cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acoustic emission monitoring of the wear process

Abstract Acoustic emissions are generated at the sites of the fundamental processes resulting in material wear and so are an attractive possibility for continuously monitoring wear and for basic studies of the wear process. Changes in wear rate and acoustic emission activity were measured across the mild-severe wear transition in the sliding of metals. The intent was to characterize these changes in wear behavior in terms of acoustic emission characteristics and to determine the usefulness of acoustic emission measurements for the study of wear. Experimental results showed that changes in acoustic emission count rates correspond to changing wear rate. Acoustic emission amplitude distributions as well as acoustic emission energy measurements indicated a strong potential for the use of these two parameters in the identification of different modes of failure during the wear process.
Preliminary validation of RADARSAT-2 surface soil moisture estimates

Soil moisture conditions influence practically all aspects of Army activities and are increasingly affecting its systems and operations. Regional distributions of high resolution soil moisture data will provide critical information on operational mobility, performance of landmine and UXO sensors, and meteorological conditions at the km scale. The objective of this study is to calibrate RADARSAT-2 surface soil moisture estimates with field measurements in the semi-arid Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. RADARSAT-2 was launched in December 2007 and is the first SAR sensor to offer an operational quad-polarization mode. This mode allows to generate soil moisture (and cm-scale surface roughness) maps from single data sets. Future combination of such maps into time series will lead to further accuracy enhancement through additional exploitation of soil moisture evolution constraints. We present RADARSAT-2 soil moisture maps, field soil moisture measurements, and soil moisture maps derived from optical imagery. In addition, future work is proposed that may contribute to enhanced algorithms for soil moisture mapping using RADARSAT-2.
Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of mechanical biventricular assist device.

The usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of mechanical biventricular assist devices is described.
Exemptions from influenza vaccinations for health care personnel based on self or identity issues: are they justified?

Antommaria (2013) provided an excellent account of the issues pertaining to the mandatory influenza vaccination of health care personnel (HCP). An interesting aspect of this account considers the i...
Diversity and origin of abyssal tholeiite from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 24° and 30° North latitude

On cursory examination of hand specimens and thin sections, the abyssal tholeiite in a dredge haul may appear to be uniform in composition. Chemical analyses of a considerable number of fragments, however, have always revealed the existence of regular compositional variation in them. The MgO content decreases with increasing SiO2. In abyssal tholeiites with relatively low Al2O3 contents, the SiO2, total iron, Na2O and P2O5 contents tend to increase and the MgO content tends to decrease with increasing iron/magnesia ratio, probably owing to crystallization differentiation. In a certain dredge haul, high-alumina abyssal tholeiites (with Al2O3 contents near or over 17%) occur in association with low-alumina abyssal tholeiites. The magma of high-alumina abyssal tholeiites would be generated from that of low-alumina abyssal tholeiites by differentiation at a depth around 30 km. In pillow lavas of abyssal tholeiite free from weathering and metamorphism, the chilled rim of the pillow usually has virtually the same chemical composition as the more crystalline core except for a decrease of K2O content toward the rim. On the other hand, the weathered rim of pillow lavas shows marked compositional change. The Fe2O3/FeO ratio of unweathered abyssal tholeiite is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3. This ratio and the H2O− and H2O+ contents increase with advancing weathering.
Autonomously improving query evaluations over multidimensional data in distributed hash tables

The proliferation of observational devices and sensors with networking capabilities has led to growth in both the rates and sources of data that ultimately contribute to extreme-scale data volumes. Datasets generated in such settings are often multidimensional, with each dimension accounting for a feature of interest. We posit that efficient evaluation of queries over such datasets must account for both the distribution of data values and the patterns in the queries themselves. Configuring query evaluation by hand is infeasible given the data volumes, dimensionality, and the rates at which new data and queries arrive. In this paper, we describe our algorithm to autonomously improve query evaluations over voluminous, distributed datasets. Our approach autonomously tunes for the most dominant query patterns and distribution of values across a dimension. We evaluate our algorithm in the context of our system, Galileo, which is a hierarchical distributed hash table used for managing geospatial, time-series data. Our system strikes a balance between memory utilization, fast evaluations, and search space reductions. Empirical evaluations reported here are performed on a dataset that is multidimensional and comprises a billion files. The schemes described in this work are broadly applicable to any system that leverages distributed hash tables as a storage mechanism.
Toward an Understanding of Gender Differences in the Impact of Marital Conflict on Health

The present paper addresses the consistent finding that men derive more benefit from marriage in terms of both morbidity and mortality compared to women in U. S. society. Based on the evidence that spousal conflict adversely influences physiology and health, with greater negative impact on wives compared to husbands, we propose that the stronger impact of relationship negativity contributes to the decreased marriage benefit for women. Evidence bearing on two explanations for this differential impact of conflict is reviewed. The relational-interdependence view, proposed by Kiecolt-Glaser and Newton (2001), holds that women are more affected by marital conflict because of their more relationally interdependent self-representations. An alternative view, which we call the subordination-reactivity hypothesis, suggests that women experience greater physiological and psychological reactivity to marital discord because they typically occupy subordinate (lower status and less powerful) positions relative to their husbands. A review of the evidence on the physiological effects of social status is combined with that of the relationship between gender and status, both within society at large and interpersonal relationships specifically, to support the subordination-reactivity hypothesis. Specifically, there is evidence that low social status negatively impacts health and that women generally occupy subordinate status. The relational-interdependence view is re-evaluated and its intersection with the subordination-reactivity hypothesis is explored. Finally, implications and future directions are discussed.
Decay of the peroxide intermediate in laccase: reductive cleavage of the O-O bond.

Laccase is a multicopper oxidase that contains four Cu ions, one type 1, one type 2, and a coupled binuclear type 3 Cu pair. The type 2 and type 3 centers form a trinuclear Cu cluster that is the a...
Organic vapor phase deposition for the growth of large area organic electronic devices

We demonstrate that material utilization efficiencies of 50% and deposition nonuniformities ≤2.5% are achievable over substrate diameters of 200 mm using a simplified, organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD) system. The OVPD system is used to demonstrate doped electrophosphorescent organic light emitting diodes whose performance is comparable to those grown by vacuum thermal evaporation. Through continuum modeling, we demonstrate that analogous systems whose chamber dimensions are comparable to the substrate width are scalable to substrate sizes of at least 1500×1800 mm2 with deposition nonuniformities between 1.5% and 2.5%. These results indicate that OVPD is useful in the large area deposition of displays, lighting, and other organic electronic devices.
Regulation of endothelial cell adhesion by profilin

Abstract Background: Although profilin is believed to be an essential regulator of the actin cytoskeleton in most cells, its precise role in mammalian cells remains unknown. We have used replication-incompetent adenovirus carrying the human profilin I cDNA as a means rapidly to increase the concentration of profilin in human aortic endothelial cells 12–31-fold above baseline – levels never before achieved in mammalian cells. Results: The concentration of filamentous actin was not detectably affected by profilin overexpression. Actin stress fibers were, however, absent from areas of high profilin content in overexpressing cells, and the bulk of filaments was located at the periphery of the cells. We observed a gradient in the distribution of overexpressed profilin in migrating endothelial cells, with most profilin molecules concentrated near the advancing edge where focal contacts are being formed and focal adhesion proteins are located. Profilin overexpression resulted in increased recruitment of fibronectin receptors to the plasma membrane. Adhesion of endothelial cells to fibronectin was markedly and selectively increased by profilin overexpression. Conclusions: We conclude that an important role for profilin in mammalian cells may be its contribution to the formation of focal contacts, particularly those involving the fibronectin receptor.
Patency of the infarct-related coronary artery and ventricular geometry.

Abstract The pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) involves a sudden thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery. Spontaneous or pharmacologic thrombolysis may lead to myocardial salvage if patency is achieved within a narrow time window. However, patients in whom thrombolysis occurs late seem to demonstrate improved left ventricular (LV) function and prognosis, which may be independent of myocardial salvage. Preservation of normal LV geometry by reducing expansion of the infarcted segment is a likely mechanism for this benefit. Infarct expansion is most pronounced in patients with anterior wall AMI who have a persistently occluded infarct-related vessel. This process of expansion leads to early increases in LV volume and distortions of LV contour (abnormal LV geometry). Patients whose infarct segment is largest, patients who have manifested infarct expansion, and patients with a persistently occluded infarct-related artery are at highest risk for progressive LV dilation. Experimental data support the concept that reperfusion of occluded vessels that occurs too late for myocardial salvage will preserve LV geometry by limiting infarct expansion. Prospective clinical trials should address whether there is a late, “second time window” during which infarct expansion and distortions of LV geometry may be reduced by (1) therapy with thrombolytic agents applied late after infarction, (2) late mechanical reperfuston with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or related methods, and (3) load-reducing agents to decrease remodeling, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or nitroglycerin.
2 4 Factorial design for joint effect of ambient temperature and capacitor price, size and phase kVArs on line loss

In this paper a single replicate of a 24 factorial design for the joint effect of four factors — ambient temperature, capacitor price, capacitor size and capacitor phase kVArs — on line loss is presented. Each Factor has two levels, “low” and “high”. Line loss responses are considered for 16 combinations of factor levels in a single replicate. All Statistical analyses are performed by using Design Expert software and results are presented comparing three cases.
Mission concepts utilizing a Laser Communications and DTN-based GEO relay architecture

Laser Communications and Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) are two key technologies in development for enhancement of future generation space communications. Laser Communications or lasercom holds the potential for orders of magnitude increases in data rates while also reducing communications system size, weight, and power. DTN will allow for networked communications across space links maximizing network capacity and scalability. These two technologies combined on a geosynchronous Earth relay satellite will enable new and enhanced mission concepts. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) project, scheduled for launch in December 2017, will demonstrate these technologies and address the remaining challenges for the new architecture. This paper describes mission concepts that will be demonstrated as part of LCRD with an emphasis on how lasercom and DTN will enable and enhance future mission operations and data return.
Highly nonlinear photoluminescence threshold in porous silicon

Porous silicon is excited using near-infrared femtosecond pulsed and continuous wave radiation at an average intensity of ∼106 W/cm2 (8×1010 W/cm2 peak intensity in pulsed mode). Our results demonstrate the presence of micron-size regions for which the intensity of the photoluminescence has a highly nonlinear threshold, rising by several orders of magnitude near this incident intensity for both the pulsed and continuous wave cases. These results are discussed in terms of stimulated emission from quantum confinement engineered intrinsic Si–Si radiative traps in ultrasmall nanocrystallites, populated following two-photon absorption.
Specific antibody-dependent activation of neutrophils by liposomes containing spin-label lipid haptens.

Abstract We have found that superoxide production by human neutrophils can be stimulated by liposomal membranes containing nitroxide spin-labeled lipids in the presence of specific rabbit antibodies directed against the nitroxide group. The extent of superoxide production was found to depend strongly on lipid composition under conditions where the concentration of antibodies and number of exposed haptens were maintained constant. The dependence of neutrophil activation on the physical properties of the liposomal lipid membrane appears to be similar to the dependence of complement depletion on these physical properties.
Use of aspartic acid racemization and post-bomb 14C to reconstruct growth rate and longevity of the deep-water slit shell Entemnotrochus adansonianus

Abstract Slit shells are living fossils which inhabit the continental slope. Aspartic acid racemization in the nacreous layer of the slit shell Entemnotrochus adansonianus is shown to occur at a remarkably high rate, sufficient to provide annual resolution of the ages of samples taken along the growth spiral of the shells, thus providing information on growth rates and longevity. Calibration of the racemization rate was obtained by 14 C analysis of a post-bomb specimen. The form of the racemization curve was determined by a heating experiment at 60°C; a cubic transformation of the D/L values was found to be linear with respect to time. In three specimens in which a detailed series of samples was analyzed, juvenile growth was found to be very rapid and adult growth 1–2 orders of magnitude slower; adulthood is reached in 2–4 years. Analysis of lip and apical samples of additional shells (total n = 9) shows that individuals reaching adulthood have life spans averaging six years (maximum: 14 yr). The life histories of these deep-water gastropods are thus similar to littoral taxa. Analysis of the prismatic layer shows that this racemizes at a much slower rate than the nacreous layer.
Abstract 5401: Investigation of sub-tumor accumulation of PRINT nanoparticles reveals dose and route of administration dependence on particle association

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The assessment of nanoparticle accumulation in tumors and other organs uses a whole organ-based approach. These techniques, however, neglect the complex composition of tumors which multiple types of cells other than cancer cells(e.g. endothelial cells, macrophages). For delivery of certain therapeutics, identification of precisely which cells are associating with particles is critical. Using an orthotopic model of melanoma and fluorescently labeled 80x320nm PRINT nanoparticles, we assessed nanoparticle distribution in a cell-type specific manner by flow cytometry. We found that although cancer cells make up 90% of the tumor cells, only a small fraction (1-7%) associate the nanoparticles following intravenous dosing. The fractional association was dependent on the dose used and a plateau is seemingly reached, suggesting a limited number of cells are able to associate with 80x320nm particles. In addition, particle-positive tumor-associated macrophages associated with 4-fold more particles than cancer cells despite constituting approximately 1% of all cells in the tumor. When particles were administered intratumorally, cancer cell association doubles as compared to intravenous dosing. Fluoresence intensity suggests that when dosed intratumorally cancer cells associated with a greater amount of particles, similar to macrophages. Together, these data suggest a biological limitation on the ability of intravenous administration of nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery and reveal the potential for therapeutic targeting of macrophages. Citation Format: Luke Roode, Tao Bo, Jillian Perry, J. Chris Luft, James E. Bear, Ian J. Davis, Joseph M. DeSimone. Investigation of sub-tumor accumulation of PRINT nanoparticles reveals dose and route of administration dependence on particle association. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5401. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5401
Alterations in BDNF and NT-3 mRNAs in rat hippocampus after experimental brain trauma

Previous studies have suggested that the neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are neuroprotective or neurotrophic for certain subpopulations of hippocampal neurons following various brain insults. In the present study, the expression of BDNF and NT-3 mRNAs in rat hippocampus was examined after traumatic brain injury. Following lateral fluid percussion (FP) brain injury of moderate severity (2.0–2.1 atm) or sham injury, the hippocampi from adult rats were processed for the in situ hybridization localization of BDNF and NT-3 mRNAs using 35S-labeled cRNA probes at post-injury survival times of 1, 3, 6, 24 and 72 h. Unilateral FP injury markedly increased hybridization for BDNF mRNA in the dentate gyrus bilaterally which peaked at 3 h and remained above control levels for up to 72 h post-injury. A moderate increase in BDNF mRNA expression was also observed bilaterally in the CA3 region of the hippocampus at 1, 3, and 6 h after FP injury, but expression declined to control levels by 24 h. Conversely, NT-3 mRNA was significantly decreased in the dentate gyrus following FP injury at the 6 and 24 h survival times. These results demonstrate that FP brain injury differentially modulates expression of BDNF and NT-3 mRNAs in the hippocampus, and suggest that neurotrophin plasticity is a functional response of hippocampal neurons to brain trauma.
The treatment of acute polyradiculoneuritis with respiratory paralysis

This paper reports 504 cases admitted with acute polyradiculoneuritis (AP) to Beijing Children's Hospital from 1975 through 1984. 343 of the 504 cases (68.1%) with AP had respiratory paralysis and in 198/504 (39.3%), tracheotomy was performed. In this study, none of the patients received steroids. We attempted to assess the grades of respiratory paralysis and established the criteria for tracheotomy. We also must perform the following procedures: 1) Artificial ventilation must be used correctly, 2) The secretion should be aspirated regularly in order to maintain a clear airway, 3) Sterilization must be strictly conducted to prevent cross infection. As a result, of 504 cases with AP 9 died, the mortality rate being 1.79%). The study suggests tracheotomy should be performed early and it is one of the most important procedures in the treatment of AP with respiratory paralysis.
The importance of family environment for young adults burned during childhood

This study examined the role of family environment for young adult burn survivors making the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Ninety-three young adults who sustained large burns as children were asked to describe their families using the Family Environment Scale (FES). When examining the difference between burn survivors and the normative sample of the FES, burn survivors did not perceive their current family environment different than the normative group. However, burn survivors endorsed more items in the areas of achievement orientation and moral-religious emphasis, and less involvement in intellectual-cultural activities. We also examined the relationship between family characteristics on the FES and psychological adjustment of burn survivors as measured by the Young Adult Self-Report (YASR). Increased conflict on the FES was positively associated with YASR total problem score, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors. In addition, participation in recreational and social activities and organization both inversely correlated with YASR total problem score. In conclusion, increased family conflict was associated with decreased psychological adjustment of burn survivors as measured by the YASR total problem score.
Diagnostic utility of p16 immunocytochemistry for Trichomonas in urine cytology

We present a case in which p16 immunocytochemistry helped establish the diagnosis of Trichomonas in urine from a male patient. Based on this finding, we recommend p16 immunocytochemistry as a diagnostic tool for unexpected patients or specimen types in which potential trichomonads are identified following routine cytologic evaluation.
Patients who leave without being seen

We conducted this study because very little is known about patients who leave without being seen. A total of 4,868 patients were registered in an emergency department during a six-week study period. Sixty-eight (1.4%) left before treatment was completed; 97% (66 patients) left before ever being seen by a physician. Thirty of the 68 patients were interviewed later in followup. A comparison group of 23 patients who did not leave prematurely was also selected and matched for age, sex, urgency of chief complaint, and time of presentation. Fourteen of these patients were interviewed later. Patients who left without being seen (LWBS) and nonLWBS patients did not differ in waiting time in the ED. The two groups also did not differ in the spectrum of chief complaints. Twenty-two of 30 LWBS patients were suffering from acute psychological distress at the time of their visit, however, compared to only one of the comparison group ( P = .0005). The walkouts reported recent deaths of relatives or friends, recent bouts of alcoholism, acute financial problems, suicidal thoughts and behavior, court appearances, pregnancies and miscarriages, new people in the home, acute illnesses in relatives, and other psychological and social crises.
Significant Improvement in Cloning Efficiency of an Inbred Miniature Pig by Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Treatment after Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) miniature pig was developed specifically for xenotransplantation and has been extensively used as a large-animal model in many other biomedical experiments. However, the cloning efficiency of this pig is very low (<0.2%), and this has been an obstacle to the promising application of these inbred swine genetics for biomedical research. It has been demonstrated that increased histone acetylation in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, by applying a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor such as trichostatin A (TSA), significantly enhances the developmental competence in several species. However, some researchers also reported that TSA treatment had various detrimental effects on the in vitro and in vivo development of the SCNT embryos. Herein, we report that treatment with 500 nM 6-(1,3-dioxo-1H, 3H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2-yl)-hexanoic acid hydroxyamide (termed scriptaid), a novel HDAC inhibitor, significantly enhanced the development of SCNT embryos to the blastocyst stage when NIH inbred fetal fibroblast cells (FFCs) were used as donors compared with the untreated group (21% vs. 9%, P < 0.05). Scriptaid treatment resulted in eight pregnancies from 10 embryo transfers (ETs) and 14 healthy NIH miniature pigs from eight litters, while no viable piglets (only three mummies) were obtained from nine ETs in the untreated group. Thus, scriptaid dramatically increased the cloning efficiency when using inbred genetics from 0.0% to 1.3%. In contrast, scriptaid treatment decreased the blastocyst rate in in vitro fertilization embryos (from 37% to 26%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the extremely low cloning efficiency in the NIH miniature pig may be caused by its inbred genetic background and can be improved by alteration of genomic histone acetylation patterns.
"Why do we Ask them to Write, or Whose Writing is it, Anyway?":

This article's intent is to refocus the way in which we as educators think about and structure written assignments in our courses. Specifically, the authors argue for a shift in priorities: away from general skills such as the mechanics of writing or general analytic capability and toward a more particular focus on the specific ideas of unique individuals. They argue that by so doing, students are more likely to improve both their analytical and written skills. The authors illustrate this approach by describing the way in which they structure assignments, provide feedback, and create a climate for writing in organization behavior and accounting theory courses.
Raman tweezers provide the fingerprint of cells supporting the late stages of KSHV reactivation

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has both latent and lytic phases of replication. The molecular switch that triggers a reactivation is still unclear. Cells from S phase of cell cycle provide apt conditions for an active reactivation. In order to specifically delineate the Raman spectra of cells supporting KSHV reactivation we followed a novel approach where cells were sorted based on the state of infection (latent Vs lytic) by a flow cytometer and then analyzed by the Raman tweezers. The Raman bands at 785 813 830 1095 and 1128 cm-1 are specifically altered in cells supporting KSHV reactivation. These 5 peaks make up the Raman fingerprint of cells supporting KSHV reactivation. The physiological relevance of the changes in these peaks with respect to KSHV reactivation is discussed in the following report. Originally published Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine Vol. 13 No. 8b Aug 2009
Multiscale Image Segmentation Using Joint Texture and Shape Analysis

We develop a general framework to simultaneously exploit texture and shape characterization in multiscale image segmentation. By posing multiscale segmentation as a model selection problem, we invoke the powerful framework offered by minimum description length (MDL). This framework dictates that multiscale segmentation comprises multiscale texture characterization and multiscale shape coding. Analysis of current multiscale maximum a posteriori segmentation algorithms reveals that these algorithms implicitly use a shape coder with the aim to estimate the optimal MDL solution, but find only an approximate solution.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Far-Fetched Benefit of Inflammation

Recent observations suggest that circulating stem cells contribute to neointimal formation. For example, DNA in situ hybridization for the human Y chromosome in sex-mismatched heart transplantions has detected up to 2.6% to 16% of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells of host origin.1 This process likely contributes not only to transplant vasculopathy but also to neointimal thickening in atherosclerosis and restenosis.2 Yet, the factors that modulate this process are unknown. Article p 553 In this issue of Circulation , Inoue and coworkers3 provide tantalizing translational evidence that local arterial inflammation signals the release of bone marrow–derived stem cells. These investigators placed a coronary sinus catheter to sample blood traversing the coronary circulation before and up to 48 hours after elective percutaneous coronary intervention with bare-metal or sirolimus-eluting stents. Peripheral blood (equivalent to aorta sampling) also was sampled to determine the presence of a transcardiac gradient. Bare-metal stent deployment was accompanied by a burst of neutrophil activation across the coronary artery bed. Neutrophil activation was highest in bare-metal stent patients who subsequently developed restenosis, intermediate in bare-metal stent patients without restenosis, and lowest in patients receiving sirolimus-eluting stents. Accumulation of CD34 cells in …
Evolution of the Human Immune System

Human immune system is an orchestra of various defence mechanisms functioning at different levels, from individual cells to the whole body. Specialised immune mechanisms can be subdivided into innate and adaptive immune systems. Innate immune mechanisms use receptors recognising conserved molecular patterns of pathogens. Adaptive immune system depends on the production of vast repertoires of immune receptors and selective expansion of pathogen-specific ones. Some basic cellular functions such as ubiquitination and autophagy as well as stress response pathways also contribute to the immune defence. Various immune defence systems work autonomously but in communication with each other. All responses are coordinated at the body level by hormones and other mediators. Layered and redundant structure of the human immune system offers great efficiency in the detection and elimination of pathogens. All immune mechanisms evolve interactively in concordance with human environment and history. Key Concepts: Human immune system is a multilayered structure that includes various mechanisms. Basic cellular mechanisms may contribute to immune defence. Specialised immune mechanisms are subdivided into innate and adaptive based on the receptors used for antigen recognition. Immune mechanisms comprise those based on humoral factors and those based on cells. Most immune defence mechanisms work semiautonomously in interaction with other systems. Immune mechanisms can be controlled at the body level by hormones and other mediators. Immune receptors evolve by gene duplication, balancing selection, changes in coding and regulatory sequences, and other mechanisms. Human immune system continues to evolve. Individual immune mechanisms evolve in interaction with other mechanisms and basic cellular machinery. Keywords: innate; adaptive; defence mechanisms; pathogen; positive selection
Interactions of cyclic nucleotide-gated channel subunits and protein tyrosine kinase probed with genistein.

The cGMP sensitivity of cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) channels can be modulated by changes in phosphorylation catalyzed by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases. Previously, we used genistein, a PTK inhibitor, to probe the interaction between PTKs and homomeric channels comprised of α subunits (RETα) of rod photoreceptor CNG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We showed that in addition to inhibiting phosphorylation, genistein triggers a noncatalytic interaction between PTKs and homomeric RETα channels that allosterically inhibits channel gating. Here, we show that native CNG channels from rods, cones, and olfactory receptor neurons also exhibit noncatalytic inhibition induced by genistein, suggesting that in each of these sensory cells, CNG channels are part of a regulatory complex that contains PTKs. Native CNG channels are heteromers, containing β as well as α subunits. To determine the contributions of α and β subunits to genistein inhibition, we compared the effect of genistein on native, homomeric (RETα and OLFα), and heteromeric (RETα+β, OLFα+β, and OLFα+RETβ) CNG channels. We found that genistein only inhibits channels that contain either the RETα or the OLFβ subunits. This finding, along with other observations about the maximal effect of genistein and the Hill coefficient of genistein inhibition, suggests that the RETα and OLFβ subunits contain binding sites for the PTK, whereas RETβ and OLFα subunits do not.
STRONG IMPACTS OF GRAZING AMPHIPODS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF A BENTHIC COMMUNITY

Large brown seaweeds dominate coastal hard substrata throughout many of the world's oceans. In coastal North Carolina, USA, this dominance by brown seaweeds is facilitated by omnivorous fishes, which feed both on red and green algae and on herbivorous amphipods that graze brown algae. When fish are removed in the field, brown seaweeds are replaced by red seaweeds, and herbivorous amphipods are more abundant. Using an array of large (;4000 L) outdoor mesocosms, we tested three mechanistic hypotheses for this pattern: fish feeding facilitates brown algal dominance (1) by removing red and green algal competitors, (2) by removing amphipods and reducing their feeding on brown sea- weeds, or (3) through an interaction of these mechanisms. Our experiments revealed strong impacts of both fish and amphipods, and a key role for the interaction, in structuring this community. When both fish and amphipods were removed (the latter with dilute insecticide), space was rapidly dominated and held for 17 weeks by fast-growing, primarily filamentous green algae. In contrast, when either fish, amphipods, or both were present, green algae were cropped to a sparse turf, and space was more rapidly dominated by larger macroalgae. The impacts of amphipods and fish on late-successional macroalgal assemblages were comparable in magnitude, but different in sign: red seaweeds prevailed in the amphipod- dominated treatment, whereas browns dominated in the presence of fish. Laboratory feeding assays and amphipod densities in the tanks suggested that the significant effects of am- phipods were attributable largely, if not exclusively, to the single amphipod species Am- pithoe longimana, which fed heavily on brown macroalgae. Our experimental removal of red and green algae failed to enhance cover of brown algae significantly; however, the latter reached substantially lower cover in the grazer-removal treatment, where green algae were very abundant, than in the fish-only treatment, where green algae were sparse. Thus, our results support the third hypothesis: fish-mediated dominance of brown algae involves both suppression of grazing amphipods and removal of algal competitors. Although collective impacts of fish and amphipods on this benthic community were generally comparable in magnitude, impacts normalized to each grazer's aggregate biomass were consistently higher for amphipods than for fish, sometimes by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Thus, the impacts of grazing amphipods (specifically A. longimana) on the benthic community were both strong and disproportionate to their biomass. These experimental results imply that grazing am- phipods, which are ubiquitous in marine vegetation but poorly understood ecologically, may play important roles in the organization of benthic communities, particularly where predation pressure is low.
Exact interpolation and iterative subdivision schemes

We examine the circumstances under which a discrete-time signal can be exactly interpolated given only every Mth sample. After pointing out the connection between designing an M-fold interpolator and the construction of an M-channel perfect reconstruction filter bank, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions on the signal under which exact interpolation is possible. Bandlimited signals are one obvious example, but numerous others exist. We examine these and show how the interpolators may be constructed. A main application is to iterative interpolation schemes, used for the efficient generation of smooth curves. We show that conventional bandlimited interpolators are not suitable in this context. A better criterion is to use interpolators that are exact for polynomial functions. We demonstrate that these interpolators converge when iterated, and show how these may be designed for any polynomial degree N and any interpolation factor M. This makes it possible to design interpolators for iterative schemes to make best use of the resolution available in a given display medium. >
Symbolic Inaction in Rituals of Gender and Procreation among the Garifuna (Black Caribs) of Honduras

The concept of the couvade accompanies the development of anthropology since its beginnings. As such, it provides us with a case study of ethnological interpretation over one century. As the anthropologist's creation, the concept "couvade" provides us with a mirror in which to examine our discipline. This paper first reviews the wide range of practices to which the term couvade has referred. It then briefly outlines the history of explanation of these practices, giving emphasis to the position, held by various researchers from 1861 to the present, that the couvade is a form of maternity simulation. Taking the case of the Garifuna (Black Caribs) of Honduras, I argue, instead, that examination of meaning in parent rituals among the Garifuna reveals that the couvade is not merely a representation
Interest as the Missing Motivator in Self-Regulation

Typically, models of self-regulation include motivation in terms of goals. Motivation is proposed to fluctuate according to how much individuals value goals and expect to attain them. Missing from these models is the motivation that arises from the process of goal-pursuit. We suggest that an important aspect of self-regulation is monitoring and regulating our motivation, not just our progress toward goals. Although we can regulate motivation by enhancing the value or expectancy of attaining the outcome, we suggest that regulating the interest experience can be just as, if not more, powerful. We first present our model, which integrates self-regulation of interest within the goal-striving process. We then briefly review existing evidence, distinguish- ing between two broad classes of potential interest-enhancing strategies: intrapersonal and interpersonal. For each class of strat- egies we note what is known about developmental and individual differences in whether and how these kinds of strategies are used. We also discuss implications, including the potential trade-offs between regulating interest and performance, and how recognizing the role of the interest experience may shed new light on earlier research in domains such as close relationships, psychiatric disorders, and females' choice to drop out of math and science.
Knockout of the BK β2 subunit reveals the importance of accessorizing your channel.

Biophysicists have had wonderful fun prodding and pulling on the molecular components of ion channels to uncover how the moving parts actually work. Such studies have provided an important platform for understanding the physiological relevance of channels in their native cells. More recently,
Optimal Design and Control Strategies for Novel Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Fuel Cell Systems: Part I of II—Datum Design Conditions and Approach

Energy network optimization (ENO) models identify new strategies for designing, installing, and controlling stationary combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell systems (FCSs) with the goals of 1) minimizing electricity and heating costs for building owners and 2) reducing emissions of the primary greenhouse gas (GHG) — carbon dioxide (CO2 ). A goal of this work is to employ relatively inexpensive simulation studies to discover more financially and environmentally effective approaches for installing CHP FCSs. ENO models quantify the impact of different choices made by power generation operators, FCS manufacturers, building owners, and governments with respect to two primary goals — energy cost savings for building owners and CO2 emission reductions. These types of models are crucial for identifying cost and CO2 optima for particular installations. Optimal strategies change with varying economic and environmental conditions, FCS performance, the characteristics of building demand for electricity and heat, and many other factors. ENO models evaluate both “business-as-usual” and novel FCS operating strategies. For the scenarios examined here, relative to a base case of no FCSs installed, model results indicate that novel strategies could reduce building energy costs by 25% and CO2 emissions by 80%. Part I of II articles discusses model assumptions and methodology. Part II of II articles illustrates model results for a university campus town and generalizes these results for diverse communities.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Assessing teamwork attitudes in healthcare: development of the TeamSTEPPS teamwork attitudes questionnaire

Introduction The report, To Err is Human, indicated that a large number of deaths are caused by medical error. A central tenet of this report was that patient safety was not only a function of sophisticated healthcare technology and treatments, but also the degree to which healthcare professionals could perform effectively as teams. Research suggests that teamwork comprises four core skills: Leadership, Situation Monitoring, Mutual Support and Communication. In healthcare, team training programmes, such as TeamSTEPPS®, are designed to improve participant knowledge of, attitudes towards, and skills in these core areas. If such training programmes are effective, changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills should be observed. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ), a measure designed to assess attitudes towards the core components of teamwork in healthcare. Method A pilot test version of the survey was developed and administered to 495 respondents from various healthcare organisations. Results Classical item statistics were used to select the final T-TAQ items. Based on this analysis, 30 of the original 110 items were selected for inclusion in the final instrument. Scale reliabilities exceed 0.7, and scales were found to be moderately correlated. Discussion The T-TAQ provides a useful, reliable and valid tool for assessing individual attitudes related to the role of teamwork in the delivery of healthcare. Issues related to its use and interpretation are discussed.
Cramer-Rao bound for Gaussian random processes and applications to radar processing of atmospheric signals

Calculations of the exact Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for unbiased estimates of the mean frequency, signal power, and spectral width of Doppler radar/lidar signals (a Gaussian random process) are presented. Approximate CRBs are derived using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). These approximate results are equal to the exact CRB when the DFT coefficients are mutually uncorrelated. Previous high SNR limits for CRBs are shown to be inaccurate because the discrete summations cannot be approximated with integration. The performance of an approximate maximum likelihood estimator for mean frequency approaches the exact CRB for moderate SNR and moderate spectral width. >
Protocol-Agnostic Compression for Resource-Constrained Wireless Networks

Reducing the time the radio is on in wireless devices results in lower power consumption, so sending the same data in fewer bytes can greatly extend the lifetime of a network. In this paper, we explore the use of protocol-agnostic packet compression, a technique orthogonal to current explicit compaction techniques. Because it functions as a transparent layer inside a communication stack and makes no assumption about the specific protocols used, it is generic enough to be used on multiple technologies. Compression is performed by identifying patterns in recent packets and replacing those patterns with bit flags in the transmitted packet. We present the results of compressing actual packet traces collected from several commercial networks using this algorithm and discuss the resource trade-offs of the algorithm. Results indicate compression ratios between 40% and 80%, yielding predicted energy savings of 30-70% in a typical time- synchronized network.
PRINTED COMMENTS WITH ITEM ANALYSES

This article suggests that item analysis computer programs include, as an option, a printing of English comments alongside of the item statistics. The particular comments that appear for each item depend upon that item's statistics. These comments should provide clear directions to the classroom teacher for the improvement of the items, and they should be flexible to reflect the differing decisions required by norm-referenced items and criterion-referenced items.
Stochastic Security-Constrained Unit Commitment

This paper presents a stochastic model for the long-term solution of security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC). The proposed approach could be used by vertically integrated utilities as well as the ISOs in electricity markets. In this model, random disturbances, such as outages of generation units and transmission lines as well as load forecasting inaccuracies, are modeled as scenario trees using the Monte Carlo simulation method. For dual optimization, coupling constraints among scenarios are relaxed and the optimization problem is decomposed into deterministic long-term SCUC subproblems. For each deterministic long-term SCUC, resource constraints represent fuel and emission constraints (in the case of vertically integrated utilities) and energy constraints (in the case of electricity markets). Lagrangian relaxation is used to decompose subproblems with long-term SCUC into tractable short-term MIP-based SCUC subproblems without resource constraints. Accordingly, penalty prices (Lagrangian multipliers) are signals to coordinate the master problem and small-scale subproblems. Computational requirements for solving scenario-based optimization models depend on the number of scenarios in which the objective is to minimize the weighted-average generation cost over the entire scenario tree. In large scale applications, the scenario reduction method is introduced for enhancing a tradeoff between calculation speed and accuracy of long-term SCUC solution. Numerical simulations indicate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for solving the stochastic security-constrained unit commitment
Idiopathic Paresthesia Reaction Associated with Rofecoxib

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of a paresthesia-type reaction due to the use of rofecoxib in standard doses for the treatment of osteoarthritis.CASE SUMMARY:A 55-year-old white woman was receiving rofecoxib for treatment of osteoarthritis. The patient began to have tongue numbness and hand tingling and numbness shortly after starting therapy with rofecoxib. The occurrence and resolution of her symptoms correlated with the start and end of the therapy.DISCUSSION:An adverse reaction with rofecoxib is a likely explanation for the patient's symptoms. Paresthesias have been reported in 0.1–1.9% of patients who took rofecoxib during premarketing studies, but no causality has been established. One case report of paresthesias occurring in a 59-year-old white man who took one 20-mg dose of piroxicam is available. Information on when the reaction occurred in relation to the dose and resolution of the reaction was not recorded in this study. Our patient's reaction is best classified as idiopathic.CONCLUSIONS:We report t...