cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IL1B polymorphisms modulate cystic fibrosis lung disease.

Rationale Variability in pulmonary disease severity is found in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have identical mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. We hypothesized that one factor accounting for heterogeneity in pulmonary disease severity is variation in the family of genes affecting the biology of interleukin-1 (IL-1), which impacts acquisition and maintenance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in animal models of chronic infection. Methods We genotyped 58 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-1 gene cluster in 808 CF subjects from the University of North Carolina and Case Western Reserve University (UNC/CWRU) joint cohort. All were homozygous for ΔF508, and categories of “severe” (cases) or “mild” (control subjects) lung disease were defined by the lowest or highest quartile of forced expired volume (FEV1) for age in the CF population. After adjustment for age and gender, genotypic data were tested for association with lung disease severity. Odds ratios (ORs) comparing severe versus mild CF were also calculated for each genotype (with the homozygote major allele as the reference group) for all 58 SNPs. From these analyses, nine SNPs with a moderate effect size, OR ≤0.5 or >1.5, were selected for further testing. To replicate the case-control study results, we genotyped the same nine SNPs in a second population of CF parent–offspring trios (recruited from Children's Hospital Boston), in which the offspring had similar pulmonary phenotypes. For the trio analysis, both family-based and population-based associations were performed. Results SNPs rs1143634 and rs1143639 in the IL1B gene demonstrated a consistent association with lung disease severity categories (P < 0.10) and longitudinal analysis of lung disease severity (P < 0.10) in CF in both the case-control and family-based studies. In females, there was a consistent association (false discovery rate adjusted joint P-value <0.06 for both SNPs) in both the analysis of lung disease severity in the UNC/CWRU cohort and the family-based analysis of affection status. Conclusion Our findings suggest that IL1β is a clinically relevant modulator of CF lung disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:580–593. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Predicting rotational restraint provided to wall girts and roof purlins by through-fastened metal panels

Abstract This paper introduces mechanics-based expressions for predicting the rotational restraint provided by through-fastened metal panels to Z- and C-section girts or purlins. The analytical prediction equations include the effect of local panel deformation at a screw, and girt or purlin flange bending at a through-fastened connection. Finite element parameter studies are performed to quantify the local fastener pull-out stiffness for a common panel profile, and flange bending stiffness is determined with a cantilever beam model. Rotational restraint experiments are conducted to validate the prediction equations. The through-fastened connection stiffness is simulated in a finite strip elastic buckling analysis with a rotational spring to demonstrate how system effects can be included in design.
Application of remote-sensing and ground-truth techniques in determining the effects of coalbed-methane discharge waters on soils and vegetation

The current coalbed methane (CBM) play in the Powder River Basin of northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana is the most active in the United States. Large volumes of water generated during methane production present environmental concerns because the water typically contains high levels of sodium and is generally discharged at the surface, possibly resulting in the alteration of soil properties and changes to plant biomass. This study utilizes Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) data and field observations for change analysis in a region of CBM production along Spotted Horse Creek in northeast Wyoming. Hypotheses tested in this study are: (1) plant biomass increases with the addition of saline and/or sodic CBM waters; and (2) CBM waters increase soil salinity, sodicity, and pH. Results indicate the application of CBM waters at the Spotted Horse Creek study site has initially increased plant biomass in areas of CBM activity. However, the CBM waters are very high in salinity and sodicity. Soil chemistry is affected such that pH, salinity, and sodicity levels have changed to the point of making the soils slightly sodic. Presently, these levels are within the tolerance limits for most of the plants in the region but may continue to increase with the continued discharge of CBM waters.
Scaling, equation of state, and the instability of the spin-glass phase

The free energy and equation of state for the Ising-type random-bond spin-glass are generated in $6\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ dimensions with the aid of renormalization-group recursion relations. Scaling predictions based on previous renormalization-group work are borne out. The specific heat is found to be smooth with a rounded peak above the transition temperature, and the order-parameter exponent $\ensuremath{\beta}$ is greater than 1. We also find, however, that the spin-glass phase is unstable in that certain fluctuations have a negative gap. This instability leads immediately to the nonphysical prediction that the bond average of the square of a spin correlation function is negative. We conclude that there is a serious flaw in current approaches to the spin-glass phase based on the Edwards-Anderson order parameter.
Overview of the Atlas SIRTF Mission

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility -- SIRTF -- will be a cryogenically cooled observatory for infrared astronomy from space and is planned for launch early in the next decade. SIRTF will build on the scientific and technical results obtained by IRAS, COBE and ISO, but it will go beyond these cryogenic space missions by making extensive use -- for both imaging and spectroscopy -- of large-format detector arrays. This paper discusses a newly modified baseline SIRTF mission and its scientific capabilities.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Collision Avoidance Problem Requires a Mix of Partial Solutions

The objective of collision avoidance is to assure the separation of aircraft during flight operations — to avoid the situation occurring where two or more aircraft could occupy the same point in airspace at the same time. The problem centres on how best to avoid such a spatial conflict—through ground‐derived data and air traffic control, by means of air‐derived data and pilot judgment, or by some combination of the two? In the quest for a solution, many kinds of systems have been studied and prototype hardware built and tested. Some provided only partial answers; some might meet the safety needs but create implementation difficulties; several have demonstrated the potential for world‐wide application. It is with the last group that we are concerned here. Any collision avoidance system (CAS) selected must be one that meets international requirements; this implies that protection can be offered to all aircraft, that the CAS is compatible with other existing systems and that costs would not be excessive. It ...
Management of the High-Risk Lupus Pregnant Patient

Pregnancy in the lupus patient presents a unique clinical challenge. Pregnancy may interact with lupus nephritis and adds preeclampsia to the differential diagnosis of hypertension. Lupus may result in pregnancy loss, fetal growth restriction, and prematurity. The obstetric management of these complex issues is presented for the nonobstetrician.
Changing sources of strontium to soils and ecosystems across the Hawaiian Islands

Abstract Strontium isotope ratios assist ecosystem scientists in constraining the sources of alkaline earth elements, but their interpretation can be difficult because of complexities in mineral weathering and in the geographical and environmental controls on elemental additions and losses. Hawaii is a “natural laboratory” where a number of important biogeochemical variables have either limited ranges or vary in systematic ways, providing a unique opportunity to understand the impact of time, climate, and atmospheric inputs on the evolution of base cation sources to ecosystems. There are three major sources of strontium (Sr) to these ecosystems, each with distinct isotopic compositions: basalt lava, Asian dust, and rainfall. We present Sr isotope and concentration data on both bulk soil digests and NH4Ac extracts from soil profiles covering a wide range of environments and substrate ages. Bulk soil material from dry climates and/or young substrate ages with > 80 µg g− 1 Sr retain basalt-like Sr isotopic signatures, whereas those with Sr concentrations 40% by mass. At elevated dust levels, lava-derived Sr is low and dust-derived Sr is the dominant control of 87Sr/86Sr in bulk soils; however, 87Sr/86Sr of NH4Ac-extractable Sr largely reflects atmospheric deposition of marine aerosol in these situations. Overall, whole-soil Sr isotope values are controlled by complex interactions between Sr provided by lava weathering but partially lost by leaching, and Sr provided by dust but held in more resistant minerals. The isotopic composition of NH4Ac-extractable Sr and of the biota is controlled by lava weathering and rainfall contribution of Sr with only minor contributions from radiogenic dust sources.
Millimeter wave complex refractive index, complex dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of extra high purity and compensated silicon

Single crystal high resistivity (11,000 ohm-cm) boron doped silicon was found to exhibit lowest absorption loss at room temperature (25 C) in the entire millimeter wave region. At 140 GHz it's loss tangent value is as low as 40 microradians. The study of dielectric properties of silicon as a function of resistivity reveals that the low frequency free carrier absorption present in all silicon (and other semiconductors) vanishes with increasing resistivity. It is then possible to use such a silicon in substrate applications in microwave integrated circuitry. The unique broadband dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopic technique was utilized for these measurement.
Crowdsourcing code and process via code hunt

Crowd sourcing programming relies on active participation. One way to get such participation is through an engaging game. Code Hunt (https://www.codehunt.com/) from Microsoft Research is a web-based serious gaming platform with the potential to be leveraged as a crowd sourcing system. In Code Hunt, players create programs by re-engineering against a changing set of test cases. The game has been played by over 100,000 players in world-wide contests, and to practice coding skills. The vast collected data of code modified by players and the process taken to succeed could be used by others for software construction, teaching, or learning. In this position paper, we discuss these existing crowd sourcing activities in Code Hunt and a future game type for crowd sourcing.
Hypersurface sections and S2-modules

We prove a hypersection section type criterion for a module over a noetherian local ring to satisfy Serre' condition S2.
Efficacy of commercially available predators, nematodes and fungal entomopathogens for augmentative control of Drosophila suzukii.

The recent arrival of Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruit with a wide host range, has resulted in increased production costs for growers and the need for additional insecticide applications each growing season. There are few effective organic insecticides for D. suzukii, and insecticide use in conventional farms may be disruptive to natural enemies, suggesting a need for effective biological control to combat D. suzukii. Commercially available natural enemies were evaluated for their potential use in augmentative releases, including: the predators Orius insidiosus and Dalotia coriaria; the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus; and the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae. This suite of natural enemies was chosen to target D. suzukii adults as well as larvae in hanging or dropped fruit. Of the cultured fungal strains tested, only M. anisopliae significantly decreased D. suzukii survival, but it had low residual activity and no effect on D. suzukii fecundity. O. insidiosus decreased D. suzukii survival in simple laboratory arenas but not on potted blueberries or bagged blueberry branches outdoors. D. coriaria did not decrease D. suzukii survival in infested blueberries in simple laboratory arenas. The nematodes tested showed low infection rates and were not able to affect D. suzukii survival. Although this suite of natural enemies showed limited ability to suppress D. suzukii under the tested conditions, these and related natural enemies are present as part of the endemic natural enemy community in agricultural fields, where they may contribute to D. suzukii suppression.
Geographic and climatic control of primate diversity

Although the comparative ecology of primates has been relatively well studied and there have been a number of outstanding studies of individual primate communities, the factors determining primate species diversity on either a local or regional level are largely unexplored. Understanding the determinants of species abundance is an important aspect of biodiversity and is critical for interpreting the comparative ecology of these different communities and for designing effective strategies of conservation. Comparative analysis of species diversity in more than 70 primate communities from South America, Africa, Madagascar, and Asia shows that on major continental areas and large tropical islands, there is a high positive correlation between the number of primate species and the area of tropical forest. Within major continental areas, the species diversity at individual sites is highly correlated with mean annual rainfall for South America, Africa, and Madagascar, but not Asia.
Type XII collagen up-regulation is associated with regeneration of fully developed but not embryonic limbs of the salamander and newt

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) MT1 and MT2 provided the opportunity to compare developing and regenerating limbs with regard to the temporal and spatial appearance of the developmentally regulated, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins tenascin (TN) and type XII collagen (col XII), respectively. In limb buds and in regenerates of both limb buds and mature limbs, mAb MT1 reactivity was seen within the ECM between mesenchyme cells and as a layer subjacent to the ectoderm and wound epithelium. In contrast, reactivity of mAb MT2 was absent from limb buds or regenerating limb buds, but was strong in the distal limb stump and blastema of regenerating mature limbs. At differentiation stages of limb development, TN and col XII were seen in association with perichondrium, myotendinous junctions, and tendons, typical of their distributions in mature limbs. In situ hybridization with a probe that recognizes transcripts of both the long form and the alternatively spliced short form of the alpha chain of type XII collagen (alpha col XII) confirmed that mAb MT2 reactivity represented alpha col XII expression and further showed that neither form of alpha col XII mRNA is expressed in early limb buds of chicken or urodele embryos. Thus, when the expression patterns of antigens are compared during limb development and regeneration, both similarities and differences are revealed. The results are consistent with the view that col XII has a role in the regeneration of mature limbs but not in the development or regeneration of embryonic limbs. J. Exp. Zool. 279:71-80, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, magnetic and thermoelectric properties of Rh2MO6 (M = Mo, Te, and W) with rutile-related structure

Abstract The Rh 2 MO 6 compounds with M = Mo, W and Te were synthesized by solid state reaction. The compounds all crystallize in a rutile-type structure. These compounds would be expected to be diamagnetic insulators if the oxidation states were Rh 3+ and M 6+ . In fact, all show relatively high electronic conductivities with Rh 2 TeO 6 showing the highest electronic conductivity of ∼500 S/cm at room temperature. Measurable magnetic moments also indicate valence degeneracy between Rh and the M cation. The measured Seebeck coefficients are relatively low and positive indicating hole-type conduction.
Modeling the effect of voxel resolution on the accuracy of phantom grain ensemble statistics

Abstract The spatial resolution of experimental three dimensional (3D) mesoscale microstructural data has typically been prescribed using simple rules. For example, serial section experiments often attempt to collect at least ten sections through the average feature, however, this rudimentary guidance likely results in data under- or oversampling depending on the measurement(s)-of-interest. This study investigates one approach for determining a minimally sufficient resolution for 3D microstructural data using computer-generated phantoms of polycrystalline grain microstructures. These phantom microstructures were generated on a voxel grid with high resolution and used as reference volumes, which were then progressively down-sampled to coarser resolutions. Discrete probability density functions (PDFs) of morphological descriptors were constructed from both the reference and down-sampled volumes, and the similarity between the PDFs was quantified using a modified version of the Bhattacharyya Coefficient. Analysis of the data revealed that the grain size and the number of nearest neighbor grains have distributions relatively insensitive to changes in resolution, whereas shape parameters including ellipsoid aspect ratios (b/a and c/a) and the moment invariant Ω3, have higher sensitivities.
Mid-Cycle Capital Planning Optimization

A typical capital rationing problem takes place at the beginning of a fiscal cycle, where a project portfolio is chosen to maximize expected return subject to a budget constraint. This article examines mid-cycle capital planning, which occurs near the end of a fiscal cycle. Motivated by the “budget-lapsing” rule, the decision-maker embarks on a “year-end spending spree.” We use chance-constrained methodology to address two new constraints: reaching profit target set at the beginning of the year and exhausting the budget completely. Data from Lockheed Martin Space Systems illustrate how the optimal portfolio selection is influenced by these constraints.
cDNA Cloning, Tissue Distribution, and Substrate Characteristics of a cis-Retinol/3α-Hydroxysterol Short-chain Dehydrogenase Isozyme

Abstract We report here a mouse cDNA that encodes a 316-amino acid short-chain dehydrogenase that prefers NAD+ as its cofactor and recognizes as substrates androgens and retinols, i.e. has steroid 3α- and 17β-dehydrogenase and cis/trans-retinol catalytic activities. This c is-retinol/androgendehydrogenase type 2 (CRAD2) shares close amino acid similarity with mouse retinol dehydrogenase isozyme types 1 and 2 and CRAD1 (86, 84, and 87%, respectively). CRAD2 exhibits cooperative kinetics with 3α-adiol (3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity) and testosterone (17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity), but Michaelis-Menten kinetics with androsterone (3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity), 11-cis-retinol, all-trans-retinol, and 9-cis-retinol, withV/K 0.5 values of 1.6, 0.2, 0.1, 0.04, 0.005, and not saturated, respectively. Carbenoxolone (IC50 = 2 μm) and 4-methylpyrazole (IC50 = 5 mm) inhibited CRAD2, but neither ethanol nor phosphatidylcholine had marked effects on its activity. Liver expressed CRAD2 mRNA intensely, with expression in lung, eye, kidney, and brain (2.9, 2, 1.6, and 0.6% of liver mRNA, respectively). CRAD2 represents the fifth isozyme in a group of short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase isozymes (retinol dehydrogenases 1–3 and CRAD1), closely related in primary amino acid sequence (∼85%), that are expressed in different quantities in various tissues, have different substrate specificities, and may serve different physiological functions. CRAD2 may alter the amounts of active and inactive androgens and/or convert retinols into retinals. These data expand insight into the multifunctional nature of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases and into the enzymology of steroid and retinoid metabolism.
Correlates of Male Consortship Rate in Free-Ranging Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Male–male competition for access to receptive females can take the form of nonrecurring fights and/or a sustained contest over mating opportunities. Male physical condition has been linked to dominance rank and reproductive success in species characterized by intrasexual fights for dominance and access to females. In group-living species characterized by endurance rivalry, however, factors contributing to male reproductive success are less well understood. In such species, particularly seasonally breeding ones with low sexual dimorphism and seniority-based rank, age and social factors other than rank may prove important. In the absence of genetic data, male mate guarding or consortship can serve as an indicator of male reproductive success. To evaluate the contribution of age and intragroup sociality to male consortship rate, I collected behavioral data during one nonmating and one mating season in two social groups of free-ranging rhesus macaques that experience no predation or food scarcity. Higher-ranking males, younger males, or males that exhibited lower rate of intrasexual aggression had higher consortship rates. Male–female dyads that groomed outside consortship did not form consortships as often as dyads that did not engage in nonconsort grooming. This is the first study to identify the significance of male–male aggression and male–female affiliation to male consortship rate in a species characterized by endurance rivalry, high male rank stability, and strong female mate choice. Social behaviors and male age may be particularly important in determining male reproductive success in populations experiencing high food availability and a lack of predation, which are typical of an increasing number of vertebrates in areas densely populated by humans.
Mercuric chloride-induced spin or ligation state changes in ferric or ferrous human cystathionine β-synthase inhibit enzyme activity

Cystathionine β-synthase is a key heme and pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme involved in homocysteine metabolism in humans. The role of the recently discovered heme in this protein remains an important open question. The axial ligands to the heme in both the ferrous and ferric states have been assigned as cysteine and histidine residues, respectively. In this study, we have examined the effect of ligation and spin state changes in the heme on the activity of the enzyme. Treatment of the ferric enzyme with HgCl2 results in the conversion of six-coordinate low-spin heme to five-coordinate high-spin heme and is paralleled by a loss of activity. In contrast, treatment of the ferrous enzyme with HgCl2 results in replacement of the cysteine ligand by an unidentified sixth ligand and retention of the six-coordinate state, and is also accompanied by loss of enzyme activity. Treatment of the five-coordinate HgCl2-treated enzyme with thiols, such as homocysteine, results in reversion to a six-coordinate state. Resonance Raman spectroscopy with 34S-labeled enzyme reveals the return of the endogenous thiol ligand under these conditions and rules out direct coordination by the thiolate of homocysteine to the heme.
SMOG chamber studies of NOx chemistry in power plant plumes

Smog chamber simulations have been conducted in a 17m3 irradiation chamber with the purpose of identifying the effects of five independent variables on the transformation rates and product distributions of nitrogen and sulfur species in dilute power plant plumes. The study was designed to simulate the conditions in a plume starting at the point where half the NO has been oxidized to NO2, where the plume will have been extensively diluted with background air containing hydrocarbons and ozone. The variables studied include: (1) plume hydrocarbon/NOx ratio; (2) composition of organics in the diluting air; (3) NOx/SO2 ratio; (4) relative humidity; (5) presence of pre-existing acid sulfate aerosol. The starting concentrations and ratios of plume constituents were based on actual plume data. The results of the study are presented in terms of the impact of the independent variables on the extent of NOx conversion to products, the rate of NOx and SO2 transformation to products and the relative distribution of gaseous and aerosol nitrate products. Briefly, the NOx transformation rate is found to be dependent on hydrocarbon composition, hydrocarbon/NOx ratio and relative humidity. The rates are essentially independent of SO2 concentration or the presence of pre-existing H2SO4 aerosol surface. The SO2 transformation rate appears to be independent of all five independent variables. The distribution of the nitrate products, nitric acid, peroxyacetyl nitrate and paniculate nitrate is a function of HC composition, HC/NOx ratio and irradiation time. The effects of HC composition and HC/NOx ratio decrease at the longer irradiation times characteristic of transport conditions.
Mechanical and Thermal Design of a Combustion-Based Thermionic Micro Power Generator

This paper reports the mechanical and thermal design of a MEMS-fabricated micro power generator based on thermionic emission and catalytic combustion. Thermionic power generation results from electron emission from a hot emitter to a cold collector. Scaling analysis reveals that the miniaturization of a thermionic generator is favorable to output power density and efficiency, provided that excellent thermal isolation can be realized. However, there are stringent constrains on the thermal and mechanical properties of the micro device structure. Thermal and structural analyses have been performed and prototype structures have been designed and fabricated. SiO2 rings of thickness ~40–50μm surrounding the combustion chamber and emitter are used for thermal isolation. Excellent thermal behavior of the structures is shown both in finite element simulations and experiments. The simulations also show that the emitter bending under pressure and thermal stresses is less than 3μm.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Explicit finite-difference digital simulation of the effects of rate-controlled product adsorption or deposition in double-potential-step chronocoulome

Abstract The case is considered where the product of an electrode reaction deposits and/or is adsorbed at the electrode surface but the reactant does not. Rate constants for deposition-dissolution and adsorption-desorption are introduced into an explicit finite-difference simulation program that calculates the combined effects of diffusion, surface accumulation and the electrode reaction on the surface fluxes of reactant and product. The simulations are shown to give accurate results in the limits of no deposition and of rapid reversible deposition where analytic solutions exist. As an example, the program is used to fit data for the surfactant-induced deposition of the methyl viologen cation radical from aqueous solution in the presence of sodium n -decyl sulfate.
Electroreflectance of silicon

The major results of this paper are (i) the first high-field flatband-electroflectance data ever taken on silicon and (ii) an analysis with the one-electron theory that shows that the major portion of the direct edge spectrum is an ${M}_{0}^{2D}$ from along $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ analogous to the ${E}_{1}$, ${E}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{1}$ structures of germanium and gallium arsenide. The data cover a range of fields from about 77 to 310 kV/cm, and contains more highly resolved structure than any previously reported results. Specifically, the second, weaker transition at the direct edge has been resolved quite clearly. It is shown that this structure may best be fit with an ${M}_{1}$ line shape, a result both interesting and controversial. A fundamental band parameter has been determined for the first time from the analysis. The transverse mass along $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{t}$, has been found to be $0.02m$, in conflict with all present calculated values. This result is independent of the model used. In addition, we have obtained values for the energy gaps of the two direct-edge structures and an upper bound has been determined for the matrix element of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ transition.
Recent developments in structural sensitivity analysis

Recent developments are reviewed in two major areas of structural sensitivity analysis: sensitivity of static and transient response; and sensitivity of vibration and buckling eigenproblems. Recent developments from the standpoint of computational cost, accuracy, and ease of implementation are presented. In the area of static response, current interest is focused on sensitivity to shape variation and sensitivity of nonlinear response. Two general approaches are used for computing sensitivities: differentiation of the continuum equations followed by discretization, and the reverse approach of discretization followed by differentiation. It is shown that the choice of methods has important accuracy and implementation implications. In the area of eigenproblem sensitivity, there is a great deal of interest and significant progress in sensitivity of problems with repeated eigenvalues. In addition to reviewing recent contributions in this area, the paper raises the issue of differentiability and continuity associated with the occurrence of repeated eigenvalues.
Cytokine-producing dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases.

Introduction Inflammatory skin diseases can be examined from many viewpoints. In this review, we consider three distinct cutaneous inflammatory diseases from the point of view of their major lesional dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations. The DC populations considered are Langerhans cells, myeloid DCs, and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), with specific attention to the presence and role of the inflammatory counterparts of these cells. From such a “dendritic cell-centric” focus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are explored.
Long-term survival and recurrence in patients with resected non–small cell lung cancer 1 cm or less in size

Objective With the widespread use of computed tomography and the emergence of screening programs, non–small cell lung cancer is increasingly detected in sizes 1 cm or less. We sought to examine the long-term survival and recurrence patterns after resection of these tumors. Methods We conducted a retrospective review over a 15-year period to identify patients with surgically resected non–small cell lung cancer measuring 1 cm or less. Medical records were reviewed, and survival data were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results There were 83 patients (26 men, 57 women) with a median age of 67 years (range 43-88 years). Median tumor size was 0.90 cm. Lobectomy was performed in 71 patients, bilobectomy in 1, pneumonectomy in 1, segmentectomy in 5, and wedge resection in 5. Postoperative stage was IA in 67 patients, IB in 4, IIA in 1, IIB in 4, IIIA in 2, and IIIB in 5. Median follow-up was 31 months. There was 1 operative death (1.2%). In 5 (31.3%) of the 16 patients with non-IA disease, recurrent cancer developed after resection. No recurrences were observed in the 67 patients with stage IA disease. The 5- and 10-year overall survivals for the entire cohort were 86% and 72%, respectively, and the disease-specific survival was 91% at both time points. For patients with stage IA disease, 5- and 10-year survivals were 94% and 75%, respectively, and the disease-specific survival was 100% at both time points. Conclusion Eighty-one percent of patients with resected non–small cell lung cancer measuring 1 cm or less had stage IA disease. After surgical resection, recurrence is rare and long-term survival is excellent.
Paracoccus sanguinis sp. nov., isolated from clinical specimens of New York State patients.

Eight independent isolates of a Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile rod, were recovered from clinical specimens of New York State patients between the years 2005 and 2013. Four of these isolates were characterized in a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach that involved phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic methodologies. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis, the closest relative type strain of the isolates is Paracoccus sphaerophysae HAMBI 3106T (97.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Among the four isolates, the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity is 100 %. In silico genomic comparisons, including average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the genome-to-genome distance calculator (GGDC), were used as an alternative to DNA–DNA hybridization in this study to support designation of the four isolates as a novel species of the genus Paracoccus. Mass spectrometry profiles were also obtained for the novel isolates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The predominant cellular fatty acids of the novel isolates were C18 : 1ω7c and C18 : 0. Biochemical analysis and morphological characteristics further contribute to designation of the four isolates as a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus sanguinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 05503T( = DSM 29303T = LMG 28451T).
Complexity of trophic factor signaling in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: differential expression of neurotrophic and gliotrophic factors

Soluble factors that promote survival and differentiation of glia and neurons during development are likely to play key roles in neurodegeneration and demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and have the potential to be important therapeutic targets. We examined the effect of TrkB signaling and the expression patterns of neurotrophic and gliotrophic factors in the mouse brain in MOG-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). With induction of mild disease, TrkB heterozygous mice were more severely affected compared to their wild type littermates. However, with more potent disease induction, TrkB heterozygotes fared similar to their wild type littermates, suggesting complex modulatory roles for TrkB signaling. One possible explanation for this difference is that the expression patterns of neurotrophic factors correlate with disease severity in individual mice with mild disease, but not in more severe disease. With the less potent induction in C57BL/6 mice, we found that BDNF was consistently increased at EAE onset, while the soluble gliotrophic factor neuregulin (NRG1) was increased only in the chronic phase of the disease. Treatment of these animals with glatiramer acetate (GA) to decrease disease severity resulted in lower levels of both BDNF and NRG1 expression in some mice at 35days after immunization compared to those in untreated EAE mice, but had no direct effect on these factors in the absence of EAE. Our results suggest a complex interplay between neurotrophic and gliotrophic factors in EAE that is dependent on disease stage and severity. While signaling by BDNF through TrkB is protective in mild disease, this effect was not seen in more severe disease. The late induction of NRG1 in the chronic stage of disease could also worsen disease severity through its known ability to activate microglial, inflammatory pathways. While complex, these studies begin to define underlying axoglial trophic activities that are likely involved in both disease pathogenesis and repair.
Phase Transitions in the Self-Consistent Phonon Approximation and a Mean-Field Approximation

An analysis is made of the possible structural transformations in the self-consistent phonon approximation, in a mean-field approximation, and in an exactly solvable model. The character of the transition is found to depend both on the theoretical treatment and on the parameters used in the model Hamiltonians.
SOA based Context Aware Services Infrastructure

As telecom carriers migrate their networks to a common IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) based infrastructure, they are confronted with another disruptive change in their business model from the Internet world - Web 2.0. Web 2.0 allows users to generate and collaborate content amongst themselves. Traditionally, telecom carriers, along with their partner content providers, have been the only producers of content in their network for the users. However, today (as we are seeing in the Internet world) users would like to share their content (photos, files, music, and video) with their friends and colleagues. A key attribute in this sharing model is the role of context. Context can be defined with attributes such as presence and location. In order to introduce this model in their networks, it is important for telecom carriers to ensure that they have a proper architecture framework to allow the sharing of content amongst users, keeping context in mind. This paper focuses on the SOA based services model that will allow for the transformation of telecom service providers into a digital media centric content business in a Web 2.0 environment. Based on our industry implementations, we will describe the hierarchy of content services in a layered model of foundational and composite services. This will form our basis for a context aware content services infrastructure.
Critical Jump Distance for Propagating Earthquake Ruptures Across Step-Overs

The geometry of a strike-slip fault system is an important component that influences the kinematics and interactions of the various faults within the system. Discontinuities and bends in the fault geometry not only determine the types of structures and the physiography that we observe along the fault system but also have a significant influence on the propagation of earthquake ruptures. A precise knowledge of the fault geometry, especially how it is segmented and other physical parameters, is essential for seismic hazard analysis. It is known that earthquake ruptures sometimes propagate over multiple faults by jumping from one segment to the next. A fault jump is a sudden dynamic coalescence of two faults separated by a step-over. Field observations suggest that a step-over width of 5 km is an appropriate maximum jump distance. Our study shows that between 2.5 and 6.5 km of step-over width, the probability of fault jump, for both releasing and restraining step-overs, decreases significantly from 100 to <10 %.
Linkages Methodology: No Man is an Island

The paper argues that given the diversity of the field of forced migration, research requires a multi-disciplinary approach and an awareness of the multiplicity of interacting factors which come into play. It examines two key texts published 20 years apart which exemplify the linkages approach. Imposing Aid (1986) studied the developing situation in Sudan as refugees arrived from Uganda in the early 1980s, and showed the unproductive nature of interactions between officials and refugees. Landscape of Hope and Despair (2005) examined the situation of Palestinians in refugee camps, where the refugees’ own agency comes up against the structural constraints of camp administration and the political actions of local and international power holders.
My Top 10 Lessons on Lessons Learned Systems

In view of recent interest in lessons learned information systems, I thought it may be helpful to discuss some lessons learned about lessons learned systems. Part of my knowledge stems from being actively involved in the testing, operations & maintenance, and future development of the agency-wide NASA LLIS (Lessons Learned Information Systemâ€”now called NASA Engineering Network; http://ildp1.nasa. gov/offices/oce/llis/home/), when I was the Knowledge Management Officer at NASA Goddard.
Competing responses and the partial reinforcement effect

Rats were trained in a runway under consistent and partial reinforcement conditions. The reinforcement groups differed in the number of runway halts and reversals. In most cases the competing behavior conformed to the predictions of competing response theories of the partial reinforcement effect. Spontaneous recovery from competing responses occurred between days.
Patients At-Risk for Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence: A Review of the Literature

Objective Up to 32% of older patients take less medication than prescribed to avoid costs, yet a comprehensive assessment of risk factors for cost-related nonadherence (CRN) is not available. This review examined the empirical literature to identify patient-, medication-, and provider-level factors that influence the relationship between medication adherence and medication costs.
Semipersistent Whitefly Transmission of Squash vein yellowing virus, Causal Agent of Viral Watermelon Vine Decline

Webb, S. E., Adkins, S., and Reitz, S. R. 2012. Semipersistent whitefly transmission of Squash vein yellowing virus, causal agent of viral watermelon vine decline. Plant Dis. 96:839-844. Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), a recently described Ipomovirus sp. in the family Potyviridae, is the cause of viral watermelon vine decline, a devastating disease in Florida. SqVYV is known to be transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B strain, but details of the transmission process have not previously been investigated. We completed a series of experiments to determine efficiency of transmission, effects of different acquisition and inoculation access periods, the length of time that whiteflies retained transmissible virus, and the minimum time needed to complete a cycle of acquisition and inoculation. Efficiency was low, with at least 30 whiteflies per plant needed for consistent transmission. Acquisition leading to later transmission peaked at 4 h, and inoculation access periods longer than 4 to 8 h led to no increase in infection rates. Whiteflies retained virus only a short time, with no transmission by 24 h after removal from infected plants. A minimum of 3 h was needed to complete a cycle of transmission under laboratory conditions. These results demonstrate semipersistent transmission of SqVYV and will help refine models of the epidemiology of this virus and the disease it causes. Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), biotype B, has caused problems for vegetable growers in Florida since at least 1987 (26,30), first, because the feeding of nymphs induces various physiological disorders such as squash silverleaf (30) and tomato irregular ripening (26) and, second, because of the ability of adults to vector plant viruses (7). Since the introduction of the B biotype, several whitefly-transmitted viruses have been found in Florida vegetables, including Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (23) and Bean golden mosaic virus (5), both in the family Geminiviridae. The Crinivirus sp. Tomato chlorosis virus has also been reported (29). However, until 2003, no whitefly-transmitted viruses had been found in cucurbit vegetables in Florida. Now, growers face the challenge of managing three such viruses, which have appeared in rapid succession: Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) (1), Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (4), and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (22). Of these, SqVYV appears to be the most economically damaging
Sticklebacks and Humans Walk Hand in Fin to Lighter Skin

In this issue, Miller et al. (2007) show that evolution makes repeated use of the same genes to produce light pigmentation in animals as divergent as stickleback fish and humans. This study indicates that analyzing parallel evolution at the genetic level could help to answer a number of outstanding questions in evolutionary genetics.
Referential Strategies in Chamorro Narratives: Preferred Clause Structure and Ergativity

L'A. etudie les differents elements de reference dans le discours (syntagme nominal plein, pronoms et accord grammatical) en chamorro| et montre que des accords grammaticaux indiquant des relations transitives/intransitives signalent l'ergativisation
The Morphology of the Phytohemagglutinin-Induced Cell Response in the Chicken’s Wattle

Abstract Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), 100 μg, was injected into the wattle of chickens, and histological changes were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Within 30 min of the PHA injection several postcapillary venules contained mononuclear cells and heterophils. Basophils and eosinophils increased in number throughout the wattle 24 hr after PHA injection, while lymphocytes were restricted to the vicinity of the postcapillaries. Lymphocyte numbers increased 48 hr after PHA injection while the number of granulocytes declined. Multinucleated cells were found and appeared to be formed by fusing of cell membranes of mononuclear cells. Before lymphocyte infiltration, many small lymphocytes could be seen in the wall of the postcapillaries indicating their origin as blood borne. Many of the high endothelial cells which appeared subsequent to the injection of PHA were revealed to be in S phase.
Impact of seed layer on material quality of epitaxial germanium on silicon deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The impact of the growth conditions of the germanium seed layer on the material quality of epitaxial germanium grown on (100) silicon by Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition is studied. In order to obtain a smooth surface morphology, a thin Ge seed layer is grown at low temperature, followed by a thick Ge cap layer at high temperature. An optimal seed deposition condition of 335 °C and 4 kPa is identified. Seed layer growth at lower temperatures (e.g. 320 °C) leads to the formation of crystallographic defects, while growth above 350 °C produces unacceptable surface roughening associated with rapid Ge surface diffusion. Seed growth pressures above 6 kPa are found to lead to gas phase nucleation. A qualitative growth model for the Ge seed layer at 335 °C and 4 kPa is also described. It is demonstrated that a Ge seed layer thickness greater than 30 nm is required to obtain smooth Ge films. For seed layers at or below 30 nm thicknesses, the lowered thermal stability of this thin film produces severe islanding during the transition to the cap growth temperature (650 °C). In situ doping with boron above ∼1019 cm− 3 in the seed layer enhances the seed growth rate and lowers the Ge/Si interfacial oxygen level. For in situ annealed 2 μm-thick Ge films deposited on this seed layer, a threading dislocation density of ∼2 × 107 cm− 2 is achieved, along with a surface roughness of ∼1.6 nm.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia and mood stability in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder.

Abstract Background Abnormalities in circadian rhythms are prominent features of bipolar disorder. Disrupted circadian rhythms are associated with an increased risk of relapse in bipolar disorder. Normalizing the circadian rhythm pattern of bipolar patients may improve their sleep and lead to fewer mood exacerbations. This study evaluated adjunctive ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia and mood stability in euthymic bipolar patients. Methods Participants with euthymic bipolar disorder and sleep disturbances were randomized to receive adjunctive ramelteon or placebo in addition to their regular psychiatric medications for up to 24 weeks or until they experienced a relapse (defined as a depressed or manic event). Results 83 participants were randomized to receive ramelteon ( n =42) or placebo ( n =41). Forty participants relapsed (48.2%). Cox regression analyses indicated that participants who received ramelteon (odds ratio 0.48, p =.024) were less likely to relapse. Kaplan Meier curves also indicated longer median survival times in the ramelteon group (Mdn=188 days) versus the placebo group (Mdn=84 days) X 2(1)=5.33, p =.02. There were no serious adverse events in this study. Limitations This was a small study with only 83 participants. The one-week window of confirmed stability is shorter than time intervals used in other studies. Conclusions The present study shows that ramelteon was effective in maintaining stability for individuals with bipolar disorder. Patients treated with ramelteon were approximately half as likely to relapse as patients treated with placebo throughout the 24-week treatment period.