cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ground-Truthing Validation to Assess the Effect of Facility Locational Error on Cumulative Impacts Screening Tools

Researchers and government regulators have developed numerous tools to screen areas and populations for cumulative impacts and vulnerability to environmental hazards and risk. These tools all rely on secondary data maintained by government agencies as part of the regulatory and permitting process. Stakeholders interested in cumulative impacts screening results have consistently questioned the accuracy and completeness of some of these datasets. In this study, three cumulative impacts screening tools used in California were compared, and ground-truth validation was used to determine the effect database inaccuracy. Ground-truthing showed substantial locational inaccuracy and error in hazardous facility databases and statewide air toxics emission inventories of up to 10 kilometers. These errors resulted in significant differences in cumulative impact screening scores generated by one screening tool, the Environmental Justice Screening Method.
Improved survival with adjuvant external‐beam radiation therapy in lymph node‐negative pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND. Although chemoradiation often is administered as an adjuvant to pancreatic cancer surgery, recent reports have disputed the benefit of radiation therapy. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of adjuvant radiation therapy in patients with locally confined, lymph node-negative (N0) pancreatic cancer. METHODS. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was used to identify patients who had undergone cancer-directed surgery for N0 pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 1988 and 2003. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed to compare overall survival between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine the prognostic significance of EBRT when additional clinicopathologic factors were assessed. The analysis also examined the potential treatment selection bias of patients with survival <3 months. RESULTS. A cohort of 1930 surgical patients with N0 disease was identified. The median survival was 17 months. Irradiated patients had significantly better survival compared with nonirradiated patients (20 months vs 15 months, respectively; P < .001). On multivariate analysis, adjuvant EBRT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.63–0.82; P < .001), age, grade, tumor classification, and tumor location were independent predictors of survival. When patients with survival <3 months were excluded from the analysis, no difference in survival between the EBRT group and the nonradiation group was noted on univariate comparison (P value not significant). However, on multivariate analysis, EBRT remained an independent predictor of improved overall survival (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.75–1.00; P = .044). CONCLUSIONS. Adjuvant EBRT was associated with improved survival in patients with operable, N0 pancreatic cancer. Its use should be considered in patients who have early-stage N0 disease. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Response of vestibular and cerebellar neurons to rotational stimulation.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the known anatomical connections and physiological responses of neurons in the vestibular nuclear complex and cerebellum. It identifies the primary vestibular afferent input to the vestibular nuclei and to cerebellar structures and describes the response properties of cells within these structures. In addition, single-unit recordings were made from the cerebellar nuclei, processus lateralis cerebellovestibularis, brain stem vestibular region and reticular formation in awake pigeons under the following experimental conditions: (1) either horizontal or vertical rotation, and (2) either rotation of the whole animal in either plane or that of the body alone with the head held fixed relative to earth. In the cerebellar structures single units recorded modulated their firing rate as a function of vestibular stimulation only, never being activated when the body was rotated and the head held fixed relative to earth. In the vestibular nuclei, 60% of all cells recorded responded to both vestibular rotational stimulation and rotation of the body with the head held fixed relative to earth. In the reticular formation all cells responded to either rotational stimulation of the whole animal or body rotation alone.
Epigenetic instability at imprinting control regions in a KrasG12D-induced T-cell neoplasm

Although aberrant DNA methylation within imprinted domains has been reported in a variety of neoplastic diseases, it remains largely uncharacterized in the context of carcinogenesis. In this study, we induced T-cell lymphoma in mice by employing a breeding scheme involving mouse strains, LSL-KrasG12D and MMTV-Cre. We then systematically surveyed imprinted domains for DNA methylation changes during tumor progression using combined bisulfite restriction analysis and NGS-based bisulfite sequencing. We detected hyper- or hypo-methylation at the imprinting control regions (ICRs) of the Dlk1, Peg10, Peg3, Grb10, and Gnas domains. These DNA methylation changes at ICRs were more prevalent and consistent than those observed at the promoter regions of well-known tumor suppressors, such as Mgmt, Fhit, and Mlh1. Thus, the changes observed at these imprinted domains are the outcome of isolated incidents affecting DNA methylation settings. Within imprinted domains, DNA methylation changes tend to be restricted to ICRs ...
Sequence of structural changes in columnar epithelium of small intestine during early stages of fat absorption.

The early structural response of the columnar cells in the small intestine of mice which is associated with the absorption of fat was analyzed quantitatively under conditions which allowed the establishment of the sequence at which resynthesized triglycerides accumulate in various cellular compartments. It was found that the Golgi apparatus is the only organelle in which fat accumulates during early stages of fat absorption. Later, far also appears in apical vesicles, which are predominantly smooth membrane vesicles with no connection with the endoplasmic reticulum. No fat was observed in the smooth or the rough endoplasmic reticulum which during the early stages of fat absorption appeared identical to its appearance in control animals. The conclusion, therefore, must be that the Golgi apparatus is primarily involved in the accumulation of triglycerides during fat absorption and that apical vesicles are a secondary sire for fat accumulation. The origin of apical vesicles and their relationship to the endoplasmic reticulum are discussed. The study shows the experimental conditions which would allow biochemical analysis of pure fractions of the Golgi apparatus and of Golgi-derived compartments.
Importance of the Spreading Solvent Evaporation Time in Langmuir Monolayers

Herein, it is shown that aromatic spreading solvents can be detected using in situ UV spectroscopy at the air−water interface beyond the common accepted time for evaporation of 10−20 min in the preparation of a Langmuir monolayer. Toluene and benzene, even though not significantly surface active, can be detected, and their behavior as a function of time and temperature is investigated. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the vibrational fine structure of the benzenoid bands are detected at the air−water interface.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE STANDARD SCALES OF FOOD TEXTURE

The use of standard terminology, standard reference foods and standard evaluation procedures in the standard scales for texture profile methods makes them effective objective tools for assessing panelists in descriptive analysis. However, their use is often limited because of a lack of availability of standard reference foods and the drift of scales over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the standard texture scales for the classification of the textural characteristics of standard reference foods through the use of multidimensional scaling (MDS). The texture perceptions of foods by 11 panelists were evaluated using the standard texture scales. Each scale was anchored by a series of standard reference foods that were purported to illustrate the intensities of the texture attribute under study. MDS was highly instructive in quantitatively assessing the textural differences perceptions of naive panelists (r > 0.89). The selected foods were rated similarly using MDS and standard texture scales. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Multidimensional scaling (MDS) is an efficient tool for the analysis of sensory perception data. Using MDS, it is possible to corroborate standard food texture scales published many years ago and assay food texture more accurately. Caution is necessary when assuming that standard scales developed in the past are as useful today as when they were developed. The item drift theory hypothesizes that questions become less reflective of a concept over time for natural reasons. The purpose of this study was to use MDS to reproduce the original dimensions and original order of standard stimuli used to analyze existing food textural scales for hardness, chewiness, gumminess, viscosity, adhesiveness and fracturability.
Iron Dominated Mixed Multipole Magnets With Conventional or Superconducting Coils

In low energy accelerators and beam lines such as those found in the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), it is desirable to have combined function magnets that are iron dominated (for the principle harmonic) with superconducting coils. The staff at FRIB has looked at a number of combined function magnets (such as quadrupole magnet with added sextupole and sextupoles with added octupole). There in fact is a whole class of combined function magnets that combine lower order multipole components with higher order multipole components. It is desirable for a magnet of this type to produce a pure component of each component along with an arbitrary mixture of the two multipole components. If the coils are superconducting, one can get enough ampere-turns in the coils for each multipole to fabricate a meaningful magnet. Specific examples for some of these magnets are given in this report.
Differential binding of IgG anti-D and IgG autoantibodies to reticulocytes and red blood cells.

Summary. 125I IgG anti-D binding to reticulocytes obtained by density fractionation is reduced relative to that bound to all other red cell (RBC) fractions. Maximum D antigen reactivity occurs following reticulocyte maturation with no detectable change in D reactivity of mature RBC throughout their life span. Reticulocytes have in the range of about 60% of the content of mature RBC. Previously reported increased anti-D agglutinability and binding to old RBC it is not due to an intrinsic increase in D antigen with age, but results from an ‘apparent’decrease in anti-D binding to young RBC fractions due to reticulocyte enrichment. IgG RBC autoantibodies obtained by elution from the RBC of eight Coombs-positive blood donors, probably associated with α-methyldopa (α-MD) administration, showed decreased binding to reticulocytes as determined by 125I protein A (PA). Reticulocytes bound about 70% of the IgG bound to mature RBC, indicating that the membrane antigenic determinant defined by these autoantibodies was incompletely expressed in the reticulocyte. This difference in IgG autoantibody binding between reticulocytes and mature RBC is similar to the decreased D antigen content of reticulocytes and consistent with an autoantibody determinant associated with the Rh complex. Direct testing of density fractionated Coombs-positive RBC in four out of five patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) showed reduced quantities of IgG on reticulocytes. The distribution of IgG between reticulocytes and mature RBC may be useful in serologically characterizing patients with AIHA and in identifying subpopulations of patients with this disorder.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of in vitro hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable polymers

The in vitro hydrolytic degradation at the surface of six biodegradable polymers, namely polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), random copolymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), poly(sebacic acid) (PSA), and two random copolymer poly(fumaric-co-sebacic) acid (PFS) of different compositions, has been studied using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF SIMS). A distribution of hydrolysis products, namely oligomer molecules, were observed as a series of intact molecular ions in the ToF SIMS spectra for all polymers studied. In most cases, the molecular ion peak in each repeating pattern is the most intense peak. Analysis of the intensities of the molecular ions in the distribution (e.g., approaching Mn) allows chemical kinetic information to be obtained from the ToF SIMS spectra of hydrolyzed samples. In the case of polyglycolic acid, a maximum in the distribution of the molecular ion peaks is observed which changes with respect to the hydrolysis time. For PGA, the average molec...
Performance analysis of experimentally viable photonic crystal enhanced thermophotovoltaic systems

One of the keys towards high efficiency thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion systems lies in spectral control. Here, we present detailed performance predictions of realistic TPV systems incorporating experimentally demonstrated advanced spectral control components. Compared to the blackbody emitter, the optimized two-dimensional (2D) tantalum (Ta) photonic crystal (PhC) selective emitter enables up to 100% improvement in system efficiency. When combined with the well characterized cold side tandem filter and the latest InGaAs TPV cells, a TPV energy conversion system with radiant heat-to-electricity efficiency of 25% and power density of 0.68 W cm−2 is achievable today even at a relatively low temperature of 1320 K. The efficiency could be increased to ∼ 40% (the theoretical 0.62 eV single bandgap TPV thermodynamic limit at 1320 K is 55%) as future implementation of more optimized TPV cells approach their theoretical thermodynamic limit.
An eight-parameter model of human mortality--the single decrement case

Developed in this paper is an eight-parameter model of human mortality. A step-wise nonlinear least-squares procedure for estimating the parameters from abridged life tables is also described and implemented. Used for purposes of illustration were nine period life tables, ranging from 1900 to 1977, for the United States white male population. The agreement between the observed and calculated survival functions in the nine life tables was very good. Apart from its phenomenological interest, the model provides an effective means for calculating interpolations and extrapolations of abridged life tables, which are useful making population projections and in computer graphics.
I act, therefore I judge: network sentiment dynamics based on user activity change

The study of influence, persuasion, and user sentiment dynamics within online communities has recently emerged as a highly active area of research. In this paper, we focus on analyzing and modeling user sentiment dynamics within a real-world social media such as Twitter. Beyond text and connectivity, we are interested in exploring the level of topical user posting activity and its effect on sentiment change. We perform topic-wise analysis of tweeting behavior that reveals a strong relationship between users' activity acceleration and topic sentiment change. Inspired by this empirical observation, we develop a new generative and predictive model that extends classical neighborhood-based influence propagation with the notion of user activation. We fit the parameters of our model to a large, real-world Twitter dataset and evaluate its utility to predict future sentiment change. Our model outperforms significantly (1 order of magnitude in accuracy) existing alternatives in identifying the individuals who are most likely to change sentiment based on past information. When predicting the next sentiment of users who actually change their opinion (a relatively rare event), our model is twice more accurate than alternatives, while its overall network accuracy is 94% on average. We also study the effect of inactive users on consensus efficiency in the opinion dynamics process both analytically and in simulation within the context of our model.
Acoustic correlates of stress and pitch accent in Tashlhiyt Berber

Abstract This paper reports results of a phonetic study of stress and pitch accent in Tashlhiyt Berber, an Afro-Asiatic language that is famous for possessing words consisting of only obstruents. This study examines evidence for word-level stress and phrase-level accent in Tashlhiyt and addresses the question of how both prosodic properties are acoustically realized in segments, such as obstruents, that provide a relatively impoverished backdrop for the manifestation of prominence. Results indicate that F0 is raised in the phrase-final nucleus relative to both the penultimate nucleus of the phrase and also to word-final nuclei that are phrase-medial. This raising of F0 is consistently observed on sonorant nuclei, inconsistently associated with voiced obstruents, and absent from voiceless obstruents, which lack an F0 but often trigger insertion of an epenthetic vowel to aid in the realization of F0 information. A further result is that intensity is higher in the nucleus of a word-final syllable relative to one in the penult of a word. We interpret the greater intensity associated with word-final syllables as a marker of word-level stress and the raising of F0 in phrase-final syllables as a phrase-level pitch accent docking on the final stressed syllable of a phrase.
Thirty Years of Change in Forest Soils of the Allegheny Plateau, Pennsylvania

Numerous studies have investigated the potential depletion of available base cation pools from forest soils in regions impacted by acid deposition. However, these studies mostly used indirect methods. Retrospective studies, providing direct evidence of chemical changes in forest soils, are relatively rare due to a lack of appropriate sampling, documentation, and archiving of samples over decadal or longer periods. We were provided an unusual opportunity to conduct such a retrospective study with relocation of four sites on the Allegheny Plateau in Pennsylvania. Detailed soil sampling and analyses were conducted in 1967. An original investigator was available to insure field sampling protocol consistency during resampling in 1997, and the original samples had been archived and were available for reanalysis. At all four sites there were significant decreases in exchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations and pH at all depths. Exchangeable Al concentrations increased at all depths at all sites, however increases were only significant in upper soil horizons. Short-term temporal changes, estimated by sampling the Oa/A horizon annually for 3 yr, were insignificant, suggesting that the differences between 1967 and 1997 are part of a long-term trend. At most of the sites losses of Ca and Mg on a pool basis were much larger than could be accounted for in biomass accumulation, suggesting teaching of nutrients off-site.
Discrete stoping events in granite plutons: A signature of eruptions from silicic magma chambers?

New insights into the nature and construction of granitic intrusions provide an opportunity to correlate the rock record of an intrusion to the rock record of volcanism related to the intrusion. We attempt such a correlation between the Silurian Vinalhaven (Maine, USA) intrusive complex and associated volcanic rocks. The largely granitic Vinalhaven intrusion includes a stratigraphic sequence of interlayered gabbro, diorite, and minor granite that preserves field evidence for mingling of coexisting mafic and silicic magmas in a series of ephemeral silicic magma chambers. Within this stratigraphy, blocks of country rocks occur at a number of stratabound horizons in association with mafic sheets. The along-strike lithologic variation of the blocks mirrors the lithologic variation of country rocks along the northern margin of the intrusion, which appears to be the only preserved portion of the intrusion's roof. The limited stratigraphic distribution and correlation of lithologies to the roof suggest that the country-rock blocks were stoped during short-lived roof collapse events rather than continuously over the lifetime of the chamber. We suggest that these stratabound roof blocks record collapse of the roof during eruptions from the system, perhaps triggered by the influx of mafic magma, and represent one large caldera-forming eruption followed by a series of smaller eruptions. This interpreted eruptive history of the pluton is consistent with the overall stratigraphy of spatially, temporally, and compositionally related volcanic rocks.
Restoration of the orbital aesthetic subunit with the thoracodorsal artery system of flaps in patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Objectives To demonstrate the advantages of the thoracodorsal artery scapular tip autogenous transplant (Tdast) for patients requiring restoration of the orbital aesthetic subunit. Design Prospective case series. Setting Tertiary center. Participants Ten patients (M:F,6:4) with a mean age of 56 years (range, 21 to 78 years) underwent restoration of the orbital aesthetic subunit and radiation therapy between 2001 and 2008. Main Outcome Measures The two reconstructive advantages of the thoracodorsal artery system of flaps for orbital reconstruction are a long pedicle and the suitability of the scapula tip to meet the three-dimensional requirements of the orbit. Patients were assessed 1 year or more after treatment for cosmetic outcome, work status, and socialization. Results Eight of 10 patients benefited from the three-dimensional nature of the scapula tip bone and 7 of 10 avoided vein grafting. Four of five evaluable patients reported “frequently” socializing outside their home. Four of five evaluable patients working before undergoing their treatment were able to return to work posttreatment. Seven of nine patients with postoperative photographs had minimal or no facial contour deformity. Conclusions The Tdast can restore orbital contour without osteotomy, and the thoracodorsal artery system of flaps has a long vascular pedicle that reduces vein grafting. Patients have an acceptable cosmetic result and return to preoperative work status and socialization.
First Report of Freesia sneak virus in Freesia sp. in Virginia

In the spring of 2008, freesia, cvs. Honeymoon and Santana, with striking virus-like symptoms similar to freesia leaf necrosis disease were received by the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic from a cut-flower nursery in Gloucester, VA and forwarded for analysis to the USDA-ARS Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit in Beltsville, MD. Approximately 25% of the plants had coalescing, interveinal, chlorotic, whitish, necrotic or dark brown-to-purple necrotic spots on leaves. Symptomatic plants were scattered within the planting. Fifteen symptomatic plants were collected between March and May of 2008, and nucleic acid extracts were analyzed for ophiovirus infection by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with ophiovirus-specific degenerate primers (2). The diagnostic 136-bp ophiovirus product from the RdRp gene was amplified from 14 of 15 freesia plants tested. A partially purified virus preparation was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and potyvirus- and ophiovirus-like particles were detected. The poty...
Multiparty Disputes and the Probability of War, 1816—1992:

Previous theory and research have suggested that multiparty disputes might be significantly more likely to escalate to war than bilateral disputes, because of the difficulty of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement as the number of parties increases. This study presents a systematic test of this hypothesis. Efforts to provide such a test have been hampered by the absence of data that distinguish the number of participants in a militarized interstate dispute prior to the outbreak of war from the number of participants after the war breaks out. We find that multiparty disputes do have an increased probability to escalate to war. In addition, we find that the issue over which the disputants contend has an important effect on the probability that the dispute will escalate to war; multiparty disputes that are over territory have a higher probability of escalating to war than multiparty disputes in general. Lastly, it is found that the effects related to the number of parties in a dispute and to whether the ...
Approximate dynamic programming, local or global optimal solution?

The problem of global optimality analysis of approximate dynamic programming based solutions is investigated in this study. Sufficient conditions for global optimality is obtained without requiring the state penalizing terms in the cost function or the functions representing the dynamics to be convex functions. Afterwards, the theoretical results are confirmed through a qualitative analysis of an example problem.
Local Problem Agendas in the Chinese Countryside as Viewed by Cadres and Villagers

An important question about political linkages in any polity is the degree to which actors at various levels in the political hierarchy have similar policy agendas. This paper addresses that topic by utilizing data from a four-county survey of villagers and officials at the village, township, and county level in the Chinese countryside. With two critical exceptions, officials in general perceived greater problem severity than did villagers. Lower ranking officials saw greater and different problem severity than did higher-ranking ones, especially with respect to economic and infrastructure problems, but county locale outweighed rank in importance. In terms of dyadic congruence, villager agendas were most faithfully reflected in their most proximate but least influential officials, the village leaders. Hierarchical rank, local conditions, and physical proximity are thus key elements affecting perceptions of and agreement about local problem agendas.
Exploring real-brand meanings and goods in virtual-world social interaction: Enhanced rewards, rarity, and realism

AbstractIn virtual worlds, real-life brands develop co-created meanings in social interaction involving users, platform, and marketers. Whilst research has focused on brands advertised in online venues, marketers are challenged to know how users experience brands socially and interactively in virtual worlds, and potential outcomes of those experiences. This article explores meanings of brands and branded virtual goods through user interviews from one virtual world with brands integrated into social interaction. Findings suggest positive orientations as brands aid sociability, status, and achievement. Interactions connect with avatar identity displays and social roles, enabled by platform and realism from real-brand presence. Manifestations extend beyond the virtual world, and seem understood as marketer tactics. Inserted brands appear to impact user experiences with enhanced rewards, rarity, and realism.
Differentiation of the anterior latissimus dorsi muscle of the chicken examined by anti‐myosin monoclonal antibodies

Two new monoclonal antibodies (McAbs), ALD-180 and ALD-88, produced against the myosin of the slow anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle of the chicken are described. Their specificity for myosin heavy chain (MHC) was established by radioimmunoassay, immunoautoradiography, and immunofluorescence. They were used in conjunction with McAbs MF-14 and MF-30 (which have been characterized previously to be directed against MHC of the fast skeletal muscle) to examine the developmental changes of the chicken ALD muscle. At the 16-day embryonic, early posthatch, and adult stages the ALD muscle fibers differed in their reaction pattern with the McAbs: at the embryonic stage all fibers reacted strongly with ALD-180 and weakly with ALD-88 and MF-30; at the early posthatch stage there was a checkerboard pattern with many fibers not reacting with any of these three McAbs; and at the adult stage all fibers reacted strongly with ALD-180 and ALD-88 and weakly with MF-30. The MF-14 antibody did not react with ALD muscle at any developmental stage. The mature pattern of immunoreactivity of the ALD muscle fibers with the antibodies was established only after 9 weeks posthatch, and during this 9-week period the immunofluorescence changes were nonsynchronous. Based on immunocytochemical evidence of changes in myosin isoform expression, this study clearly demonstrates a distinctive neonatal (early posthatch) stage in the development of the chicken slow muscle.
The kinematic analyses of the 3-DOF parallel machine tools

A 3-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) parallel machine tool based on a tripod mechanism is developed and studied. The kinematics analysis is performed, the workspace is derived, and an analysis on the number of conditions of the Jacobian matrix and manipulability is carried out. A method for error analysis and manipulability is introduced. Hence, the manipulability analysis of the parallel machine tool is accomplished.
Pharmacological analysis of the rate-decreasing effects of mu and kappa opioids in pigeons

The present study investigated the rate-decreasing effects of several mu (morphine andl-methadone) and kappa (bremazocine, U69,593 and U50,488) opioid agonists in pigeons. Mu and kappa agonists were examined alone, in combination with naltrexone or the mu-selective opioid antagonist, β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), and in pigeons treated chronically with U50,488. Naltrexone was equipotent in shifting the morphine,l-methadone and bremazocine dose-effect curves to the right, but was less potent in shifting the U69,593 dose-effect curve and did not shift the U50,488 dose-effect curve. β-FNA shifted thel-methadone dose-effect curve to the right but did not shift the bremazocine, U69,593 or U50,488 dose-effect curves. Pigeons that developed tolerance to U50,488 following daily administration were cross-tolerant to bremazocine but not tol-methadone. Taken together, these experiments indicate that the rate-decreasing effects of morphine andl-methadone are mediated by mu opioid receptors, whereas the rate-decreasing effects of bremazocine, U69,593 and U50,488 in pigeons differ depending on the pharmacological procedures used to assess their effects.
TRAF6 regulates cell fate decisions by inducing caspase 8-dependent apoptosis and the activation of NF-κB

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) functions as an adaptor, positively regulating the NF-κB pathway. Here we report a new function of human TRAF6, the direct stimulation of apoptosis. The mechanism of apoptosis induction results from the capacity of human TRAF6 to interact and activate caspase 8. Both the C-terminal TRAF domain of human TRAF6, which directly interacts with the death effector domain of pro-caspase 8, and the N-terminal RING domain, which is required for activation of caspase 8, are necessary for the induction of apoptosis. The role of endogenous TRAF6 in regulating apoptosis was confirmed by extinguishing TRAF6 expression with specific small-hairpin RNA that resulted in diminished spontaneous apoptosis and resistance to induced apoptosis. In contrast to the human molecule, murine TRAF6 displayed less ability to induce apoptosis and a greater capacity to stimulate NF-κB activity. Human and murine TRAF6 are similar except in the region between zinc finger 5 and the TRAF domains. Reciprocal transfer of this connecting region completely exchanged the ability of human and murine TRAF6 to induce apoptosis and activate NF-κB. Unique regions of TRAF6 therefore play an important role in determining cell fate.
Free Logic, Description, and Virtual Classes

On montre ici que la theorie des classes virtuelles constitue une application de la logique libre. Il s'agit de la theorie classique de la quantification qui ne fait usage que d'un predicat a deux places : l'epsilon de Peano, et qui ne comporte qu'un axiome d'extensionnalite. Elle n'introduit aucune presupposition d'existence. Les individus y sont identifies a leur singleton, et elle accommode les termes qui ne designent rien. On montre aussi comment cette theorie peut fructifier et devenir une theorie des ensembles plus elaboree a l'aide de definitions et de conventions notationnelles.
Single Nucleotide Discrimination in Single Stranded DNA Immobilized within Biological Nanopore MspA

Biological nanopores are currently being investigated as a fast, low cost DNA sequencing platform. Single stranded DNA (ssDNA) is electrophoretically driven through a protein pore as the ionic current through the constriction is measured. The porin MspA of Mycobacterium smegmatis was mutated to produce a channel highly suitable for nanopore DNA sequencing. To study the resolution of the mutated porin MspA, we immobilize ssDNA within the pore using a streptavidin ‘anchor’. Each base, adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine, produces a distinct current signature when it is held within the nanopore. We examine homopolymer ssDNA with a single heteronucleotide substitution to determine the recognition site within MspA. Discrimination of a single base in a heteromeric ssDNA is performed with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) where the polymorphism is positioned at the recognition site. Our results indicate that MspA has the ability to provide high-resolution single nucleotide discrimination.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Augmented preexcitation assessed by scintigraphic phase analysis during atrial pacing

We sought to characterize the effect of augmented preexcitation on the phase image pattern associated with scintigraphic acquisition during conduction via accessory arteriovenous connections. For this reason we assessed phase image scintigraphy, acquired in sinus rhythm and during rapid atrial pacing in 12 patients with documented right (five patients) or left (seven patients) lateral accessory pathways. Augmented preexcitation during atrial pacing was documented at electrophysiologic study in all patients during atrial pacing at similar rates. Phase analysis was abnormal in only 8 patients during sinus rhythm but in all 12 patients during atrial pacing. Atrial pacing brought a significant delay in both mean left and right ventricular phase angles, LV phi and RV phi, respectively. With atrial pacing, the site of earliest phase angle, interpreted to indicate the site of earliest excitation, shifted to the site of the accessory pathway. There was increased relative "prematurity" of the mean phase angle of the ipsilateral ventricle and an absolute increase in the difference between mean and earliest left and right ventricular phase angles, delta phi (LV-RV) and delta phi 0 (LV-RV), respectively. In patients with right-sided pathways, delta phi (LV-RV) increased from 9.5 +/- 12.6 degrees to 47.9 +/- 22.8 degrees, whereas delta phi 0 (LV-RV) increased from 28.1 +/- 18.0 degrees to 67.6 +/- 25.0 degrees (both p less than 0.05). Patients with left-sided pathways demonstrated similar changes in which delta phi (LV-RV) decreased from 2.9 +/- 10.8 degrees to -26.5 +/- 9.0 degrees and delta phi 0 (LV-RV) decreased from 3.4 +/- 14.2 degrees to -27.4 +/- 17.9 degrees (both p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nanophase magnesium for orthopedic applications

Magnesium has gained interest as a biomaterial for orthopedic applications because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and positive effect on bone formation. Likewise, studies have shown nanophase material increase osteoblast (bone-forming cell) function compared to conventional materials, but the two have not been studied together. The purpose of this study was to determine if altering magnesium surface features into the nanometer scale promotes greater osteoblast functions. Nanorough magnesium surfaces were created by a novel treatment with sodium hydroxide at 1N, 5N, and 10N concentrations for 10, 20, and 30 minutes. Material characterization by scanning electron microscopy showed increased roughness on all treated samples compared to the control magnesium. Contact angle measurements indicated greater hydrophilicity on treated magnesium and no significant effect of ultraviolet sterilization on the surface energy of the material. Osteoblasts were seeded onto treated and untreated surfaces and adhesion at 4hrs were assessed through the MTT assay. Results indicated increased osteoblast adhesion on nano-treated samples compared to untreated samples. These findings support previous studies indicating the promise of magnesium as a biomaterial for orthopedic applications and suggest further experiments examining the long-term effects of nanophase magnesium on osteoblast proliferation and function.
Sinc function representation and three-loop master diagrams

We test the Sinc function representation, a novel method for numerically evaluating Feynman diagrams, by using it to evaluate the three-loop master diagrams. Analytical results have been obtained for all these diagrams, and we find excellent agreement between our calculations and the exact values. The Sinc function representation converges rapidly, and it is straightforward to obtain accuracies of 1 part in 10{sup 6} for these diagrams and with longer runs we found results better than 1 part in 10{sup 12}. Finally, this paper extends the Sinc function representation to diagrams containing massless propagators.
FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF DNA DAMAGE IN NUCLEOIDS FROM CULTURED HUMAN BREAST EPITHELIAL CELLS TREATED WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Abstract Flow cytometric analysis of nucleoids is useful to investigate nuclear matrix-DNA associations in cells. We have now applied this technique to examine whether differences in nucleoid structure can be detected between tumor and normal-like human breast epithelial cells. We have previously shown that MCF-7 tumor and MCF-10A normal-like human breast cells exhibit different levels of endogenous oxidative DNA damage as well as differences in response to hydrogen peroxide. We therefore examined whether flow cytometric analysis of nucleoids can be used to detect both endogenous DNA damage and DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in these cells. Nucleoids were prepared by lysis of MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells with a high-salt buffer. The size of the DNA loops around the nuclear matrix core was detected by measuring the forward light-scatter signal in the presence of ethidium bromide. The relaxation and supercoiling of DNA in the presence of low and high concentrations of ethidium bromide, respectively, was similar in MCF-7 tumor and MCF-10A normal-like cells. After treatment of cells with 100 μM and higher of hydrogen peroxide, there was a statistically significant increase in the forward light scatter from nucleoids prepared in the presence of high concentrations of ethidium bromide, and this increase was similar in both cell lines. The changes in the forward light scatter signal with increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration did not mimic the patterns of increases in single strand breaks or formation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxyuridine that we reported previously. This indicates that the flow cytometric technique probably detects other types of changes induced by hydrogen peroxide.
Rates of decay of linkage disequilibrium under two-locus models of selection

The effect of selection and linkage on the decay of linkage disequilibrium, D, is investigated for a hierarchy of two-locus models. The method of analysis rests upon a qualitative classification of the dynamic of D under selection relative to the neutral dynamic. To eliminate the confounding effects of gene frequency change, the behavior of D is first studied with gene frequencies fixed at their invariant values. Second, the results are extended to certain special situations where gene frequencies are changing simultaneously.
Direct Measurement of Vanadium Dioxide Dielectric Properties in W-band

In this paper we directly measure the refractive index and extinction coefficient of vanadium dioxide (VO2) in W-band (75-110 GHz) near the insulator-to-metal phase transition. A frequency-domain interferometry setup is used to obtain the transmission amplitude and phase shift of a transmitted wave though a 200 nm-thick VO2 film deposited on a silicon substrate. Using the transmission matrix technique, the measured data in the 58-100 °C temperature range are used to obtain the refractive index and extinction coefficient of VO2 as a function of temperature and frequency. The experimental results show a significant increase in the refractive index and extinction coefficient of VO2 beyond the transition temperature of ~68 °C.
Mass spectral fragmentation pathways of propranolol related β-fluorinated amines studied by electrospray and electron impact ionization

Propranolol, its 1"-mono-, di-, and trifluorinated analogs, and other related compounds were analyzed under electrospray ionization ion trap collision-induced dissociation (ESI-CID) and electron impact (EI) conditions. Interesting trends were observed in the fragment ions formed in both cases. Under ESI conditions, the abundances of product ions easily explained by protonation on the amine nitrogen decreased relative to the abundances of those formed from the ether-protonated species as the number of fluorines increased from zero to three. Under EI conditions, the distribution of fragment ions was shifted away from those arising from a nitrogen-centered cation radical and toward those arising from an ether oxygen-centered cation radical. The changes observed in apparent molecular sites of protonation and of ion radical formation in the mass spectra are consistent with the electron-withdrawing effects of the sequentially added fluorines. These effects are correlated with changes in solution phase pK( a)'s of the fluorinated amines.
Separation of GVHD and GVL.

CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs suppress antitumor responses using a granzyme B–dependent mechanism while the regulatory control of GVHD by Tregs exploits a distinct mechanism that is granzyme B–independent. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of a
Unite to Fight Malaria

The article discusses the public health campaign in China to eradicate malaria and the use of health posters depicting prevention, the cornerstone of the public health policy of China from the 1950s throughout the 1970s. The author reports that malaria was controlled by 1990, although not completely eradicated.
Uniform Probability Density Analysis and Population History in the Northern Rio Grande

One of the basic challenges facing archaeology is translating surface evidence into population estimates with sufficient chronological resolution for demographic analysis. The problem is especially acute when one is working with sites inhabited across multiple chronological periods and the production curves for pottery types are unknown. In this paper, I present a Bayesian statistical method which I call uniform probability density analysis that is tailored to this situation. This method combines uniform distributions derived from the local pottery chronology with pottery assemblage data to reconstruct the population history of individual settlements. I also illustrate applications of this method at the site and regional level using data from Cuyamungue and the surrounding Tewa Basin/VEP II New Mexico project area. The results allow one to identify a period of significant population movement corresponding to the period of Tewa ethnogenesis in the thirteenth century CE.
Power Generation Forecasting of Solar Photovoltaic System Using Radial Basis Function Neural Network

An accurate forecasting method for power generation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system can help the power systems operator to reduce the risk of unreliability of electricity supply. This paper proposed a radial basis function (RBF) neural network method to forecast the power generation of PV system. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, the method is tested on the practical information of power generation of a PV system. The good agreements between the realistic values and forecasting values are obtained; the numerical results show that the proposed forecasting method is accurate and reliable.
Apparent efficacy of κ-opioid receptor ligands on serum prolactin levels in rhesus monkeys

These studies investigated whether serum prolactin levels could be a quantitative marker of the apparent efficacy of kappa-opioid receptor ligands in primates. The effects of s.c. bremazocine and U50,488 (trans-(+/-)-3, 4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benzeneacetamid e; agonists), nalorphine (partial agonist) and nalmefene (antagonist) on prolactin levels were studied in intact female rhesus monkeys. The above compounds, except nalmefene, increased prolactin levels, and their actions conformed to sigmoidal dose-effect curves. The rank order of the compounds' maximum effects in this neuroendocrine endpoint is similar to that in cloned kappa-receptors in vitro, and in a presently studied thermal antinociception assay in vivo. Prolactin may therefore be a quantitative marker of the apparent efficacy of kappa-opioid receptor ligands in primates.
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Dimethyl(1-ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl Phosphate and Corresponding Block Copolymers

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of dimethyl(1-ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl phosphate (DECVP) was investigated in the presence of different catalyst systems and initiators. Polymers with controlled molecular weight and relatively low polydispersity (PDI < 1.5) were obtained through ATRP initiated with ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBriBu) in the presence of Cu(I)Cl/2,2‘-bipyridine (bpy). Faster polymerization and higher monomer conversion were obtained in the polymerization using Cu(I)Cl/ N,N,N‘,N‘ ‘,N‘ ‘-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) or Cu(I)Cl/1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (HMTETA) as the catalyst system. PDECVP dissolves in water below 70 °C, but its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) depends on the polymer concentration. The conversion of PDECVP to poly((1-ethoxycarbonyl)vinylphosphonic diacid) (PECVPD) was accomplished by reaction with bromotrimethylsilane followed by methanolysis. Block copolymers, PDECVP-b-poly(styrene) (PS), PDECVP-b-PS-b-PDECVP, and PDECVP-b-poly(me...
Yard stories: examining residents’ conceptions of their yards as part of the urban ecosystem in Minnesota

The residential yard is an integral part of the urban ecosystem. Individual preferences and social expectations influence homeowners’ yard care choices, which in turn affect urban ecology. However, little is known about residents’ conceptions of their yards as part of the urban ecosystem. We asked how homeowners conceive of their yard as part of the urban ecosystem by examining urban ecosystem concepts embedded within homeowners’ descriptions and stories of their yards. Our study sites included an urban and suburban area in the Saint Paul-Minneapolis metropolitan area of Minnesota, USA. We found that people’s understandings of their yards as urban ecosystems are complex but have prominent gaps. Salient concepts included biotic and abiotic interactions within the yard, linkages of human inputs and weeds across yards and watersheds, and yards as social space. Stories described managing dynamic ecological processes within yards to maintain a steady state and limiting linkages of human inputs beyond the yard. Prominent gaps included ecological cycles, biodiversity, and ecosystem services within yards and ecological linkages across yards. In general, people conceived of their yards in terms of inputs rather than cycles and in terms of creating barriers between their yards and surrounding areas rather than fostering ecological interconnections across them. We provide recommendations for resident outreach programs based on our findings. Finally, our study presents a challenge to urban ecosystem research to unravel where there are gaps in understandings of urban ecosystems versus where there is resistance to incorporating certain ecological interactions within the residential yard.