cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteomic analysis of protein adsorption: Serum amyloid P adsorbs to materials and promotes leukocyte adhesion

Serum and plasma protein adsorption on materials was analyzed using gel electrophoresis and ion trap mass spectrometry. Following incubation of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with 5% serum for longer than 4 h, we found unexpectedly high amounts of the pentraxin serum amyloid P. It was previously shown that serum amyloid P is constitutively expressed in humans, functions as an opsonin, and interacts with the Fcγ receptors on leukocytes. We demonstrate that serum amyloid P adsorbed to tissue culture polystyrene, PDMS, and PET promotes the adhesion of granulocytes and monocytes in the presence of calcium. The methods developed for these studies may be useful for the large-scale study of protein adsorption and do not rely on radiolabeling or the availability of antibodies. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Forecasting in short-term planning and management for a casino buffet restaurant.

SUMMARY Demand fluctuation accounts for an important consideration in a restaurant's daily operational decisions. Good short-term planning and management require accurate forecasts of daily demand. The objective of this study is three-fold: (1) to apply, evaluate, and compare different methods of forecasting customer counts for an on-premises buffet restaurant of a local casino in Las Vegas, (2) to describe and propose a combined forecasting approach for this casino buffet restaurant, and (3) to explore the concept of revenue and capacity management for this buffet restaurant. Eight forecasting models were tested and evaluated by two common error measures. The results suggest that a double moving average model was the most accurate model with the smallest MAPE and RMSPE. Extensive discussions on forecasting and planning/management in buffet operations are provided along with recommended future research.
Hybrid photovoltaic/daylighting module for greenhouse environmental control

A hybrid photovoltaic/illumination rooftop module is proposed for greenhouse environmental control. The design counterbalances seasonal irradiance and temperature extremes while simultaneously generating renewable energy. Oneaxis tracking is used to increase photovoltaic collection. The tracking system also provides a seasonal variation of shading and ventilation to control temperature in the greenhouse. A faceted illumination structure is added to the module, which modifies irradiance by changing the solar angle. Irradiance in the greenhouse is simulated throughout the year for a particular site latitude and facet angle. Adjustments in the design can be made to customize the rooftop for a specific site location, illumination range, and irradiance uniformity.
De Facto regionalization of care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Florida, 2001–2009

ACC/AHA guidelines recommend STEMI patients receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at high volume hospitals performing ≥400 procedures/year. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the organization and implementation of care for STEMI patients in Florida. We assessed trends and predictors of STEMI patients first hospitalized at high PCI volume hospitals in Florida from 2001–2009. This is the first study to examine statewide trends in hospital admission for all STEMI patients. We classified Florida hospitals by PCI volume (high, medium, low, non-PCI) for each quarter from January, 2001 through June, 2009. Using hospital discharge data, we determined the percent of STEMI patients who went to each type of hospital and analyzed multiple predictors. From 2001–2009 the proportion of STEMI patients first hospitalized at high PCI volume hospitals rose from 62.4 to 89.7%, while admissions to non-PCI hospitals declined from 31% to 4.9%. Persistent barriers to high PCI volume hospital admission were age ≥85 years (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.50-0.62), female gender (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79-0.91), and residence in a major metropolitan county. Through the efforts of local coalitions throughout Florida, by 2009 almost 90% of Florida STEMI patients were first admitted to high PCI volume hospitals. Greater hospital competition may explain lower admission rates to high PCI volume hospitals in major metropolitan counties. The age and gender disadvantage we observed requires further research to determine potential causes.
Effects of Silastic progesterone implants on activity cycles and steroid levels in ovariectomized and intact female rats.

Abstract We have previously shown that although Silastic implants of progesterone reduce the amount of running of animals living in activity wheels, progesterone-treated animals continue to show perodic fluctuations or peaks in activity. We hypothesized that although progesterone treatment inhibited estrous cycles, ovaries of animals treated with Silastic implants of progesterone continued to secrete estradiol in amounts adequate to stimulate moderate levels of running. In the present study we tested this hypothesis by removing ovaries from progesterone-treated animals and comparing their running behavior and steroid levels to progesterone-treated animals who received sham ovariectomies. Although progesterone treatment significantly inhibited running activity, removal of ovaries in progesterone-treated animals further suppressed running activity. In addition, both estradiol and progesterone levels were significantly reduced following removal of ovaries in progesterone-treated animals. We conclude that although Silastic progesterone implants inhibit normal ovarian and estrous activity cycles, ovaries produce sufficient estradiol to stimulate running behavior.
Defining Process Design Space for Biotech Products: Case Study of Pichia pastoris Fermentation

The concept of "design space" has been proposed in the ICH Q8 guideline and is gaining momentum in its application in the biotech industry. It has been defined as "the multidimensional combination and interaction of input variables (e.g., material attributes) and process parameters that have been demonstrated to provide assurance of quality." This paper presents a stepwise approach for defining process design space for a biologic product. A case study, involving P. pastoris fermentation, is presented to facilitate this. First, risk analysis via Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is performed to identify parameters for process characterization. Second, small-scale models are created and qualified prior to their use in these experimental studies. Third, studies are designed using Design of Experiments (DOE) in order for the data to be amenable for use in defining the process design space. Fourth, the studies are executed and the results analyzed for decisions on the criticality of the parameters as well as on establishing process design space. For the application under consideration, it is shown that the fermentation unit operation is very robust with a wide design space and no critical operating parameters. The approach presented here is not specific to the illustrated case study. It can be extended to other biotech unit operations and processes that can be scaled down and characterized at small scale.
A Substance In Animal Parasites related to the Human Isoagglutinogens.

The relations between human isoagglutinogens and antigens present in infective organisms are little understood at present. Numerous bacteria and one species of an animal parasite, the nematode Trichinella spiralis, have been found to contain the Forssman antigen.1 Rose,2 however, found no evidence of an increased titer of the Forssman hemolysin in serums from humans and rabbits infected with this parasite. Since the Forssman antigen is related to the Group A specific substance of human blood, the effect of infection on the a isoagglutinin content of serums, by organisms having the antigen, as well as the possibility of cross reactions between any of these organisms, are matters of great interest. The results presented herein suggest that substances related to the Forssman antigen may be present in all animal parasites. They may also help to explain some of the relations existing between these substances and human isoagglutinogens.
Residential installations for network access on Rollins College campus

This paper provides the history of the residential installation process performed on student-owned computers. The process is referred to as ResNet and changed drastically from the year 2000. The change was gradual each year and improved based on the actual experience and input of those doing the work. Each year, the process was streamlined and new technologies were used. This was partly due to necessity and partly due to the advancement of the operating systems and computer hardware. With the increase of viruses, the need to protect the college network became a top concern and the ResNet process was an excellent way to do this. The process continues to evolve and grow with feedback from the students and staff.
Reconsidering the Impact of CS1 on Novice Attitudes

Student success in an introductory programing course is crucial, both because it influences retention and because student attitudes and habits in a first course can have a lasting impact on student success in computer science as a field. In this paper we present results about student attitudes and habits before and after a CS1 class. Statistically significant attitude differences were found in three areas: students were less likely to report they were good at programming, more likely to agree they are challenged by programming problems they can't understand immediately, and are less likely to report that computer science allows them to be creative. Statistically significant differences in female and first-quarter responses were also found.
Nonequilibrium electron and phonon transport and energy conversion in heterostructures

Abstract We establish a unified model dealing with the transport of electrons and phonons in double heterojunction structures with the coexistence of three nonequilibrium processes: (1) nonequilibrium among electrons, (2) nonequilibrium among phonons, and (3) nonequilibrium between electrons and phonons. Using this model, we investigate the energy conversion efficiency based on concurrent thermoelectric and thermionic effects on electrons and size effects on electrons and phonons. It is found that heterostructures can have an equivalent figure of merit higher than the corresponding bulk materials.
Human liver-specific very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase: cDNA cloning and characterization of a second enzymatically active protein.

Activation of fatty acids, catalyzed by acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetases, is required for their subsequent metabolism. Peroxisomes and microsomes contain very-long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (VLCSs) capable of activating fatty acids with a chain length of 22 or more carbons. Decreased peroxisomal VLCS activity is, in part, responsible for the biochemical pathology in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), illustrating the importance of VLCSs in cellular fatty acid homeostasis. We previously cloned two human genes encoding proteins homologous to rat peroxisomal VLCS; one (hVLCS) is the human ortholog to the rat VLCS gene and another (hVLCS-H1) encodes a related heart-specific protein. Here, we report the cloning of a third gene (hVLCS-H2) and characterization of its protein product. The hVLCS-H2 gene is located on human chromosome 19 and encodes a 690-amino-acid protein. The amino acid sequence of hVLCS-H2 is 44–45% identical and 67–69% similar to those of both hVLCS and hVLCS-H1. COS-1 cells transiently overexpressing hVLCS-H2 activated the very-long-chain fatty acid lignocerate (C24:0) at a rate >1.5-fold higher than that of nontransfected cells (P < 0.002). The hVLCS-H2-dependent activation of long- and branched-chain fatty acids following transient transfection was less striking. However, hVLCS-H2-dependent acyl-CoA synthetase activity with long- and very-long-chain fatty acid substrates was detected in COS-1 cells stably expressing hVLCS-H2. For all substrates tested (C18:0, C20:0, C24:0, C26:0), the hVLCS-H2 catalyzed activity was significantly increased (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001). By both Northern analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, hVLCS-H2 is expressed primarily in liver. Indirect immunofluorescence of COS-1 cells or human hepatoma-derived HepG2 cells expressing epitope-tagged hVLCS-H2 revealed that the protein was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum but not with peroxisomes. Thus, the primary role of hVLCS-H2 is likely to be in fatty acid elongation or complex lipid synthesis rather than in degradation.
Shakespearean primatology: A diptych

Shakespeare alludes to apes, baboons and monkeys in 24, or roughly two-thirds, of his plays. This essay joins together two of the most striking images, from Hamlet and Timon of Athens, respectively, to create a diptych illustrating the variability and adaptability of what I am calling Shakespearean primatology. Shakespeare anticipates the discoveries of twenty-first-century primatologists by demonstrating that neither morality, including acts of interspecies altruism, nor nepotism, including the global in-group bias known as speciesism, originated with humanity.
Heterogeneity of complement receptor expression on surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells from neonatal and adult mice.

The ontogeny of acquisition of complement receptors (CR) on splenic B lymphocytes from mice of varying ages was examined. Reagents used for the identification of CR included antibody- and complement-coated erythrocytes (EAC), bacteria (BAC) and bacteria treated with complement alone (BC). When whole mouse serum was used as the source of Complement both EAC and BAC failed to bind to human erythrocytes (C3b receptor-negative). showed binding to Raji and Daudi cells (C3d receptor) and formed rosettes with human neutrophils (C3bi receptor). Therefore these reagents bore C3d and C3bi, but not intact C3b. Although EAC and BAC detected nearly equal percentages of CR lymphocytes in adult mice, BAC bound to a higher percentage of neonatal lymphocytes (8-1296) than did EAC (1-395). The ability of BAC to detect EAC-negative lymphocytes among neonatal spleen lymphocytes appeared to be due to the increased sensitivity of this bacterial reagent for binding to CR. Further evidence of this enhanced sensitivity was that BAC were less inhibitable than EAC by soluble antigen-antibody-complement complexes.
The Declarative/Procedural Model and the Shallow Structure Hypothesis.

Clahsen and Felser (CF) have written a beautiful and important paper. I applaud their integrative empirical approach, and believe that their theoretical account is largely correct, if not in some of its specific claims, at least in its broader assumptions. CF directly compare their shallow structure hypothesis (SSH) with a model that my colleagues and I have proposed for aspects of the neurocognition of first and second language: the “declarative/procedural” (DP) model. Although some of CF's discussion accurately depicts the DP model and its relation to the data, they also make a few critical errors.Here, I first summarize the DP model in both first language (L1) and adult-learned second language (L2), in order to be able to contrast it with the SSH, and then address the relevant problems in CF. For further details on the DP model and L1, see Ullman (2001a, 2001c, 2004) and Ullman et al. (1997). For the model as it applies to L2, see Ullman (2001b, 2005).
A Wide-Bandpass Multilayer Monochromator for Biological Small-Angle Scattering and Fiber Diffraction Studies

Many biological applications of small-angle X-ray scattering, in particular time-resolved studies, are often limited by the flux incident on the sample due to the smaller scattering cross section of biological specimens. The wider-energy bandpass of a monochromator that consists of a pair of synthetic multilayer microstructures can, in principle, provide a flux two orders of magnitude higher than that of an Si(111) double-crystal monochromator. Two types of multilayers have been installed in the standard monochromator tank of beamline 4-2 at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory; the multilayer beam has been characterized for studies of small-angle X-ray scattering/diffraction from biological materials. Reflectivity and topography measurements indicate that the multilayers are quite adequate for these applications and a pair of Mo/B4C multilayers provided a 10–30 times increase in flux, compared with the flux level obtained with an Si(111) double-crystal monochromator. The increased flux level is very useful in time-resolved scattering studies as well as for recording weak scattering at higher angles. Having carried out many solution scattering and fiber diffraction experiments, we conclude that the use of multilayer does not result in significant broadening of diffraction peaks nor does it have appreciable effects on small-angle resolution. No significant increase in background is observed.
EVALUATION OF FRACTURE OF LAFAYETTE STREET BRIDGE

A main girder of the Lafayette Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Paul was discovered to be cracked on May 7, 1975. A detailed examination of the fracture is given in this paper. Fractographic examinations and analyses of crack growth showed that failure crack growth and brittle fracture both contributed to the members' failure. Fatigue cracks were found to originate at large lack of fusion areas in the lateral bracing gusset to transverse stiffener weld. After the crack had nearly penetrated the web thickness, it precipitated a brittle fracture. Subsequent intervals of fatigue crack growth and fracture were also observed. Recommendations are also provided on ways to retrofit the bridge details to prevent reoccurrence at other comparable details. In addition, a suggested detail configuration for this type of connection is recommended for future use. /Author/
Symptomatic dislocation of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus

Anteromedial joint line pain of the knee represents both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Dislocation of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus as a cause of anteromedial joint line pain is uncommon. O'Connor has reported this finding on internal and external rotation of the tibia during arthroscopy and Dashefsky has demonstrated a shadow sign associated with dislocating anterior horns. We have noted these findings plus anteromedial femoral condylar articular erosion associated with persistent anteromedial joint line pain in 13 patients. All 13 patients had persistent anteromedial joint line tenderness on physical examination present from 3 months to 3 years prior to surgery. Six of the 13 patients had a click in the knee with activity and only 4 of the 13 patients reported "giving away" episodes. Arthroscopic examination demonstrated a complete anterior horn dislocation of the medial meniscus as described by O'Connor and Dashefsky as well as degeneration of the anteromedial femoral condyle. Definitive treatment was performed in the 13 patients after arthroscopic confirmation of the diagnosis of dislocating anterior horn of the medial meniscus. The first four patients had traditional medial meniscectomies, the next four patients had repair of the anterior horn, and the last five patients had partial resection of the meniscus through the arthroscope. Excellent results occurred in three of four patients with repair of the anterior horn, and four of five patients with partial resection through the arthroscope. The one failure of repair subsequently underwent a complete medial meniscectomy with an excellent result.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Market segmentation using service levels in data networks

The objective of this paper is to study a communication system based on aM(x)/D/1 queueing system representing a cell-switch network like Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. Network structure consists of a single link modeled as a batch arrival markovian queue with non-preemptive head of the line priority service. Network manager (NM) is assumed to be a decision maker at a Management Information System (MIS) department. This paper establishes the incentive compatible pricing which maximizes the net value of the overall corporation, while the delays have to satisfy the Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. We obtain structural results for the two priority case in the short run. In equilibrium, we find that the network manager maximizes the price spread between the two priority class services. We prove that as the capacity level increases indefinitely, the market is equally divided among the priority classes. In the first part of the paper, we assume that the users do not respond to network manager’s prices. In the second part, we relax this assumption and look at a leader follower game. Users choose their willingness to pay by deciding on how much value they assign to timely transmission of messages after seeing the prices set by the network manager. Our results indicate that unless there is high enough capacity set upex ante, monopoly network provider cannot price discriminate by offering different quality of service via priority classes. This trade-off between ex ante capacity level choice and ex post price discrimination decision is eliminated if the capacity is set high. It is shown in the network literature that best effort services lead to lower quality of service, in general, for a single service. We show that this holds in multiple priority services as well. We prove that when the capacity is also considered as a decision variable, simultaneous capacity and price setting yields the same optimal level with sequential capacity and price choices.
The Long Haul: The Effects of Home Care on Caregivers

The effects and implications of caring for a spouse with a long-term physical or cognitive disability is a developing topic in the field of women's health. In the present study, women with longer caregiving experience had more physical health problems than did those with less time caregiving, while younger women found caregiving more psychologically burdensome than did older women. Nursing interventions must be directed toward preventing a decline in the caregiver's health and development of a second patient who herself needs a caregiver.
High resolution measurements of neutral density and ionization rate in the main chamber of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

Abstract Recent theoretical and experimental work has focused on the importance of neutrals in the edge dynamics of Alcator C-Mod plasmas. Two new high resolution detectors have been installed on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak to measure the neutral density and ionization rate near the edge of the discharge in the main chamber. The detectors consist of a 20 channel photodiode array which views the plasma tangentially 12.5 cm below the outer midplane, and 10 cm above the inner midplane, with a nominal radial resolution of 2 and 3 mm, respectively. The spectral bandwidth is limited by a filter with a very narrow band around the neutral deuterium Lyman alpha wavelength (1215 A). The local emissivity is then obtained via a standard Abel inversion of the absolutely calibrated brightness profile. Employing well-known branching ratios, and using measured local electron density and temperature, we therefore, infer the neutral density and ionization rate with similar radial resolution. We have observed that both Lyman alpha emissivity and ionization rate are usually peaked near the separatrix with a full width, half-maximum between 1 and 2 cm. The neutral density was found to drop rapidly with decreasing minor radius, from 2–3×10 17 /m 3 (5–10 mm outside the separatrix) to 1–2×10 16 /m 3 (5–10 mm inside the separatrix) for a line averaged density of 2.0×10 20 /m 3 . Variations in ionization rate and neutral density from low to high confinement mode (L and H mode) are also discussed.
Diagnostic Accuracy, Tympanocentesis Training Performance, and Antibiotic Selection by Pediatric Residents in Management of Otitis Media

Objective. To assess the accuracy of pediatric residents in recognizing the physical examination findings of acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME), technical competence to perform tympanocentesis, and knowledge of guideline-recommended antibiotic management of AOM. Methods. A total of 383 pediatric residents from various programs in the United States viewed 9 different video-recorded pneumatic otoscopic examinations of tympanic membranes during a continuing medical education course. The ability to differentiate AOM, OME, and normal was ascertained. A mannequin of a child was used to assess technical proficiency of performing tympanocentesis on artificial tympanic membranes. A series of questions was posed regarding appropriate, pathogen-directed, second-line antibiotic selection for AOM. Results. The average ± standard deviation correct diagnosis on the otoscopic video examination was 41% ± 16% (range: 19%–70%; median: 38%) by pediatric residents, tympanocentesis was optimally performed by 89%, and appropriate antibiotic therapy for drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae was selected by 78% and appropriate therapy for β-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae was selected by 74%. Conclusions. According to this video-based examination, pediatric residents misdiagnose OME frequently. Pediatric residents have the skills to be trained to perform tympanocentesis. Approximately 75% of pediatric residents have knowledge of the appropriate antibiotics to select for treatment of resistant AOM pathogens. Interactive instruction with simulation technology may enhance skills and lead to improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment paradigms.
Mixed frequency models: Bayesian approaches to estimation and prediction

Abstract We describe Bayesian models for economic and financial time series that use regressors sampled at higher frequencies than the outcome of interest. The models are developed within the framework of dynamic linear models, which provides a high level of flexibility and allows direct interpretation of the results. The problem of the collinearity of intraperiod observations is solved using model selection and model averaging approaches. Bayesian approaches to model selection automatically adjust for multiple comparisons, while predictions based on model averaging allow us to account for both model and parameter uncertainty when predicting future observations. A novel aspect of the models presented here is the introduction of new formulations for the prior distribution on the model space that allow us to favor sparse models where the significant coefficients cluster on adjacent lags of the high frequency predictor. We illustrate our approach by predicting the gross national product of the United States using the term structure of interest rates.
A Single-Cell Study of Chemical Inhibition of Enterovirus Multiplication.

Abstract The effects of viral inhibitors, guanidine and 2-(α-hydroxybenzyl)-benzimidazole (HBB), on enterovirus RNA synthesis and multiplication were studied in single HeLa or monkey kidney cells. Guanidine interrupted ongoing synthesis of viral RNA and production of infectious virus in single cells infected with poliovirus. Similarly, HBB halted ongoing replication of ECHO type 12 virus in single cells. Conversely, the presence of guanidine was necessary for continued synthesis of viral RNA and replication of virus in single cells infected with guanidine-dependent poliovirus type 1. Puromycin and guanidine inhibited ongoing poliovirus RNA synthesis with equal rapidity. The demonstrated effects of these drugs in single cells during the incremental phase in the viral growth cycle add evidence in support of the hypothesis that enterovirus RNA polymerase is synthesized throughout the exponential increase of virus.
Rab22a Regulates the Recycling of Membrane Proteins Internalized Independently of Clathrin

Plasma membrane proteins that are internalized independently of clathrin, such as major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI), are internalized in vesicles that fuse with the early endosomes containing clathrin-derived cargo. From there, MHCI is either transported to the late endosome for degradation or is recycled back to the plasma membrane via tubular structures that lack clathrin-dependent recycling cargo, e.g., transferrin. Here, we show that the small GTPase Rab22a is associated with these tubular recycling intermediates containing MHCI. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of Rab22a or small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of Rab22a inhibited both formation of the recycling tubules and MHCI recycling. By contrast, cells expressing the constitutively active mutant of Rab22a exhibited prominent recycling tubules and accumulated vesicles at the periphery, but MHCI recycling was still blocked. These results suggest that Rab22a activation is required for tubule formation and Rab22a inactivation for final fusion of recycling membranes with the surface. The trafficking of transferrin was only modestly affected by these treatments. Dominant negative mutant of Rab11a also inhibited recycling of MHCI but not the formation of recycling tubules, suggesting that Rab22a and Rab11a might coordinate different steps of MHCI recycling.
Drug inducible transgene expression in brain using a herpes simplex virus vector

The ability to regulate transgene expression is likely to be important in the use of gene transfer to treat diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In order to achieve regulatable gene expression we created a replication-incompetent genomic herpes simplex vector containing a RU486-inducible transactivator and a lacZ reporter gene under transcriptional control of a minimal promoter. Reporter gene expression from the vector was regulated by administration of RU486 in vitro and in vivo. In cell culture half maximal expression was achieved with 10−8 M RU486, and maximal expression was achieved by 24 h. Following stereotactic inoculation of the vector into rat hippocampus, expression was increased 150-fold by i.p. administration of RU486. This demonstrates that the RU486 system functions as a tight on/off switch for regulating expression of a transgene delivered to the brain via an HSV vector.
Effect of EGR on diesel premixed-burn equivalence ratio

The effect of exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) on the equivalence ratio of premixed-burn mixture in diesel combustion was investigated experimentally. The ambient oxygen concentration was systematically decreased from 21% to 10% in a constant-volume combustion vessel to simulate EGR effects in engines. Pressure measurements and time-resolved imaging of high-temperature chemiluminescence were used to characterize the temporal and spatial ignition and premixed burn characteristics of n-heptane diesel jets. With increasing EGR, ignition delay increases and the location of premixed burn occurs further downstream from the nozzle. Subsequent to first ignition, high temperature reactions stabilize at a quasi-steady lift-off length, showing that lift-off is a bounding parameter for determining premixed-burn region. The equivalence ratio of the fuel–ambient mixture in the premixed-burn region was measured using planar laser Rayleigh scattering. Fuel–oxygen mass distribution functions show that more mass is mixed into the premixed-burn region with increasing EGR, but the equivalence ratio of this mixture is the same. The study shows that an increasing ignition delay with increasing EGR does not necessarily decrease the equivalence ratio as would be desired for reducing soot formation in low-temperature combustion engines. However, measures to improve fuel–ambient mixing, such as shortened injection durations coupled to long ignition delay, could decrease equivalence ratio.
κ Opioid Receptor Stimulation of [35S] GTPγS Binding in Guinea Pig Brain

Abstract Although only one gene for κ opioid receptors has been cloned to date, κ1 and κ2 receptors have been defined pharmacologically, with drugs such as bremazocine binding to both putative κ receptor subtypes. To examine whether κ receptor subtypes can be distinguished at the level of the G-protein, the ability of the κ1 agonist (trans-(dl)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]-benzeneacetamide) methane sulfonate (U-50488H) to stimulate [35S]guanosine-5′-O-(γ-thio)-triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding in guinea pig brain was compared with that of bremazocine and dynorphin. In membranes prepared from guinea pig striatum, both bremazocine and U-50488H stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding with the same relative efficacy, while dynorphin produced at least two-fold greater efficacy than the other two agonists. In vitro autoradiography of agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding revealed similar regional distributions of bremazocine- and U-50488H-activated G-proteins. In striatal membranes, the κ antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) blocked both bremazocine- and U-50488H-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding with similar Ke values. In agonist additivity experiments, the stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding by the δ agonist [ d -pen2,5, p-Cl-Phe4]enkephalin (p-Cl-DPDPE) was approximately additive with the two κ agonists. Stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding by the μ agonist [ d -Ala2, N-Me4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) was additive with U-50488H, but not with bremazocine, reflecting the μ antagonist properties of this compound. The combination of bremazocine and U-50488H together produced no greater stimulation of binding than either agonist alone, indicating that they were binding to the same site. These results demonstrate that bremazocine and U-50488H activate G-proteins in guinea pig brain through the same receptor, and suggest that κ2 receptors are not coupled through the same signal transduction mechanisms as κ1 receptors.
Multistage T Cell–Dendritic Cell Interactions Control Optimal CD4 T Cell Activation through the ADAP-SKAP55–Signaling Module

The Ag-specific interactions between T cells and dendritic cells progress through dynamic contact stages in vivo consisting of early long-term stable contacts and later confined, yet motile, short-lived contacts. The signaling pathways that control in vivo interaction dynamics between T cells and dendritic cells during priming remain undefined. Adhesion and degranulation promoting adapter protein (ADAP) is a multifunctional adapter that regulates "inside-out" signaling from the TCR to integrins. Using two-photon microscopy, we demonstrate that, in the absence of ADAP, CD4 T cells make fewer early-stage stable contacts with Ag-laden dendritic cells, and the interactions are characterized by brief repetitive contacts. Furthermore, ADAP-deficient T cells show reduced contacts at the late motile contact phase and display less confinement around dendritic cells. The altered T cell interaction dynamics in the absence of ADAP are associated with defective early proliferation and attenuated TCR signaling in vivo. Regulation of multistage contact behaviors and optimal T cell signaling involves the interaction of ADAP with the adapter src kinase-associated phosphoprotein of 55 kDa (SKAP55). Thus, integrin activation by the ADAP-SKAP55-signaling module controls the stability and duration of T cell-dendritic cell contacts during the progressive phases necessary for optimal T cell activation.
Role of proliferation in endothelial cell monolayer formation

In the present study, the rates of human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) monolayer formation on a tissue engineered blood vessel wall model (TEWM) and collagen coated glass are evaluated in both static and fluid flow conditions. The role of proliferation in monolayer formation was investigated by determining the percentage of cells proliferating through BrdU incorporation. The role of proliferation was further investigated by evaluating monolayer formation and cell proliferation after exposure to mitomycin, a proliferation inhibiting drug. Finally, stimulation of proliferation on the TEWM was attempted by incorporating bFGF into the model. These experiments showed that the rate of monolayer formation was significantly reduced on the TEWM when compared to formation on glass in static culture. The reduced rate of monolayer formation correlated to fewer proliferating HCAEC on the TEWM and on the glass when exposed to shear stress. Exposure to mitomycin caused a decrease in both monolayer formation and proliferating cells in a dose dependent manner. The addition of bFGF showed a significant increase in monolayer formation on the TEWM. These experiments indicate that stimulation of proliferation, possibly through incorporation of bFGF, may be a potential method of promoting the formation of monolayers on tissue engineered vascular grafts.
Concise synthesis of 1,3-di-O-substituted tetrahydropyran derivatives as conformationally stable pyranose mimetics

Abstract A practical synthetic route to 1,3-di-O-substituted tetrahydropyrans has been developed. An important feature of these obtained glycomimetics is the bulky t -butyl functionality at the C-4 position, which imposes a chair conformation as the lowest energy conformer, making these compounds ideal pyranose mimetics.
The Structure of Works of Art and Historic Artifacts

Past civilizations almost always have left us with some of their products. These remains may include the remnants of entire cities with palaces, temples, houses, cemeteries, including written records of the activities of their people as well as artifacts produced and used by these people. Such artifacts are most useful if they are found in the context of their previous use. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. Many archaeological objects appear on the art market or exist in museums or private collections without a reliable provenance.
Where to go? Strategic modelling of access to emergency shelters in Mozambique.

This paper, through spatial-analysis techniques, examines the accessibility of emergency shelters for vulnerable populations, and outlines the benefits of an extended and permanently established shelter network in central Mozambique. The raster-based modelling approach considers data on land cover, locations of accommodation centres in 2000, settlements and infrastructure. The shelter analysis is a two-step process determining access for vulnerable communities first, followed by a suitability analysis for additional emergency shelter sites. The results indicate the need for both retrofitting existing infrastructure (schools, health posts) to function as shelters during an emergency, and constructing new facilities — at best multi-purpose facilities that can serve as social infrastructure and shelter. Besides assessing the current situation in terms of availability and accessibility of emergency shelters, this paper provides an example of evaluating the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance without conventional mechanisms like food tonnage and number of beneficiaries.
Network Exposure and Homicide Victimization in an African American Community

Objectives. We estimated the association of an individual’s exposure to homicide in a social network and the risk of individual homicide victimization across a high-crime African American community.Methods. Combining 5 years of homicide and police records, we analyzed a network of 3718 high-risk individuals that was created by instances of co-offending. We used logistic regression to model the odds of being a gunshot homicide victim by individual characteristics, network position, and indirect exposure to homicide.Results. Forty-one percent of all gun homicides occurred within a network component containing less than 4% of the neighborhood’s population. Network-level indicators reduced the association between individual risk factors and homicide victimization and improved the overall prediction of individual victimization. Network exposure to homicide was strongly associated with victimization: the closer one is to a homicide victim, the greater the risk of victimization. Regression models show that expos...
Cache Performance Optimization for Processing XML-Based Application Data on Multi-core Processors

There is a critical need to develop new programming paradigms for grid middleware tools and applications to harness the opportunities presented by emerging multi-core processors. Implementations of grid middleware and applications that do not adapt to the programming paradigm when executing on emerging processors can severely impact the overall performance. In this paper we focus on the utilization of the L2 cache, which is a critical shared resource on Chip Multiprocessors. The access pattern of the shared L2 cache, which is dependent on how the application schedules and assigns processing work to each thread, can either enhance or undermine the ability to hide memory latency on a multi-core processor. None of the current grid simulators and emulators provides feedback and fine-grained performance data that is essential for a detailed analysis. In this paper, using the feedback from an emulation framework, we present performance analysis and provide recommendations on how processing threads can be scheduled on multi-core nodes to enhance the performance of a class of grid applications that requires processing of large-scale XML data. In particular, we discuss the gains associated with the use of the adaptations we have made to the Cache-Affinity and Balanced-Set scheduling algorithms to improve L2 cache performance, and hence the overall application execution time.
Abundance and Habitat Associations of Washington Ground Squirrels in the Columbian Basin, Oregon

Abstract The Washington ground squirrel (Urocitellus washingtoni) is listed as threatened in Oregon and is a species of special concern in Washington. We investigated abundance and habitat selection of the species on the Boardman Bombing Range, Morrow County, Oregon during 1996–1997. Transect surveys were used to determine relative abundance among seven vegetative types, and mark-recapture methods were used to compare density of squirrels among habitats where they were present. Transect surveys indicated highest abundance in sagebrush, followed by perennial grassland then annual grassland; and no squirrels were detected in bitterbrush or low-shrub habitats. Results from live-trapping and capture-recapture methods also indicated higher densities in sagebrush habitat. Mean maximum distance moved on trapping grids was greater for males than females for adults and juveniles alike. Macro-habitat analyses revealed a selection for areas with higher silt content (Warden soils) in soils and higher vegetative cover...
Narrating Community: The Creation of Social Structure in Alcoholics Anonymous Through the Performance of Autobiography

The sharing of life stories is the most important social practice among members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Close attention to autobiographic story-telling in AA provides clues as to how AA works to heal alcoholism by creating a community of recovering alcoholics. This paper examines three major ways that AA stories create community. First, in the course of the performance of autobiographic narratives, expert AA speakers allow create social structure between themselves and their audience. Second, proper AA stories are the means by which AA members acquire and maintain their identities as recovering alcoholics. In this manner, story-listening is just as important as story-telling. Third, through the invocation of strong feeling, both tragic and humorous, AA story-tellers create a kind of intimacy based on shared emotion.
Assessing global exposure to natural hazards: Progress and future trends

Global maps of natural hazard occurrence and risk are useful tools for policy makers and international development organizations. The ranking of countries or regions by relative exposure provides a metric for prioritizing strategies for natural hazard mitigation and risk management, and for planning for response and recovery. However, the calculations underlying global natural hazard risk mapping depend on the availability and quality of geophysical and socio-economic data, which are highly variable from region to region, and may impede the application of global rankings to regional decision making. This paper summarizes a recent synthesis of natural hazard occurrence, exposure and loss data—the World Bank's “Hotspots” project—and describes the advantages and difficulties in such an approach. Several suggestions for more highly resolved, regional and sub-national analyses are made.
Equilibrium and Stability

If we look only at the motions of individual particles, it would be easy to design a magnetic field which will confine a collisionless plasma. We need only make sure that the lines of force do not hit the vacuum wall and arrange the symmetry of the system in such a way that all the particle drifts v E , v ∇B , and so forth are parallel to the walls. From a macroscopic fluid viewpoint, however, it is not easy to see whether a plasma will be confined in a magnetic field designed to contain individual particles. No matter how the external fields are arranged, the plasma can generate internal fields which affect its motion. For instance, charge bunching can create E fields which can cause E × B drifts to the wall. Currents in the plasma can generate B fields which cause grad-B drifts outward.
Exploration of the impact of messages about genes and race on lay attitudes

The effect of messages about genetics on lay audiences was assessed through an experimental study that exposed participants (n=96) to a Public Service Announcement about race, genes, and heart disease. Participants who received a message that specified either ‘Whites’ or ‘Blacks’ as the subject of the message demonstrated elevated levels of racism, genetic basis for racism, and one dimension of genetic discrimination as compared to those receiving a version of the message with no race specification or in a no-message control condition. The presentation of such messages to the public is not recommended until additional research clarifies this finding and perhaps describes mitigating vocabularies or approaches.
Corporatism, Pluralism, and Swedish Interest Group Influence in Social Welfare Policymaking

Corporatism and pluralism predict different characteristics of interest groups; their environments are important in understanding the level of influence that these groups have. This article describes variables related to these theoretical approaches and tests them as determinants of two operationalizations of interest group influence, one objective and one reputational. Results of these tests on Swedish interest group information indicate that, although Sweden has usually been considered a model corporatist political system, the situation is more complicated, with some pluralist factors being quite important. The study suggests that interest group influence may be more objectively determinable than is usually believed.
Plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition of bismuth-substituted iron garnets for magneto-optical data storage

Polycrystalline garnet thin films were obtained on glass substrates by plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition followed by annealing at 670/spl deg/C. The single mixed precursor approach was used to achieve vaporization and transport of low-vapor-pressure powdered metalorganic precursors to a plasma reactor. Bi, Ga-substituted dysprosium iron garnet film showed a square Faraday hysteresis loop with a rotation of /spl sim/2 deg//spl mu/m at 633 nm wavelength and low surface roughness of /spl sim/2 nm, which are favorable properties for high-density magneto-optical data storage.