cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Homeostasis of the Naive CD4+ T Cell Compartment during Aging

Despite thymic involution, the number of naive CD4+ T cells diminishes slowly during aging, suggesting considerable peripheral homeostatic expansion of these cells. To investigate the mechanisms behind, and consequences of, naive CD4+ T cell homeostasis, we evaluated the age-dependent dynamics of the naive CD4+ T cell subsets CD45RA+CD31+ and CD45RA+CD31−. Using both a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design, we measured the relative proportion of both subsets in individuals ranging from 22 to 73 years of age and quantified TCR excision circle content within those subsets as an indicator of proliferative history. Our findings demonstrate that waning thymic output results in a decrease in CD45RA+CD31+ naive CD4+ T cells over time, although we noted considerable individual variability in the kinetics of this change. In contrast, there was no significant decline in the CD45RA+CD31− naive CD4+ T cell subset due to extensive peripheral proliferation. Our longitudinal data are the first to demonstrate that the CD45RA+CD31+CD4+ subset also undergoes some in vivo proliferation without immediate loss of CD31, resulting in an accumulation of CD45RA+CD31+ proliferative offspring. Aging was associated with telomere shortening within both subsets, raising the possibility that accumulation of proliferative offspring contributes to senescence of the naive CD4+ T cell compartment in the elderly. In contrast, we observed retention of clonal TCR diversity despite peripheral expansion, although this analysis did not include individuals over 65 years of age. Our results provide insight into naive CD4+ T cell homeostasis during aging that can be used to better understand the mechanisms that may contribute to immunosenescence within this compartment.
How Challenging? Using Bloom's Taxonomy To Assess Learning Objectives In A Degree Completion Program

This paper describes the analysis of learning objectives in Philosophy classes in an adult learner degree completion program. The goal of the research was to determine if the level of cognitive challenge in the learning objectives was consistent with the course level. Using Blooms Taxonomy as the criteria, learning objectives were subjected to content analysis (Bloom et al., 1956). Unexpectedly Understanding, a lower level cognitive skill, was the most emphasized of the cognitive skills. Given the nature of the students as adult learners one might have reasonably expected Application, also a lower level skill, to be most emphasized. Analysis, an upper level cognitive skill was next most emphasized. However, Synthesis, which is an upper level skill, was least emphasized. As a result of the study, the school conducted faculty training sessions emphasizing the importance of developing higher level cognitive skills in students by offering appropriate cognitive challenges in the learning objectives and in the course content and assessment associated with those objectives. A follow-up study is scheduled for Fall 2005.
Identification of essential alphaproteobacterial genes reveals operational variability in conserved developmental and cell cycle systems

The cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus is controlled by a complex signalling network that co-ordinates events. Genome sequencing has revealed many C. crescentus cell cycle genes are conserved in other Alphaproteobacteria, but it is not clear to what extent their function is conserved. As many cell cycle regulatory genes are essential in C. crescentus, the essential genes of two Alphaproteobacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Rhizobiales) and Brevundimonas subvibrioides (Caulobacterales), were elucidated to identify changes in cell cycle protein function over different phylogenetic distances as demonstrated by changes in essentiality. The results show the majority of conserved essential genes are involved in critical cell cycle processes. Changes in component essentiality reflect major changes in lifestyle, such as divisome components in A. tumefaciens resulting from that organism's different growth pattern. Larger variability of essentiality was observed in cell cycle regulators, suggesting regulatory mechanisms are more customizable than the processes they regulate. Examples include variability in the essentiality of divJ and divK spatial cell cycle regulators, and non-essentiality of the highly conserved and usually essential DNA methyltransferase CcrM. These results show that while essential cell functions are conserved across varying genetic distance, much of a given organism's essential gene pool is specific to that organism.
Endoscopic and conservative management of post-lobectomy and pneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula

Bronchopleural fistula is a rare but potentially fatal complication of pulmonary resections and proper management is essential for its resolution. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the incidence of fistula after lobectomy and pneumonectomy and report our experience with endoscopic and conservative managements. From January 2003 to December 2013, 835 patients underwent anatomic lung resections: 786 (94.2%) lobectomy and 49 (5.8%) pneumonectomy. Bronchopleural fistula was suspected by clinical signs and symptoms and confirmed by endoscopic visualization. Eighteen patients (2.6%) developed a bronchopleural fistula, 11 in lobectomy group (1.3%) and 7 in pneumonectomy group (14.3%). The fistula size ranged between 1 and 6 mm. Mean time of fistula onset was 33.9 ± 54.9 days (1-190) after surgery. All 18 patients were treated with a conservative therapy that consisted in keeping or replacing a drainage chest tube. However, one patient died due to acute respiratory failure and another one was reoperated and then died to causes unrelated to the treatment. Of the remaining 16 patients, 9 underwent also endoscopic closure of fistula using synthetic or biological glues. The mean period of time elapsed for the resolution of this complication was shorter with combined (conservative + endoscopic) than with conservative treatment (15.4 ± 13.2 vs 25.8 ± 13.2 days, respectively), but without statistically significant difference between the two methods (p: NS). In conclusion, conservative treatment eventually associated to an endoscopic therapy is a safe and useful option in the management of the postoperative bronchopleural fistula.
Intramuscular AAV delivery of NT-3 alters synaptic transmission to motoneurons in adult rats

We examined whether elevating levels of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) would alter connections made by muscle spindle afferent fibers on motoneurons. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes AAV1, AAV2 and AAV5, selected for their tropism profile, were engineered with the NT-3 gene and administered to the medial gastrocnemius muscle in adult rats. ELISA studies in muscle, DRG and spinal cord revealed that NT-3 concentration in all tissues peaked about 3 months after a single viral injection; after 6 months NT-3 concentration returned to normal values. Intracellular recording in triceps surae motoneurons revealed complex electrophysiological changes. Moderate elevation in cord NT-3 resulted in diminished segmental excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitude, perhaps as a result of the observed decrease in motoneuron input resistance. With further elevation in NT-3 expression, the decline in EPSP amplitude was reversed, indicating that NT-3 at higher concentration could increase EPSP amplitude. No correlation was observed between EPSP amplitude and NT-3 concentration in the DRG. Treatment with control viruses could elevate NT-3 levels minimally resulting in measurable electrophysiological effects, perhaps as a result of inflammation associated with injection. EPSPs elicited by stimulation of the ventrolateral funiculus underwent a consistent decline in amplitude independent of NT-3 level. These novel correlations between modified NT-3 expression and single-cell electrophysiological parameters indicate that intramuscular administration of AAV(NT-3) can exert long-lasting effects on synaptic transmission to motoneurons. This approach to neurotrophin delivery could be useful in modifying spinal function after injury.
Ammonium and free amino acids as nitrogen sources for the chemoautotrophic symbiosis Solemya reidi Bernard (Bivalvia : Protobranchia)

Solemya reidi Bernard, a gut-less clam housing S-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria in its gills, inhabits burrows in sedimen~.~ rich in suifide, free amino acids (FAA) and ammonium. While sulfide-driven autotrophy has been shown te be sufficient to account for C needs, the N needs of this symbiosis have not been previously studied. Interstitial total FAA ranges from 2.60 to 14.84 ttM and interstitial Y.NH 3 averages 54-64/tM wher~ high abundances orS. reidi are found. However, burrow ventilation by the clams undoubt- edly lowers these concentrations somewhat. Moderate rates of FAA uptake were observed from 1 and 10 #M glycine concentrations. Given concentrations encountered in situ, FAA uptake likely contributes a significant fraction of the association's C and N needs. Net Y-NH3 uptake by freshly collected clams depended on the external concentration and was enhanced by exogenous S substrata. This and othe~'r observations indicate that net 2~NH3 uptake is dependent on autotrophic function of the endosymbionts. The relationship between ammonium uptake rates and external concentrations was linear. NH3 concen- tration was lower in hemolymph than in medium when clams were incubated in seawater enriched in ammonium. We propose that the symbionts drive uptake of exogenous ammonium by depleting host tissues sufficiently to result in passive influx of NH3. Given observed rates of uptake and estimates of ammonium concentrations encountered in situ, ammonium may serve as a primary source of N to the symbioses. In contrast to many photoautotrophic symbioses, it is unlikely that S. reidi is N-limited.
Variant Forms of Accidental Rumplessness in Chickens and their Influences on the Growth and Egg Production Performances

Abstract THE existence of rumpless chickens has been known for centuries. Such birds were described, at the turn of the century, as a separate breed of the domestic fowl by a number of investigators. However, Davenport (1906) pointed out that rumplessness in chickens was a hereditary character, and might be found in any race of the domestic fowl. Dunn (1925) made known the two types of rumplessness in chickens—hereditary and accidental. Nevertheless, the rumpless bantam is still a miniature variety of the fanciers’ birds in the United States and abroad, and appears in many poultry exhibits. Hereditary rumplessness in chickens has been extensively studied by Landauer and Dunn (1925), Landauer (1928, 1945b) and Dunn and Landauer (1934, 1936). There are three types of hereditary rumplessness: dominant, intermediate, and recessive. The dominant rumplessness, Rp, is described as being a lack of the fleshy portion of rump, all the tail feathers, and…
Differentiation Between Nodules and End-On Vessels Using A Convolution Neural Network Architecture

In recent years, many computer-aided diagnosis schemes have been proposed to assist radiologists in detecting lung nodules. The research efforts have been aimed at increasing the sensitivity while decreasing the false-positive detections on digital chest radiographs. Among the problems of reducing the number of false positives, the differentiation between nodules and end-on vessels is one of the most challenging tasks performed by computer. Most investigators have used a conventional two-stage pattern recognition approach, ie, feature extraction followed by feature classification. The performance of this approach depends totally on good feature definition in the feature extraction stage. Unfortunately, suitable feature definition and corresponding extraction implementation algorithms proved to be very difficult to define and specify. A convolution neural network (CNN) architecture, trained by direct connection to the raw image is proposed to tackle the problem. The CNN, which uses locally responsive activation function, is directly and locally connected to the raw image. The performance of the CNN is evaluated in comparison to an expert radiologist. We used the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) method with area under the curve (Az) as the performance index to evaluate all the simulation results. The CNN showed superior performance (Az = 0.99) to the radiologist's (Az = 0.83). The CNN approach can potentially be applied to other applications, such as the differentiation of film defects and microcalcifications in mammography, in which the image features are difficult to define or not known a priori.
Chiral solitons with quarks and composite mesons.

We explore the development of a nontopological soliton model for baryons in which effective meson fields are generated from extended quark-antiquark pairs within a nonlocal model of Nambu\char21{}Jona-Lasinio type. Meson kinetic and potential energies arise from the Dirac sea. Only scalar-isoscalar and pseudoscalar-isovector meson fields are retained. Functional methods and bilocal field techniques are employed and we work to lowest order in loops for the retained degrees of freedom. We identify a mean-field approximation from the effective action obtained through a Legendre transformation incorporating a chemical-potential constraint. This fixes the baryon number in terms of valence quark configurations and thereby induces a classical configuration for the meson fields. After a localization of the meson sector of the effective action, the model is of the linear sigma type with a nonlocal quark-meson vertex due to the composite extended nature of the internally generated meson fields. With a self-confining dynamical quark mass, the classical meson fields provide a region where quarks can propagate and have a defined eigenenergy. A simple model illustration of this mechanism is provided.
Effect of analgesics on the antibiotic resistance of ammonia-oxidizing organismsA paper submitted to the Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science.

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of analgesics (aspirin and salicylic acid) on heterotrophic organisms and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) resistance to antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid) using the spread plate method. The bacteria were cultured from a biological graywater reclamation system. The results indicate an increase in ciprofloxacin resistance of AOB at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mmol/L salicylic acid and aspirin. An increase in resistance of heterotrophic organisms and AOB in the presence of salicylic acid and aspirin was observed at 0.064 and 0.107 mmol/L of nalidixic acid. However, the effect of salicylic acid and aspirin on amoxicillin resistance of heterotrophic organisms and AOB was minimal. This study is important because it focuses on the antibiotic resistance of the less studied environmental microbes by considering the impact of compounds other than antibiotics to induce antibiotic resistance.
Axial anomalies and index theorems on open spaces

Using an approach inspired by the theory of the anomalous divergence of the axial vector current, we derive trace formulas for the resolvents of Dirac operators on open spaces of odd dimension. These formulas readily yield index theorems for these operators. As applications we determine the index of the Dirac operator for a particle of arbitrary isospin in the background field of a static system of SU(2) monopoles; and we find formulas in essentially closed form for certain determinants involving these operators.
On the role of volatility for modelling risk exposure

We show in this paper that volatility measures can be misleading indicators of risk if returns do not follow a Gaussian distribution. A more reliable measure of risk is the probability distribution of the return on an asset. Estimators for these measures are usually challenging and need of nonparametric and semi-parametric techniques. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes the use of semi-parametric estimators of the distribution function of the return on an asset based on extreme value theory for computing Value-at-Risk; and second, it discusses the validity of different volatility models in this semi-parametric framework. The conclusion is that different volatility models can yield different valid risk measures if coupled with the appropriate distribution function. Hence the puzzle in the choice of volatility measures. This is shown in an empirical exercise for data of financial indexes from USA, UK, Germany, Japan and Spain.
Current Status of Biosimilar Growth Hormone

As the first wave of biopharmaceuticals is set to expire, biosimilars or follow-on protein products (FOPPs) have emerged. The regulatory foundation for these products is more advanced and better codified in Europe than in the US. Recent approval of biosimilar Somatropin (growth hormone) in Europe and the US prompted this paper. The scientific viability of biosimilar growth hormone is reviewed. Efficacy and safety data (growth rates, IGF-1 generation) for up to 7 years for pediatric indications measure up favorably to previously approved growth hormones as reference comparators. While the approval in the US is currently only for treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children and adults, the commercial use of approved biosimilar growth hormones will allow in the future for in-depth estimation of their efficacy and safety in non-GH deficient states as well.
Drugs that prevent mouse sleep also block light-induced locomotor suppression, circadian rhythm phase shifts and the drop in core temperature

Abstract Exposure of mice to a brief light stimulus during their nocturnal active phase induces several simultaneous behavioral or physiological responses, including circadian rhythm phase shifts, a drop in core body temperature (Tc), suppression of locomotor activity and sleep. Each response is triggered by light, endures for a relatively fixed interval and does not require additional light for expression. The present studies address the ability of the psychostimulant drugs, methamphetamine (MA), modafinil (MOD) or caffeine (CAF), to modify the light-induced responses. Drug or vehicle (VEH) was injected at CT11 into constant dark-housed mice then exposed to 5-min 100 μW/cm2 light or no light at CT13. Controls (VEH/Light) showed approximately 60-min phase delays. In contrast, response was substantially attenuated by each drug (only 12–15 min delays). Under a 12-h light:12-h dark (LD12:12) photoperiod, VEH/light-treated mice experienced a Tc drop of about 1.3 °C coincident with locomotor suppression and both effects were abolished by drug pre-treatment. Each drug elevated activity during the post-injection interval, but there was also evidence for CAF-induced hypoactivity in the dark prior to the photic test stimulus. CAF acutely elevated Tc; MA acutely lowered it, but both drugs reduced Tc during the early dark (ZT12.5–ZT13). The ability of the psychostimulant drugs to block the several effects of light exposure is not the result of drug-induced hyperactivity. The results raise questions concerning the manner in which drugs, activity, sleep and Tc influence behavioral and physiological responses to light.
Glucose Uptake at Rest and During Contraction in Isolated Dog Skeletal Muscle1

Costin, J. C., B. Saltin, N. S. Skinner, Jr. and G. Vastagh, Glucose uptake at rest and during contraction in isolated dog skeletal muscle. Acta physiol. scand. 1971. 81. 124–137. In an in situ isolated canine gracilis muscle preparation the a-v difference for glucose, oxygen, and lactate has been studied at rest and during stimulation. Both free flow (systemic blood flow) and constant flow perfusion (blood from reservoir) have been applied and in both sets of experiments the blood flow has been determined. In the constant flow experiments no significant difference in the glucose uptake could be detected between stimulation as compared with rest. In the free flow experiments the same stimulation frequency produced a significant uptake of glucose (≅ 20 μg glucose per g muscle and minute), which could account for approximately 10 per cent of the total energy output and 20–30 per cent of the total carbohydrate utilization. It is suggested that the difference between the free flow and the constant flow experiments was due to the fact that, in the free flow experiments where the muscle is perfused with the systemic blood flow, some humoral factor is present which is necessary for the glucose to penetrate the cell barrier. It was also possible to demonstrate a transient glucose uptake in the muscle in the constant flow experiments, i.e. when the muscle was suddenly perfused with blood containing a high glucose concentration (≅ 150 mg/100 ml blood).
Fuelwood production and use in rural Swaziland: A case-study of two communities

Abstract Information of fuelwood consumption and the local production of wood was collected in two small rural communities in Swaziland. Fuelwood consumption was estimated to be 0.77 t person−1 year−1 in one community (Sigombeni), and 0.63 t person−1 in the other (Bhekinkhosi). Bhekinkhosi was found to be experiencing a significant fuelwood production/consumption deficit and it expected that Sigombeni will also experience fuelwood deficits by 1990. Individual farm woodlots provided the largest proportion of annual woody biomass production in both areas, accounting for 45% of all profuction in Sigombeni and 73% in Bhekinkhosi. Thirty-seven percent of all farms in Sigombeni and 23% in Bhekinkhosi had woodlots. Virtually all these woodlots consisted primarily of black or green wattle and were established by direct seeding. Two types of community woodlots were identified — those established when the area was a private farm and those established with government assistance. The first type of community woodlots was found only in Sigombeni, where it accounted for at least 20% of annual fuelwood production. Community wooslots established with government assistance were an insignificant source of fuelwood in both areas. At an estimated cost of nearly US $500 ha−1, community woodlots planted with government assistance are far more expensive to establish than individual farm woodlots which require no monetary expenditure, assuming local collection of seed. The results indicate a need to increase the local production of fuelwood in rural Swaziland and that encouraging the establishment of onfarm woodlots may be the most effective means of increasing production.
Utility of a comprehensive Personal Health Record (PHR) strategy

A fundamental component of improving health care quality is to include the patient as a participant in achieving their health goals and making decisions about their care. While many may see clinical information systems as a way to improve communication and track health information for clinicians, the role played by personal health records (PHRs) should not be overlooked in developing a modernized Integrated Health Management system. This presentation will outline the positives and negatives of sharing clinical data between providers and their patients, outline a few PHR functionalities that can support care coordination and health outcomes, and describe the components of a national strategy to support the development of PHRs. A PHR, also referred to as a patient portal, is a system that allows an individual to keep track of their health information. While access to information is important for patients, doctors may feel uncomfortable with the idea of sharing information with their patients in this manner. Alternatively, patients may worry about sharing information they would like to keep private. These concerns can often be controlled with the right policies to prevent unexpected use and sharing of the information such as: * providing data segmentation functionalities that allow patients to share only selected data with certain providers, * sharing items such as medications and test results, but not sharing other information that providers might like to keep private such as "notes". Many PHRs draw information out of an existing clinical information system maintained by the physician. If a patient sees providers over multiple systems, the information can still be difficult to track. The most effective PHR allows data from any system to be included. To increase usefulness, a PHR may also store information that the patient adds themselves and provide tools such as medication reminders. Ideally, if a patient is seeing different doctors, those doctors will have information from everyone on the care team, but this does not always happen. If the patient has access to the information, they can share it with a range of providers- improving care coordination at the point of care, where it matters most. A PHR can be useful to all members of a population, and should be considered when planning a clinical information system implementation strategy. However, because different hospitals may provide different systems, it is helpful to have a government-wide strategy. For example, in the United States the government has developed a lightweight standard technical infrastructure based on secure messaging which is being used to populate PHRs. The government also supports development of governance to outline standard policies that ensure all stakeholders can trust the information in the system. A strategy to coordinate the use of PHRs is envisioned to have potential in a number of areas, from improvements in individual health to leveraging these systems to improve research on quality and health behaviors.
Regeneration and duplication in a temperature sensitive homeotic mutant of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract Eye-antennal discs of the temperature sensitive homeotic mutant aristapedia (ssa40a) in Drosophila melanogaster were isolated after the temperature sensitive period (TSP). After in vivo culture the eye disc can regenerate a new antennal disc, whereas the antennal disc duplicates after such a culture period. It has been found that the phenotype of the regenerated antenna (aristapedia or wild-type) depends entirely on the temperature during which regeneration is accomplished and is therefore independent of the original temperature sensitive period. A similar observation is made after duplication of the antennal disc. In these experiments the new or duplicated antenna expresses a phenotype dependent on the temperature of the in vivo culture. We conclude that regenerating and duplicating fragments pass a second temperature sensitive period.
Directivity vs. Nondirectivity: Implications of the Examination of Witnesses in Law for the Fact‐Finding Interview

The results of an examination of the literature on directive and nondirective interviewing are compared to the content of the literature on the examination of witnesses in legal proceedings. A number of hypotheses concerning the relevancy of principles appropriate in one area to practice in the other are advanced. The best ways of obtaining objective information may differ from the best ways of obtaining subjective reactions.
Pollyanna and the Glad Game: A potential contribution to positive psychology

The popular 1913 novel, Pollyanna, introduced the Glad Game. Its author showed how the use of the Glad Game could contribute to the mastery of stressful life events and daily hassles. The Glad Game consists of developing the habit of not dwelling on dysphoric emotions in relation to life's disappointments or threats. The player is taught not to deny negative emotions, but to turn one's attention away and to think of something one could feel glad about in the situation. Eleanor Hodgman Porter emphasized that the Glad Game could be taught. Based on the novel, a number of testable psychological hypotheses, potentially useful to practitioners, can be derived. These include the value of persistence in using a psychological mediator to arouse hope, and personality characteristics consequent to the use of the Glad Game. Popular writings are fruitful sources of insight and hypotheses about psychological processes.
Enumeration of pairs of sequences by rises, falls and levels

The paper is concerned with the enumeration of pairs of sequences with given specification according to rises, falls and levels. Thus there are nine possibilities RR, ..., LL. Generating functions in the general case are very complicated. However in a number of special cases simple explicit results are obtained.
Online Visualization and Analysis of Global Half-Hourly Infrared Satellite Data

nfrared (IR) images (approximately 11-micron channel) recorded by satellite sensors have been widely used in weather forecasting, research, and classroom education since the Nimbus program. Unlike visible images, IR imagery can reveal cloud features without sunlight illumination; therefore, they can be used to monitor weather phenomena day and night. With geostationary satellites deployed around the globe, it is possible to monitor weather events 24/7 at a temporal resolution that polar-orbiting satellites cannot achieve at the present time. When IR data from multiple geostationary satellites are merged to form a single product--also known as a merged product--it allows for observing weather on a global scale. Its high temporal resolution (e.g., every half hour) also makes it an ideal ancillary dataset for supporting other satellite missions, such as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), etc., by providing additional background information about weather system evolution.
Identification of the α1C-adrenoceptor in rabbit arteries and the human saphenous vein using the polymerase chain reaction

The expression of the alpha 1C-adrenoceptor subtype in human and rabbit blood vessels has been analyzed using the reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction technique (RT/PCR). The 20 bp primers employed were designed from the bovine alpha 1C-adrenoceptor and flank a least conserved region--the putative third cytoplasmic loop. RT/PCR products generated from rabbit and human brain mRNA both had 93% homology to the bovine alpha 1C-adrenoceptor and were used as species and subtype specific probes in Southern blot analysis of vascular RT/PCR products. Poly A+ RNA was purified from the human saphenous vein and rabbit aorta, renal, pulmonary and central ear arteries and amplified by RT/PCR. Size analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis, together with Southern hybridization of the resulting cDNA products confirm the expression of the alpha 1C-adrenoceptor in these vessels.
The survival of bacteria in dust: IV. Atmospheric humidity and the bactericidal action of ultra-violet irradiation.

The bactericidal effect of ultra-violet radiation on dried films of β-haemolytic streptococci has been shown to be dependent both on the relative humidity and on the nature of the suspending medium from which the films are prepared. In particular, while the bactericidal action is most often more repaid under dry conditions, films prepared from suspensions in dust extract culture show a similar behaviour to that of naturally occurring dust flora and are most resistant to the effects of radiation under dry conditons.
X-ray optics: Imaging at arm's length

With continuing improvements in X-ray optics, conventional techniques for measuring their performance are finding it hard to keep up. Iterative phase-retrieval algorithms for reconstructing an optical field at the focus of an optical element could not only solve this problem, but remove the need for such optics altogether.
A broad range of ophthalmologic anomalies is part of the holoprosencephaly spectrum

These findings contribute to the understanding of the phenotypic variability of the HPE spectrum, and highlight findings in one medically important but often incompletely investigated system.
A Wafer-Level Vacuum Packaging Technology Utilizing Electroplated Nickel

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for low temperature (<400°C) packaging technologies that can vacuum seal MEMS devices at the wafer level with a minimal amount of wasted die area. Several emerging classes of devices require wafer-level vacuum packaging. There has been growing development of micro-resonators for RF communications systems [1]. The devices require the high Q-factor performance generated by vacuum sealing in order to function as highly selective filters and oscillators. There has also been considerable development in the field of resonant gyroscopes [2], which also require a low pressure ambient for optimal performance. The rapid development of MEMS devices requiring low cost vacuum packaging has outpaced the development of suitable sealing technologies.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Local Estimates of the Functionally Disabled Elderly: Toward a Planning Tool for Housing and Support Service Programs

In order to allocate housing and support service funds, local planners need to know the number of elderly at various levels of functional disability. When the levels of disability are sufficiently specific, the need for specialized housing and support services can be identified, the proper funding priorities can be established, and new support programs developed. Locally administered surveys to determine functional disabilities are cost prohibitive, so estimates using secondary data are often used. This paper describes research to improve the accuracy of synthetic estimates of elderly with functional disabilities while expanding the number of functional ability levels used to describe the, population.
The application of hybridoma technology to the study of bovine immunoglobulins

Studies are described in which hybridoma technology is used to produce a variety of reagents for the characterization and manipulation of the bovine humoral immune system. Selected members of a set of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific for each of four major isotypes of bovine Ig constant regions, one specific for anti-bovine Ig constant regions as well as one specific for anti-bovine light chains are discussed. Interspecific fusion of bovine lymphocytes with the established mouse cell line, SP2/0 was used to produce a collection of stable hybridomas among which were found secretors of bovine IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA and bovine light chain. Interspecific fusion of SP2/0 with lymphocytes from a multiparous Holstein four days post immunization with Streptococcus agalactiae yielded MAb with specificity for the immunizing antigen. One of these hybridomas, LHRB 19.17, which displayed a particularly stable secretory phenotype, was used as an immunogen for the production of a library of murine monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies. Competitive antigen binding analysis showed that 15 of the 24 anti-LHRB 19.17 idiotype antibodies isolated blocked the binding of the idiotype to its nominal antigen and so were candidates for evaluation as antigen mimics. Some of the ways in which monoclonal anti-idiotypes in particular, and monoclonal in general, might be of use in problems of animal disease are discussed.
Recruitment of Lung Diffusing Capacity: Update of Concept and Application

Lung diffusing capacity (Dl) for carbon monoxide (Dlco), nitric oxide (Dlno) or oxygen (Dlo2) increases from rest to peak exercise without reaching an upper limit; this recruitment results from interactions among alveolar volume (Va), and cardiac output (Q˙), as well as changing physical properties and spatial distribution of capillary erythrocytes, and is critical for maintaining a normal arterial oxygen saturation. Dlco and Dlno can be used to interpret the effectiveness of diffusive oxygen transport and track structural alterations of the alveolar-capillary barrier, providing sensitive noninvasive indicators of microvascular integrity in health and disease. Clinical interpretation of Dl should take into account Q˙ in addition to Va and hemoglobin concentration.
Obesity Risk Knowledge and Physical Activity in Families of Adolescents

Health risk knowledge has been identified as a key to making informed decisions regarding healthy lifestyle choices (J. Swift, C. Glazebrook, & I. Macdonald, 2005). This article describes a descriptive, correlation study conducted with adolescents and their parents to examine the relationship between obesity risk knowledge and physical activity levels in families of adolescents. A statistically significant inverse relationship is found between parental physical activities and the activity levels of adolescents ( r =−.23, p
Inhibitory effect of unstimulated neutrophils on platelet aggregation by release of a factor similar to Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor (EDRF)

Abstract Previous studies have indicated a possible role for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in the maintenance of hemostasis and vascular tone. We now demosstrate that unstimulated isolated PMNLs maintained at 37° inhibited human platelet aggregation in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion. In addition, PMNLs increased platelet cyclic GMP concentrations. The platelet aggregation inhibitory effect of PMNls was potentiated by superoxide dismutase and attenuated by hemoglobin and methylene blue. This inhibitory effect of PMNLs was not observed in 48-hr-old killed cells and was not modulated by aspirin treatment or by adenosine deaminase. These observations suggest that human PMNLs maintained at 37° produce a substance with biological characteristics similar to those of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
Damped Electromagnetic Waves in Hollow Metal Pipes

Simple apparatus for the production of damped waves in hollow-pipe wave guides is described. The results of some measurements at free-space wavelengths down to 4.59 centimeters in circular air-filled pipes as small as 2.86 centimeters in diameter show that such apparatus can be successfully employed for the investigation of the properties of hollow-pipe waves. Some data are given which confirm part of a previous theoretical analysis of the behavior of electromagnetic waves in a pipe of elliptical cross section, and a possible method of detecting small deformations in a supposedly circular pipe is discussed.
Metal Complexes of Mesitylphosphine: Synthesis, Structure, and Spectroscopy

A series of primary phosphine homoleptic complexes [ML4]n+Xn (1, M = Ni, n = 0; 2, M = Pd, n = 2, X = BF4; 3, M = Cu, n = 1, X = PF6; 4, M = Ag, n = 1, X = BF4; L = PH2Mes, Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2] was...
The design and implementation of an interactive course-timetabling system

We describe our design and implementation of a dual-objective course-timetabling system for the Science Division at Rollins College, and we compare the results of our system with the actual timetable that was manually constructed for the Fall 2009 school term. The course timetables at Rollins, as at most colleges in the U.S., must be created before students enroll in classes, and our “wish list” of pairs of classes that we would like to offer in non-overlapping timeslots is considerably larger than if we were to consider only those that absolutely must be in non-overlapping timeslots. This necessitates assigning different levels of conflict severity for the class pairs and setting our objective to minimize total conflict severity. Our second objective is to create timetables that result in relatively compact schedules for the instructors and students. In addition to our automatic construction, a second, equally important component of our system is a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables the user to participate in the input, construction, and modification of a timetable. In the input phase, course incompatibility, instructor and student preferences, and desire for compact schedules all require subjective judgments. The GUI allows the user to quantify and convert this information to the weighted-graph model. In the construction and modification phase, the GUI enables the user to directly assign or reassign courses to timeslots while guided by heuristics.
Cytokine transcription in lymph nodes of cattle in different stages of bovine leukemia virus infection

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a transforming oncovirus that contains no oncogenes or preferred site of proviral integration. The role of cytokines in the disease process of BLV is potentially important due to the similarity of BLV with other retroviruses in which cytokines play a role, such as HTLV-I and -II. Mesenteric and supra-mammary lymph nodes were obtained from a panel of nine cattle. Three were non-infected controls, three were BLV-positive aleukemic (AL), and three were BLV-positive persistent lymphocytotic (PL). Mononuclear cells were perfused from the organs and total RNA extracted from either 1 x 10(8) unseparated cells or 1 x 10(7) purified CD4/CD8 T-cells. cDNA was generated and subjected to RT-PCR to analyze cytokine transcription during disease progression. cDNA levels were normalized using beta-actin PCR at sub-plateau cycle number, enabling a semi-quantitative assessment of cytokine gene transcripts. Using this approach, IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-gamma message was detected in the T-cell fractions of all of the BLV-infected animals, but not in the non-infected controls.
Foreword and Acknowledgments

This project began as a wish, to write a biography of Li Hungchang. This wish could not have originated with us. Many before us must have had such an intention but, for reasons unknown to us, no full study of this major historical figure has been produced thus far. Perhaps the reasons are obvious, for we too changed our minds when confronted by the awesome reality of the task.
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae draining to the anterior spinal vein: angiographic diagnosis.

BJECTIVE: To describe and present atypical spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVFs) that drain into the anterior spinal vein (ASV) and thus cause some degree of difficulty in differentiating the anterior spinal artery from the ASV. METHODS: A retrospective review of 80 selective spinal angiography procedures (with or without endovascular treatment) performed on SDAVFs since 1980 identified three cases in which the venous drainage was into a dilated ASV via a radicular vein. The patients included two men and one woman, ranging in age from 55 to 82 years (mean age, 71 yr), all of whom presented with mild to severe progressive paraparesis and sensory disturbance. RESULTS: The appearance of the venous drainage mimicked that of the usual hairpin configuration of the radiculomedullary artery and therefore caused diagnostic difficulty. There are no characteristic clinical features that differentiate this form of SDAVF from the usual type of SDAVF. The angiographic criteria for identification of the ASV draining an SDAVF include the demonstration of the branching of the ASV and its drainage into the epidural vein, opacification of other medullary veins connected with the ASV, recognition of distortion of the hairpin shape, and the identification of the anterior spinal artery at the segment where the ASV is opacified. Two patients were treated with embolization and one with surgery. All patients improved after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Before performing endovascular treatment, thorough spinal angiography with an appropriate field of view must be performed to identify this unusual type of SDAVF.
Anglo-American Relations With Greece: The Coming of the Cold War, 1942-47

Initial British and American policies April 1941 - August 1943 the Andarte Delegation's visit to Egypt and its effect August - November 1943 Roosevelt's intervention at Cairo December 1943 the British dilemma before liberation December 1943 - October 1944 the December civil war in Athens post-war political tutelege January 1945 - February 1947 post-war economic support January 1945 - February 1947 the British decision to withdraw aid British motivations for withdrawal the American reaction and the Truman doctrine.
AGU election FAQs

Many of you are aware that this is an election year, and I don't mean electing the next president of the United States! This is AGU's election year, and the polls are opening soon. Your vote matters. Eligible voters should vote, and now is the time to learn about the candidates. There are no TV ads, and the candidates won't be covered in the news. However, electing AGU leaders for the next term affects the future direction of the Union. Please take a few minutes to visit the election Web site (http://sites.agu.org/elections/) and review the candidate bios.
Fanconi syndrome associated with cephalothin and gentamicin therapy.

A case is reported of Fanconi syndrome and nonoliguric renal failure, following a brief course of cephalothin and gentamicin, in a patient with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. These drugs, especially when used in combination, have been associated with nephrotoxicity manifested as acute tubular necrosis and altered proximal tubular function, but biochemical evidence for generalized proximal tubular dysfunction has not been accurately definned. Thus far, only two other antibiotics, degraded tetracycline and streptozotocin, have been implicated in producing an acquired Fanconi syndrome.
γ-Secretase and Presenilin Mediate Cleavage and Phosphorylation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1

We have reported previously that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) can, via γ-secretase-mediated events, inhibit VEGF-induced angiogenesis in microvascular endothelial cells by both (a) cleavage and intracellular translocation of a C-terminal fragment of VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR1) and (b) inhibition of VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR1. Using site-direct mutagenesis and transfection of wild type and mutated receptors into endothelial cells, we showed that transmembrane cleavage of VEGFR1 occurs at valine 767 and that a switch from valine to alanine at this position prevented cleavage and formation of a VEGFR1 intracellular fragment. Using siRNA to selectively knock down protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in endothelial cells, we demonstrated that vascular endothelial PTP is responsible for dephosphorylation of activated VEGFR1. PEDF up-regulation of full-length presenilin 1 (Fl.PS1) facilitated the association of vascular endothelial PTP and VEGFR1. Knockdown of Fl.PS1 prevented dephosphorylation of VEGFR1, whereas up-regulation of Fl.PS1 stimulated VEGFR1 dephosphorylation. Fl.PS1 associated with VEGFR1 within 15 min after PEDF treatment. In conclusion, we determined the PEDF-mediated events responsible for VEGFR1 signaling and identified full-length presenilin as a critical adaptor molecule in the dephosphorylation of VEGFR1. This greater understanding of the regulation of VEGFR1 signaling will help identify novel anti-VEGF therapeutic strategies.
SU-E-T-63: Dose Profile Study On a KV Superficial Radiation Therapy System — Sensus SRT100TM

Purpose: Surface dose profiles of a kV skin treatment machine — SRT100™ were measured in order to investigate the output deviations due to the uncertainty of ion chamber positioning. Methods: GafChromic film (EBT3) and a parallel plate ion chamber (PTW Model 23342) were used to measure the dose profiles. The dose response of EBT3 film was calibrated by using 3‐channel technique. The maximum cone size of 5 cm was used in this study. Because of the ion chamber size, the readings were limited to measure at 1 and 2 cm away from the central axis in 4 directions (+/− parallel and perpendicular to cathode‐anode axis). The ion chamber was positioned by using Varian Exact Couch within 1‐mm accuracy. Results: For 5‐cm cone, the dose profile was not entirely uniform especially in cathode‐anode direction and it showed on both ion chamber and film measurements. For film measurements, a maximum of 15% lower dose (normalized to the center) was observed at field edge on the anode side. On the cathode side, a maximum of 6% lower dose was observed. The cross line profile was symmetry and there was a maximum of 10% lower dose on the both side of field edges. Overall, the uniformity of the area of 2‐cm diameter was within 4% in all 4 directions. The ion chamber readings agreed with film measurements within 1–3%. Conclusion: The non‐uniform dose profile may introduce uncertainty to measurements up to 15% for the field of 5‐cm cone. Since there is no inherent tool (crosshair or field light) for aligning with beam axis, the users should be cautious with positions of ion chamber during output measurement.