cAMP increased 32P associated with MKP-1 that was immunoprecipitated from H295R cells. Finally, silencing MKP-1 expression using antisense oligonucleotides attenuated cAMP-stimulated hCYP17 expression, whereas silencing of ERK1/2 increased hCYP17 expression. These findings demonstrate integral roles for MKP-1 and ERK1/2 via regulation of the phosphorylation state of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) in mediating ACTH/cAMP-dependent transcription of hCYP17, thereby maintaining the balance between transcriptional activation and repression.
An electrochemical oscillator: the mercury / chloropentammine cobalt(III) oscillator

Abstract In an aqueous solution containing a complex ion of cobalt, the open circuit potential at a hanging mercury drop electrode oscillates with time. These oscillations arise from the electrode's response to cyclic changes of pH near the electrode. The pH changes are due to spontaneous reactions taking place at the electrode surface. Although oscillations of the open circuit potential at solid electrodes have been reported, this is the first report of a temporal dependence of the open circuit potential at a mercury electrode.
Androgenicity and obesity are independently associated with insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women

Abstract An increase in androgenicity may contribute to the development of insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. Increased androgenicity in women has been found to be associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. In addition, obesity and central obesity are associated with greater androgenicity. Insulin sensitivity, androgenicity, and body composition were characterized in 34 nondiabetic postmenopausal women age 72 ± 1 years (mean ± SEM) to test the hypothesis that androgenicity is a predictor of insulin sensitivity independent of measures of obesity. Androgenicity was measured using levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione, and free androgen index (FAI). Insulin sensitivity (SI) was determined from a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Body composition measures included body mass index (BMI) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements of total and central fat mass. SI was found to be associated with total fat mass (r = −.51, P = .002), central fat mass (r = −.62, P = .0001), BMI (r = −.55, P = .0008), SHBG levels (r = .65, P = .0001), and FAI (r = −.41, P = .01). SHBG levels were inversely correlated with central fat mass (r = −.59, P = .0002). Using multiple regression, SHBG and central fat mass were the only significant independent predictors of SI, accounting for 50% of its variance (r = .71, P = .0001); total fat mass, BMI, total and free testosterone, DHEA-S, androstenedione, and FAI did not enter the model. We conclude that there is a significant association between insulin sensitivity and androgenicity in postmenopausal women that is independent of obesity. Interventions to decrease androgenicity may therefore be useful in improving insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women.
Identification of functional receptors for ciliary neurotrophic factor on chick ciliary ganglion neurons

Abstract Ciliary neurotrophic factor and an avian homolog, growth promoting activity, are members of the cytokine/neurokine family of trophic factors and have been proposed to function as survival and developmental factors for ciliary ganglion neurons in vivo . Here we identify for the first time functional receptors for ciliary neurotrophic factor and growth promoting activity on cultured ciliary ganglion neurons. [ 125 I]Rat ciliary neurotrophic factor binding studies indicate that rat ciliary neurotrophic factor and growth promoting activity bind to these receptors with a single affinity, while human ciliary neurotrophic factor recognizes both a high- and low-affinity site. Comparison of the relative potency of human ciliary neurotrophic factor and avian growth promoting activity in biological assays indicates that growth promoting activity is three to five times more active in promoting survival and in regulating acetylcholine receptors. The binding of ciliary neurotrophic factor is specific, sensitive to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and partially inhibited by leukemia inhibitory factor, but not inhibited by other members of the human neurokine family, including interleukin-6, interleukin-11 and oncostatin M. Cross-linking of [ 125 I]rat ciliary neurotrophic factor to ciliary neurons results in the specific labeling of three proteins with estimated molecular masses of 153,000, 81,000 and 72,000. Only the 81,000 molecular weight component is released from the cells after treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, suggesting a membrane attachment via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage. Stimulation with ciliary neurotrophic factor or growth promoting activity, but not by other neurokines, results in the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a 90,000 molecular weight protein that is inhibited by pretreatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. In conclusion, we report here the pharmacological and functional properties of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptors on embryonic ciliary ganglion neurons. These results provide the means for elaborating the molecular mechanisms of ciliary neurotrophic factor action and understanding its physiological role in a defined neuronal population.
A thermonuclease of Neisseria gonorrhoeae enhances bacterial escape from killing by neutrophil extracellular traps

Acute gonorrhea is characterized by neutrophilic inflammation that is insufficient to clear Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Activated neutrophils release extracellular traps (NETs), which are composed of chromatin and decorated with antimicrobial proteins. The N. gonorrhoeae NG0969 open reading frame contains a gene (nuc) that encodes a putatively secreted thermonuclease (Nuc) that contributes to biofilm remodeling. Here, we report that Nuc degrades NETs to help N. gonorrhoeae resist killing by neutrophils. Primary human neutrophils released NETs after exposure to N. gonorrhoeae, but NET integrity declined over time with Nuc-containing bacteria. Recombinant Nuc and conditioned medium from Nuc-containing N. gonorrhoeae degraded human neutrophil DNA and NETs. NETs were found to have antimicrobial activity against N. gonorrhoeae, and Nuc expression enhanced N. gonorrhoeae survival in the presence of neutrophils that released NETs. We propose that Nuc enables N. gonorrhoeae to escape trapping and killing by NETs during symptomatic infection, highlighting Nuc as a multifunctional virulence factor for N. gonorrhoeae.
Antipsychotic use in children and adolescents: minimizing adverse effects to maximize outcomes.

In children and adolescents, antipsychotics are being used in large and increasing quantities for a wide range of disorders and psychopathology, including psychotic, mood, and disruptive behavior disorders (1). Moreover, antipsychotics are also being used in children and adolescents to treat irritability associated with autism, tic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and aggression; (2–4) however, the widespread use exceeds the database regarding efficacy as well as safety and tolerability in this population. At the time of this writing, only three antipsychotics— haloperidol, thioridazine, and risperidone—have been approved for use in children and adolescents by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with most randomized controlled data being available for risperidone. To appropriately use this potent class of medications, clinicians need to actively weigh the potential risks and benefits of individual agents. The present article aims to succinctly review available data on antipsychotic-related adverse effects in children and adolescents and provide a practical guide for the evaluation and management of antipsychotic-related adverse effects in this vulnerable population.
Nanophotonic Interconnects and 3D-stacked Technology for Future Many-core Architectures

We explore silicon photonics and 3D stacked technology to implement a photonic network-on-chips. The proposed scheme provides 2.56 Tb/sec bandwidth with a much reduced power consumption and latency compared to any leading on-chip photonic networks.
Magnetic hyperfine fields at radon and radium nuclei in iron metal

Abstract The hyperfine magnetic fields at radon and radium nuclei implanted into iron are found to be positive and negative, respectively, by observing the perturbation of α-γ angular correlations from thin 228Th and 226Ra sources deposited on iron metal foils.
"Our Capital Aversion": Abigail Folsom, Madness, & Radical Antislavery Praxis

Abigail Folsom is difficult to locate in familiar narratives regarding the antislavery movement. The ostensible reason for the omission is that Folsom was insane. Notorious for disrupting antislavery meetings in high-pitched rants, Folsom violated generic ideals of womanhood and feminine discourse, thus challenging implicit Garrisonian dictates regarding radical reform praxis. Antebellum discourses of insanity provide a context for understanding Folsom's dynamic relationship with radical abolitionists, the significance of her menacing presence, and the mechanisms and motives of her silencing. Even through distorted historical memory, Folsom guides us in interrogating Garrisonian feminism, and helps us speculate about new rhetorical dimensions of radicalism employed by certain antebellum women. “To define true madness, What is't but to be nothing else but mad?” Shakespeare, Hamlet
Mixture modeling of microarray gene expression data

About 28% of genes appear to have an expression pattern that follows a mixture distribution. We use first- and second-order partial correlation coefficients to identify trios and quartets of non-sex-linked genes that are highly associated and that are also mixtures. We identified 18 trio and 35 quartet mixtures and evaluated their mixture distribution concordance. Concordance was defined as the proportion of observations that simultaneously fall in the component with the higher mean or simultaneously in the component with the lower mean based on their Bayesian posterior probabilities. These trios and quartets have a concordance rate greater than 80%. There are 33 genes involved in these trios and quartets. A factor analysis with varimax rotation identifies three gene groups based on their factor loadings. One group of 18 genes has a concordance rate of 56.7%, another group of 8 genes has a concordance rate of 60.8%, and a third group of 7 genes has a concordance rate of 69.6%. Each of these rates is highly significant, suggesting that there may be strong biological underpinnings for the mixture mechanisms of these genes. Bayesian factor screening confirms this hypothesis by identifying six single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are significantly associated with the expression phenotypes of the five most concordant genes in the first group.
Dexamethasone acutely regulates endocrine parameters in stallions and subsequently affects gene expression in testicular germ cells

Testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis are negatively impacted by stress-related hormones such as glucocorticoids. The effects of two injections of a therapeutic dose of dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid, 0.1mg/kg; i.v.) given 24h apart to each of three stallions were investigated and compared to three saline-injected control stallions. Dexamethasone decreased circulating concentrations of cortisol by 50% at 24h after the initial injection. Serum testosterone decreased by a maximum of 94% from 4 to 20h after the initial injection of dexamethasone. Semen parameters of the dexamethasone-treated stallions were unchanged in the subsequent two weeks. Two weeks after treatment, stallions were castrated. Functional genomic analyses of the testes revealed that, of eight gene products analyzed, dexamethasone depressed concentrations of heat shock protein DNAJC4 and sperm-specific calcium channel CATSPER1 mRNAs by more than 60%. Both genes are expressed in germ cells during spermiogenesis and have been related to male fertility in other species, including humans. This is the first report of decreased DNAJC4 and CATSPER1 mRNA concentrations in testes weeks after dexamethasone treatment. Concentrations of these mRNAs in sperm may be useful as novel markers of fertility in stallions.
Attitudes toward science and science knowledge of intellectually gifted and average students in third, seventh, and eleventh grades

A questionnaire regarding attitudes toward science and scientific knowledge (Yager & Yager, 1985b) was administered to 143 intellectually gifted (IQ > 130) and intellectually average third-, seventh-, and eleventh-grade students. Measures of internal reliability on four attitude subscales and a content knowledge subscale are reported. Three-way ANOVAs comparing grade, sex, and ability revealed significant differences between average and gifted students in attitudes toward being a scientist, usefulness of science, and, as might be expected, in knowledge of science. Similarly, there were significant differences between grades on attitudes toward teachers and toward science classes, with the most favorable attitudes expressed in third grade, next most favorable in eleventh grade, and clearly more negative attitudes expressed by students in seventh grade. There also was a significant interaction between grade level and ability regarding attitudes toward science classes. In contrast to what might be expected from reported differences between males and females in attitudes toward science, gender as a separate variable did not have a significant main effect in any of the comparisons.
An ecological study of intersubjectivity and the opening of closed minds.

Two interpretive case studies are reported that investigate the intentionality of defensiveness versus open-mindedness in persons who hold flawed ideological beliefs. The 1st analyzes an academic authority's resistance to information that disconfirms a therapeutic intervention that he has been successfully promoting. His dissociation and narcissistic withdrawal contrasts with the 2nd case in which a neo-Nazi accepts shaming information about himself and his political ideology that leads him to forge a more integrated persona. The content and scenes of instruction in both cases are formally similar, but in the 2nd case there is an identification with the teacher and an interpersonal and philosophical vitality to their conversation that is credited as conducive to moral culpability, realism, and experiential enlightenment.
F-box protein Fbxl18 mediates polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of the pro-apoptotic SCF subunit Fbxl7

Fbxl7, a subunit of the SCF (Skp-Cul1-F-box protein) complex induces mitotic arrest in cells; however, molecular factors that control its cellular abundance remain largely unknown. Here, we identified that an orphan F-box protein, Fbxl18, targets Fbxl7 for its polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Lys 109 within Fbxl7 is an essential acceptor site for ubiquitin conjugation by Fbxl18. An FQ motif within Fbxl7 serves as a molecular recognition site for Fbxl18 interaction. Ectopically expressed Fbxl7 induces apoptosis in Hela cells, an effect profoundly accentuated after cellular depletion of Fbxl18 protein or expression of Fbxl7 plasmids encoding mutations at either Lys 109 or within the FQ motif. Ectopic expression of Fbxl18 plasmid-limited apoptosis caused by overexpressed Fbxl7 plasmid. Thus, Fbxl18 regulates apoptosis by mediating ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of the pro-apoptotic protein Fbxl7 that may impact cellular processes involved in cell cycle progression.
Targeting Prejudice Personal Self-Esteem as a Resource for Asians’ Attributions to Racial Discrimination

Although Asians in the United States are targets of racial prejudice and discrimination, cultural forces may hinder their acknowledging that such bias has occurred. High personal self-esteem (SE) m...
Possible Gatifloxacin-Induced Hyperglycemia

OBJECTIVETo report a case of possible gatifloxacin-induced hyperglycemia in a nondiabetic middle-aged woman.CASE SUMMARYA 64-year-old Indian woman with an extensive cardiovascular history was admitted for urosepsis. On admission, her blood glucose was 117 mg/dL. She was empirically started on gatifloxacin 400 mg/day; after 3 days of gatifloxacin therapy, her blood glucose was 607 mg/dL. On day 4, therapy was changed to cefazolin for sensitive Escherichia coli and her blood glucose levels began to return to normal.DISCUSSIONAlthough gatifloxacin has been previously reported as a potential cause of both hyper- and hypoglycemia, the exact mechanism is unknown. Several factors that may have been involved in our patient's hyperglycemia are discussed. She experienced hyperglycemic changes more rapidly than did the typical patients of previous reports. The Naranjo probability scale suggests a possible drug-related event.CONCLUSIONSThe temporal relationship between gatifloxacin administration and the patient's hy...
MEAN TIME PARAMETERS FOR GENERALIZED PHYSIOLOGICAL FLOW MODELS (SEMIHOMOGENEOUS LINEAR SYSTEMS)

This note gives expressions for recirculation mean time parameters of the disposition kinetics of particles in a semihomogeneous stationary linear system. In such a system each compartment may have an arbitrary single-pass disposition function, rather than a known parametric (usually monoexponential) one. Such systems provide a generalization of physiological flow models. Given observations of arterial blood concentrations and tissue amounts, and making the additional assumptions that (i) the fraction of total blood flow exiting each tissue that goes to each other tissue is constant and known, and (ii) the fraction of drug entering each tissue that is eliminated to the outside is constant and known, the input to each tissue can be known, and therefore both its total blood flow and its single-pass disposition function can be estimated. Recirculation mean time parameters can be computed from these estimates. Application to real thiopental data is presented as an example.
Analysis of the lattice, strong coupling series for g0φ4 field theory in d dimensions

Abstract We analyze the renormalized strong coupling series for lattice g0φ4 field theory which is a double series in x = M4a4/g0a4−d and y = 1/M2a2, where M is the renormalized mass, a the lattice spacing, g0 the bare coupling constant and d the dimension of space-time. We extrapolate to large y for fixed x by using a Pade-like extrapolation technique. We study the dimensionless renormalized coupling constant G/M4−d and find that as we approach the continuum(x → 0, y → ∞) the entire spectrum of g0 from zero to infinity can be studied. Our results for d = 1,2,3,4 based on a series in y up to y5 and in x up to x3 show that for fixed lattice spacing a, G/M4−d is a monotonic function of g0 ranging from zero at g0 = 0 to a maximum at g0 = ∞. Using the high temperature expansion results, we have also derived 9 terms in y on 8 lattices of dimension 1,2,3 and 4 for the linear term in x, and studied this series to see if one can see a breakdown in this monotonic behavior of G for large y. The analysis of this latter series is inconclusive.
A set in L containing regularizing families for ultrafilters

Let K be a successor cardinal. Call an regularizing family (for short, a regularizing family) if Card ℱ = k and for each with Card . In [7], Prikry proved, assuming V = L , that if is an ultrafilter on K which is uniform (Card X = K , each ) then is regular (some forms a regularizing family).†
Fast parallel linear equation solvers based on textured decomposition

A fast linear equation solver based on recursive textured decompositions is introduced in this paper. The computational time complexity for solving problems of N unknown variables is in the order of one if N processors are available. It is faster than the multigrid method, so far known as the fastest available method for two dimensional Poisson equation, which has time complexity of O(log N). The basic difference between this approach, and classical iterative algorithms, is that different approximations of the system matrix are used in round-robin fashion while one fixed approximation is used in the classical approach. We show that, with proper choice of approximation compositions, the spectral radius of error dynamic is reduced drastically; and with proper decomposition size, the spectral radius will approach to a constant strictly less than one, even if the dimension of the problem tends to infinity. This enables us to devise a parallel algorithm with order one time complexity.
Effects of cold and heat on urate crystal-induced synovitis in the dog.

Local cooling decreased, while heating increased, the acute inflammation produced by a single injection of urate crystals into dog knees. Synovial fluid leukocyte counts and volume, polymorphonuclear infiltration of synovial membrane, and 133Xe clearance were decreased by cold, and increased by heat. There was good correlation between altered inflammation and vascular changes, but not with enzyme levels, cell death, or leukocyte structural changes. Chronic synovitis from repeated crystal injections was not altered by cold or heat.
Role of Antigen, CD8, and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) Avidity in High Dose Antigen Induction of Apoptosis of Effector CTL

Experimental data suggest that negative selection of thymocytes can occur as a result of supraoptimal antigenic stimulation. It is unknown, however, whether such mechanisms are at work in mature CD8+ T lymphocytes. Here, we show that CD8+ effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are susceptible to proliferative inhibition by high dose peptide antigen, leading to apoptotic death mediated by TNF-alpha release. Such inhibition is not reflected in the cytolytic potential of the CTL, since concentrations of antigen that are inhibitory for proliferation promote efficient lysis of target cells. Thus, although CTL have committed to the apoptotic pathway, the kinetics of this process are such that CTL function can occur before death of the CTL. The concentration of antigen required for inhibition is a function of the CTL avidity, in that concentrations of antigen capable of completely inhibiting high avidity CTL maximally stimulate low avidity CTL. Importantly, the inhibition can be detected in both activated and resting CTL. Blocking studies demonstrate that the CD8 molecule contributes significantly to the inhibitory signal as the addition of anti-CD8 antibody restores the proliferative response. Thus, our data support the model that mature CD8+ CTL can accommodate an activation signal of restricted intensity, which, if surpassed, results in deletion of that cell.
Pelleted and Unpelleted Mash for Laying Hens

Abstract THE last few years have seen a gradual increase in the use of pelleted feeds for poultry of all kinds. Contacts with feed men and users will reveal many and varied reasons for their use or non-use. A review of the literature reveals very little definite information on the use of pellets in poultry feeding. Lund and co-workers, (1932), reporting on the use of pelleted mash in comparison with other methods of feeding, stated that an all mash pellet ration produced fewer eggs than the other three methods tried, and that there was no significant difference in mortality, size of eggs, or increase in body weight, in the different methods. Robertson et al., (1939), in work on various methods of feeding laying hens, found pellets increased egg production when fed as a noon lunch. Morgan and Heywang, (1941), found the pelleted all mash superior to unpelleted all mash, in promoting . . .
Promoting behavioral competence in schools: A commentary on exemplary practices

The articles in this special Practitioner's Edition of Psychology in the Schools share the application of sound educational and behavioral practices in real school and classroom contexts. Given this emphasis in these articles on the applied use of behavioral practices, the purpose of this brief commentary is to highlight and comment on some of the “big ideas” that link these practitioner-focused articles. Specifically, three main questions are addressed: (a) Where did the “triangle” come from? (b) Why are schools increasing their use of local data to guide decision making? (c) What is school-wide positive behavior support? © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 113–118, 2007.
A mm-Wave Power-Harvesting RFID Tag in 90 nm CMOS

A mm-wave power-harvesting RFID tag is implemented in 90 nm CMOS. Operation at mm-wave reduces antenna size and could allow antenna integration on-chip. This, together with power harvesting that can be used in lieu of a battery, can result in a pinless, CMOS-only tag with no package and no off-chip components whatsoever. The tag harvests energy from the incoming mm-wave continuous wave (CW) signal transmitted by the reader and then uses a 60 GHz free-running oscillator to transmit back pulse-width modulated bursts. An in-depth treatment of the voltage multiplier and associated matching network and implications on tag range are presented. With 2 dBm mm-wave input power, the tag achieves a rate of 5 kb/s. The RFIC size is 1.3 × 0.95 mm2 including pads.
Nitric oxide modulates right ventricular flow and oxygen consumption during norepinephrine infusion.

This study was designed to test if nitric oxide (NO) contributes to norepinephrine-induced right coronary vasodilation and if NO blunts the norepinephrine-induced increase in myocardial oxygen cons...
The effect of endurance exercise on bone dimensions, collagen, and calcium in the aged male rat

Sixteen weeks of a relatively mild running program, started at 22 months of age, lowered the body weights of 26-month-old male rats to the level of 9-month-old rats and increased the weights and the collagen densities of hind limb bones to levels greater than those of 9-, 22-, and 26-month-old sedentary rats. The densities (g/cm3) and the calcium densities (mg/cm3) of the hind limb bones decreased with age and were restored to the 9-month level by training the elderly rats to run. These data suggest that exercise is capable of inducing a compensation for, or a reversal of, age-associated bone loss (osteoporosis) and restoring the bone mineral content in aged rats to the level of those of mature young adult animals.
Gender differences in influence of prenatal photoperiods on postnatal pineal melatonin rhythms and serum prolactin and follicle-stimulating hormone in the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).

In Siberian hamsters, the rate of testicular maturation during juvenile life can be influenced by both the prenatal photoperiod and the day length experienced postnatally. In this report, potential postnatal photoperiodic mechanisms modified by prenatal photoperiod were investigated in this species. The study examined the effect of prenatal photoperiodic history on the postnatal pineal melatonin (MEL) rhythm and on postnatal secretion of FSH and PRL. In the first study, the pineal MEL content of hamsters, gestated in either 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness/day (16L) or 10L and raised postnatally in 14L, was monitored at various times of the day and night at 18 days of age. We found that prenatal photoperiod did influence the postnatal pineal MEL rhythm in 18-day-old males, but a similar effect was not evident in females. For males, the durations of the nocturnal elevation of pineal MEL were 8.5 and 7 h in 16L and 10L gestated hamsters, respectively. However, MEL rhythms were similar to each other in the ...
Truncated Sequential Procedures

Abstract Sequential planning with the restriction that the number of groups is absolutely bounded by some fixed number K is considered. These truncated sequential plans will stop sampling after most K groups of observations are collected. Practically, it reflects the following situation. There are only K days available to complete a certain study (e.g., clinical trials, to get FDA approval or investigate conditions of the field before it is time for farming). Every day, a sample of the desired size is selected. Based on the interim analysis performed, an inference is made or another batch of observations is collected as long as total number of groups does not exceed K. Truncated sequentially planned probability ratio tests (TSPPRTs) on a lattice are considered in detail. Construction and methods of evaluation of TSPPRTs are proposed.
Invasion of diverse habitats by few Japanese knotweed genotypes is correlated with epigenetic differentiation

The expansion of invasive species challenges our understanding of the process of adaptation. Given that the invasion process often entails population bottlenecks, it is surprising that many invasives appear to thrive even with low levels of sequence-based genetic variation. Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation sensitive-AFLP (MS-AFLP) markers, we tested the hypothesis that differentiation of invasive Japanese knotweed in response to new habitats is more correlated with epigenetic variation than DNA sequence variation. We found that the relatively little genetic variation present was differentiated among species, with less differentiation among sites within species. In contrast, we found a great deal of epigenetic differentiation among sites within each species and evidence that some epigenetic loci may respond to local microhabitat conditions. Our findings indicate that epigenetic effects could contribute to phenotypic variation in genetically depauperate invasive populations. Deciphering whether differences in methylation patterns are the cause or effect of habitat differentiation will require manipulative studies.
Older adults and smoking: Characteristics, nicotine dependence and prevalence of DSM-IV 12-month disorders

Objectives: There are few studies investigating the characteristics of older smokers. Research on younger adults has determined that (1) the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM) diagnosis of nicotine dependence (ND) excludes a sizable portion of the smoking population, and (2) younger smokers have high rates of comorbid DSM disorders. In this study, we sought to replicate these results in an older population. Method: Based on a large representative sample, we examined the smoking patterns in adults aged 50 and over (N = 2139). We describe the characteristics of the current smokers (n = 410). We identified differences in smoking characteristics and prevalence rates of DSM-IV 12-month diagnoses by smoking severity. Results: Most smokers did not meet the criteria for DSM 12-month ND. Older smokers identified as having ND were first diagnosed at a relatively older age. Smokers with ND differed from smokers without a diagnosis in several ways: they smoked more; they had more symptoms of ND and had substanti...
Dynamics of the chemical composition of rainwater throughout Hurricane Irene

Abstract. Sequential sampling of rainwater from Hurricane Irene was carried out in Wilmington, NC, USA on 26 and 27 August 2011. Eleven samples were analyzed for pH, major ions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hurricane Irene contributed 16% of the total rainwater and 18% of the total chloride wet deposition received in Wilmington NC during all of 2011. This work highlights the main physical factors influencing the chemical composition of tropical storm rainwater: wind speed, wind direction, back trajectory and vertical mixing, time of day and total rain volume. Samples collected early in the storm, when winds blew out of the east, contained dissolved components indicative of marine sources (salts from sea spray and low DOC). The sea-salt components in the samples had two maxima in concentration during the storm the first of which occurred before the volume of rain had sufficiently washed out sea salt from the atmosphere and the second when back trajectories showed large volumes of marine surface air were lifted. As the storm progressed and winds shifted to a westerly direction, the chemical composition of the rainwater became characteristic of terrestrial storms (high DOC and NH4+ and low sea salt). This work demonstrates that tropical storms are not only responsible for significant wet deposition of marine components to land, but terrestrial components can also become entrained in rainwater, which can then be delivered to coastal waters via wet deposition. This study also underscores why analysis of one composite sample can lead to an incomplete interpretation of the factors that influence the chemically divergent analytes in rainwater during extreme weather events.
Be My Neighbor: Exploring Sense of Place Through Children's Literature

Encouraging elementary students to become aware of place and the role it plays in shaping their lives can provide them with a clearer sense of self and a greater appreciation for diversity. To support this premise, this article explores using six National Council for the Social Studies Notable Trade Books to assist primary students in their understanding of place. By using realistic fiction and nonfiction picture books that focus on children's lives in diverse locations, the suggested activities enable teachers to address the five themes of geography and promote cultural awareness to elementary students in meaningful ways. The author provides a summary of each book and describes student-centered activities to develop concepts related to the NCSS thematic strands of culture; people, places, and environments; and individual development and identity.
Thermospheric density variations: Observability using precision satellite orbits and effects on orbit propagation

[1] This paper examines atmospheric density estimated using precision orbit ephemerides (POE) from the CHAMP and GRACE satellites during short periods of greater atmospheric density variability. The results of the calibration of CHAMP densities derived using POEs with those derived using accelerometers are examined for three different types of density perturbations, [traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs), geomagnetic cusp phenomena, and midnight density maxima] in order to determine the temporal resolution of POE solutions. In addition, the densities are compared to High-Accuracy Satellite Drag Model (HASDM) densities to compare temporal resolution for both types of corrections. The resolution for these models of thermospheric density was found to be inadequate to sufficiently characterize the short-term density variations examined here. Also examined in this paper is the effect of differing density estimation schemes by propagating an initial orbit state forward in time and examining induced errors. The propagated POE-derived densities incurred errors of a smaller magnitude than the empirical models and errors on the same scale or better than those incurred using the HASDM model.
Evolution of Autism Support and Understanding Via the World Wide Web

Internet technology has radically changed society, widely affecting communication and the availability of information. The digital age holds unique significance for autism spectrum disorder. In this article I explore the interface between autism and the World Wide Web by reviewing evolving virtual communities pioneered by individuals with autism, exploring the online growth of advocacy organizations, and considering the positive and negative consequences that arise from autism’s fledgling voices.
Appropriate Use of Recovery Groups in Nonclinical Toxicity Studies: Value in a Science-Driven Case-by-Case Approach

A recovery phase—a nondosing period that follows the main dosing phase of a study—is sometimes included in nonclinical toxicity studies, and it is designed to understand whether toxicities observed at the end of the dosing phase are partially or completely reversible. For biopharmaceuticals with long half-lives, the inclusion of recovery arms can be helpful in understanding effects of prolonged exposure and assessing antidrug antibodies. This commentary discusses when to include recovery groups in nonclinical toxicity studies, the number of recovery groups to include in a given study, the number of animals to include in each recovery group, and the duration of the recovery phase. In general, the inclusion of recovery arms should follow a case-by-case approach that values rational scientific design and reflects the development needs and regulatory requirements applicable to individual nonclinical programs to ensure appropriate guidance for human studies while minimizing laboratory animal use.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT OF A MYASTHENIA GRAVIS PATIENT WITH COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA: DOES INITIAL ANTIBIOTIC CHOICE LEAD TO CURE OR CRISIS?

Abstract Background Myasthenic crisis is a rare, yet serious condition that carries a 3%−8% mortality rate. Although infection is a common cause of decompensation in myasthenia gravis, several antibiotics classes have also been associated with an exacerbation. Selecting antibiotics can be a daunting clinical task and, if chosen inappropriately, can carry significant deleterious consequences. Not only do clinicians have to focus on treating the underlying infection appropriately, but avoiding antibiotics that may potentiate a myasthenic crisis is also vital. Case Report An 85-year-old female with a history of myasthenia gravis presented to the emergency department (ED) with increasing generalized weakness and shortness of breath. Clinical work-up was consistent with a community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosis. Her medical history included a myasthenia gravis exacerbation shortly after receiving moxifloxacin for CAP. After reviewing the patient’s allergies, as well as potential antibiotic triggers, the decision was made to treat with tigecycline. The patient responded well to tigecycline therapy and was deemed stable for discharge on day 4 of hospitalization. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Evaluation of the myasthenia gravis patient frequently originates in the ED. It is important for clinicians to be able to distinguish between an underlying illness and a myasthenic crisis. In the event of an infectious process causing clinical deterioration in a myasthenia patient, optimal antibiotic selection becomes paramount. This patient case highlights the addition of tigecycline to the armamentarium of therapies available to treat myasthenia gravis patients presenting to the emergency department with CAP.
Artificiality and Naturalness—The Tyche Deity

Two intertwining characteristics form the basis of today’s semiotics of law, especially in US legal semiotics. The first can be found in the work of Peirce who developed in the late 1860s a general theory in which he forwarded the view that ‘man is a sign’—an observation immediately relevant in law and legal discourse. The second is in the use of linguistic expressions such as ‘word’, ‘community’ or ‘discourse’. The daring aphorism ‘man is a sign’ was for Peirce an element of a more encompassing theory, which he called ‘evolutionary cosmology’, and in which law seems to be almost naturally incorporated. It supports Peirce’s idea that all knowledge results from a process of inference—from presumptions, deductions and conclusions, so that signs are always involved in epistemological questions, as they are in issues of legal theory.