cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T Helper 17 Cells Promote Cytotoxic T Cell Activation in Tumor Immunity

Although T helper 17 (Th17) cells have been found in tumor tissues, their function in cancer immunity is unclear. We found that interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-deficient mice were more susceptible to developing lung melanoma. Conversely, adoptive T cell therapy with tumor-specific Th17 cells prevented tumor development. Importantly, the Th17 cells retained their cytokine signature and exhibited stronger therapeutic efficacy than Th1 cells. Unexpectedly, therapy using Th17 cells elicited a remarkable activation of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells, which were necessary for the antitumor effect. Th17 cells promoted dendritic cell recruitment into the tumor tissues and in draining lymph nodes increased CD8 alpha(+) dendritic cells containing tumor material. Moreover, Th17 cells promoted CCL20 chemokine production by tumor tissues, and tumor-bearing CCR6-deficient mice did not respond to Th17 cell therapy. Thus, Th17 cells elicited a protective inflammation that promotes the activation of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells. These findings have important implications in antitumor immunotherapies.
Pregnancy outcomes by intravaginal and intrauterine insemination in 82 couples with male factor infertility due to spinal cord injuries

Objective To report our center's pregnancy rates (PR) by intravaginal insemination (IVI) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) in 82 couples with male partners with spinal cord injuries. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Major medical center. Patient(s) Male patients with spinal cord injuries and their female partners. Intervention(s) Intravaginal insemination and IUI. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pregnancy and live birth outcomes. Result(s) Overall, 31 of the 82 couples (37.8% PR) achieved 39 pregnancies. Sperm were obtained by masturbation, penile vibratory stimulation, or electroejaculation in 4 men (4.9%), 42 men (51.2%), and 36 men (43.9%), respectively. Intravaginal insemination, performed mostly at home by selected couples, was undertaken in 45 couples, 17 of whom (37.8% PR) achieved 20 pregnancies. Intrauterine insemination was performed in 57 couples, 14 of whom (24.6% PR) achieved 19 pregnancies, with a cycle fecundity of 7.9%. Eighteen and 21 live births occurred by IVI and IUI, respectively. Conclusion(s) The methods of IVI and IUI are reasonable options for this patient population. These methods warrant consideration before proceeding to assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
Qualification of Nuclear Equipment Against Hydrogen Detonation Using Explicit and Implicit Finite Element Methods

Conservative static load methodologies have been devised to design equipment against postulated hydrogen detonation. However, these methodologies do not address the dynamic response of the system. Moreover, dynamic response methodologies can be used in lieu of static analyses, if the moving pressure profile due to detonation corresponds to the Chapman-Jouguet pressure and velocity. This moving pressure profile can be applied to a finite element model (FEM) in several ways. One approach is to develop the moving pressure profile by combining the Chapman-Jouguet model of an ideal detonation with the Taylor-Zeldovich [6] similarity solution to obtain an analytic solution to the flow field behind a steadily propagating detonation in a tube. This approach is robust and forgoes modeling the complex physics associated with transitioning from deflagration to detonation and the specific chemical kinetics associated with the gaseous species involved. In another approach, a Lagrange-Arbitrary Lagrange Eulerian (ALE) Model can be used. This type of modeling uses both implicit and explicit constitutive equations that are suitable for simulating fluid structure interaction (FSI) and the disintegration of materials. The method can be exemplified as state variables from the motion of a Lagrange mesh being advected to that of the background ALE mesh. Parts that flow in the ALE mesh interact with the Lagrange structure. However, direct FSI is through specification of the ALE FSI projection card. The ensuing FSI is solved and the state variables of the Lagrange mesh are adjusted for the next iteration. In this scheme the chemical kinetics associated with the detonation of specific mixtures of gaseous species can be considered.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Occurrence of a Silico-carbohydrate Derivative in Animal Tissue

Although silicic acid has long been known to occur in practically every tissue of the living organism there has been no evidence that it is in combination with organic matter as are, for example, sulphuric and phosphoric acids. Drechsel1 long ago reported its occurrence as an ester of cholesterol in bird feathers but there has been no confirmation of his observation since.Kraut2 has recently reported that the silicic acid content of human blood is constant in any one individual at different times, that it varies considerably in different individuals and that a temporary variation can be brought about in any one individual by the administration of silicates.By the electro-dialysis of gelatin, ox tendon, horse and ox-blood, and human urine, the writer has recovered, at the cathode, small amounts of a jelly-like substance, containing both silicic acid and organic matter, and giving a test for carbohydrates. This substance is insoluble20 in water, in 5% hydrochloric acid and in dilute alkali. It chars when he...
Enhanced ammonium supply, soil pH and electrical conductivity effects on spring wheat growth

Abstract Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) dry matter (DM), N content and tillering are increased by increasing the proportion of N available to the plant as NH4 (enhanced ammonium supply‐EAS) at soil pH ≥ 7.0. Using different N sources to provide different levels of EAS effects soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) as well as soil NH4. Both pH and EC may affect plant growth and response to EAS. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of EAS, pH, and EC on the DM, N content, and tillering of spring wheat. The collinearity between pH and NH4 was eliminated over a pH range of 5.8 to 7.2 by adjusting lime rates to compensate for the effect of each N source on pH. Even though EC was somewhat correlated with soil NH4 in both experiments, there were a sufficient number of comparisons to separate the effects of EC and NH4 on plant growth. Differences in plant growth resulted from differences in soil NH4 levels. Soil pH and EC did not affect plant growth. Plant responses to soil NH...
Court-Defined Job Analysis Requirements for Validation of Teacher Certification Tests

What are the implications for teacher certification tests as courts begin to interpret the need for using a job analysis as a basis for testing? What is the character of recent court cases related to teacher certification tests?
Inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in human cancer cell lines by an ethyl acetate fraction from shiitake mushrooms.

Objective: Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushrooms have been reported to have cancer-preventing properties. However, little research has been conducted verifying the antitumor activities of "mycochemicals" in shiitake mushrooms. In this study, potential roles of an ethyl acetate fraction from shiitake mushrooms were investigated by in vitro bioassays. Design: The activities of an ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT), apoptosis bioassay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blot analysis using two human breast carcinoma cell lines (MDA-MB-453 and MCF-7), one human nonmalignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10F), and two myeloma cell lines (RPMI-8226 and IM-9). Results: Concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects of the fraction were observed in all cell lines using the MTT assay. Approximately 50 mg/L concentration of the fraction induced apoptosis in 50% of the population of four human tumor cell lines and the fraction-induced apopto...
Benefit-risk assessment of transdermal fentanyl for the treatment of chronic pain

Transdermal fentanyl is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of chronic pain caused by malignancy and non-malignant conditions when administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Compared with oral opioids, the advantages of transdermal fentanyl include a lower incidence and impact of adverse effects (constipation, nausea and vomiting, and daytime drowsiness), a higher degree of patient satisfaction, improved quality of life, improved convenience and compliance resulting from administration every 72 hours, and decreased use of rescue medication. Transdermal fentanyl is a useful analgesic for cancer patients who are unable to swallow or have gastrointestinal problems. Transdermal fentanyl forms a depot within the upper skin layers before entering the microcirculation. Therapeutic blood levels are attained 12–16 hours after patch application and decrease slowly with a half-life of 16–22 hours following removal. Patients with chronic pain should be titrated to adequate relief with short-acting oral or parenteral opioids prior to the initiation of transdermal fentanyl in order to prevent exacerbations of pain or opioid-related adverse effects. Transdermal fentanyl can then be initiated based on the 24-hour opioid requirement once adequate analgesia has been achieved. The prolonged elimination of transdermal fentanyl can become problematic if patients develop opioid-related adverse effects, especially hypoventilation. Adverse effects do not improve immediately after patch removal and may take many hours to resolve. Patients who experience opioid-related toxicity associated with respiratory depression should be treated immediately with an opioid antagonist such as naloxone and closely monitored for at least 24 hours. Because of the short half-life of naloxone, sequential doses or a continuous infusion of the opioid antagonist may be necessary. Transdermal fentanyl should be administered cautiously to patients with pre-existing conditions such as emphysema that may predispose them to the development of hypoventilation. Transdermal fentanyl is indicated only for patients who require continuous opioid administration for the treatment of chronic pain that cannot be managed with other medications. It is contraindicated in the management of acute and postoperative pain, as pain may decrease more rapidly in these circumstances than fentanyl blood levels can be adjusted, leading to the development of life-threatening hypoventilation. Cognitive and physical impairments such as confusion and abnormal co-ordination can occur with transdermal fentanyl. Therefore, patients should be instructed to refrain from driving or operating machinery immediately following the initiation of transdermal fentanyl, or after any dosage increase. Patients may resume such activities once the absence of these potential adverse effects is documented.
The rhetoric of mobilization: Implications for the study of movements

The rhetorical situation of movements, unlike other rhetorical forms, contains exigencies of mobilization. Rhetorical movements can be defined as the set of acts which includes mobilizational appeals. This definition reconstitutes critical categories, excluding from consideration as movements groups of spokesmen who are alike only in responding to similar motivational exigencies, and including studies of individual speakers who respond to mobilizational exigencies. Methods for studying mobilizational appeals are suggested in order to (1) guide the critic toward appropriate rhetorical acts; (2) clarify requirements for successful mobilizational appeals; and (3) specify the relationships between mobilizational appeals and the total rhetorical action of the movement. Methodology is exemplified by application to early American evangelism. Emphasis on the rhetoric of mobilization creates new lines of analysis and research both for rhetorical theorists and for critics of public communication.
Using time-series modis data for agricultural drought analysis in Texas

In this study time-series VCI data provided by George Mason University's Global Agricultural Drought Monitoring and Forecasting System (GADMFS) are used for agricultural drought monitoring and forecasting. The validity of using VCI as a primary tool for drought monitoring is supported by the statistical result obtained in this article that the VCI is highly correlated with the PDSI at specific temporal and geospatial resolutions. Three classification schemes for drought severity are discussed here — Fixed Threshold, Natural Breaks (with Jenks) and Quantile schemes. Fixed Threshold Scheme is used though the article because it is computation effective compared with other two, and in the meantime the resulting map proves to be similar to the drought map provided by USDM. The correlation relationships between VCI and PDSI are not identical for different areas in Texas, depending on the vegetation distributions for the specific region. Areas with less variability in vegetation and fewer drought-resistant crops turn out to better reflect the correlations between VCI and PDSI.
Applicability of radiotracer methods of measuring14CO2 assimilation for determining microbial activity in soil including a newin situ method

The applicability of two methods (pyrolysis gas chromatography and acidification-wet oxidation) for determining14CO2 incorporation into soil microorganisms was investigated. Both methods were able to distinguish biologically incorporated14C from abiotically adsorbed14C, but to varying degrees, there being a larger carryover of abiotic14C into the organic fraction and a higher percentage of assimilated14C in the organic fraction with the wet oxidation method. Using14C assimilation as a measure, it was possible to determine microbial activities in soils of diverse properties under a variety of conditions, including polar soils under harsh environmental conditions. Both light and dark14CO2 fixation was measurable.14CO2 assimilation was not always proportional to the enumerable microorganisms. A new design for measurement of microbial activityin situ enabled measurement of total C influx (primary productivity) into soils with minimal perturbation to the natural soil ecosystem.
Drug Combination Studies and Their Synergy Quantification Using the Chou-Talalay Method

This brief perspective article focuses on the most common errors and pitfalls, as well as the do's and don'ts in drug combination studies, in terms of experimental design, data acquisition, data interpretation, and computerized simulation. The Chou-Talalay method for drug combination is based on the median-effect equation, derived from the mass-action law principle, which is the unified theory that provides the common link between single entity and multiple entities, and first order and higher order dynamics. This general equation encompasses the Michaelis-Menten, Hill, Henderson-Hasselbalch, and Scatchard equations in biochemistry and biophysics. The resulting combination index (CI) theorem of Chou-Talalay offers quantitative definition for additive effect (CI = 1), synergism (CI 1) in drug combinations. This theory also provides algorithms for automated computer simulation for synergism and/or antagonism at any effect and dose level, as shown in the CI plot and isobologram, respectively.
Hypnosis as an Instrument in Psychological Experimentation

Abstract The literature on hypnotism can be divided into three categories. One is concerned with therapy and diagnosis, one with the nature, the dynamics and the technique of hypnosis, and the third—quantitatively small—with the use of hypnosis as an instrument for probing into general psychological problems. This paper deals exclusively with the purpose of the third category, although occasional use is being made of some of the other findings. In this third group now and then experiments are encountered that make one wonder why the subjects were hypnotized, since the same results could have been achieved without hypnosis. On the other hand, there are experiments which unambiguously reveal advantages which the use of hypnosis gives the experimenting psychologist. Two situations in particular seem to be noteworthy: one obtains when it is necessary to eliminate factors that cannot be eliminated by volition, the other when states are to be scrutinized or measured that cannot be produced at will. Our intentio...
High Power 7-GHz Bandwidth External-Cavity Diode Laser Array

Spectral bandwidth of a diode laser array is narrowed to 7 GHz FWHM by using a thick volume Bragg grating. Total output power reaches 13.5 W cw, of which 86% is in the 7-GHz band.
Endothelin- and sarafotoxin-induced receptor-mediated calcium mobilization in a clonal murine osteoblast-like cell line, MC3T3-E1/B.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that, in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, various endothelin peptides and their homologous sarafotoxins generate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release through an ETA receptor subtype. In this study, biphasic Ca2+ signals elicited with endothelin (ET)-1, ET-2, ET-3, β-ET, S6a1, and S6b (ET/S6) were measured by microspectrofluorimetric methods in cell suspensions loaded with Fura-2 acetoxymethylester (Fura-2 AM). Phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent calcium activation mechanisms seem to be involved. We found evidence of Ca2+ release from thapsigargin-sensitive and non-thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores as well as Ca2+ transmembrane inflow through multiple voltage-independent and Ni2+-sensitive cation channels. Using an ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123, we showed that this receptor was coupled to Ca2+ mobilization. All agonists tested, except S6c (an ETB-receptor-specific agonist) induced receptor desensitization. Our results demonstrate that the ET/S6-induced Ca2+ signaling pathway is mediated via an ETA-receptor subtype in MC3T3-E1/B cells.
Antenna embedded in metallic structures with high isolation

A low-profile, wideband antenna with high isolation levels is presented and discussed. The featured antenna structure is less than λ/15 in vertical height while being backed by a composite waveguide. The antenna is excited by a simple microstrip feed which can be modified to feature more than 10% 2:1 VSWR or dual frequency behavior. The radiation pattern and radiation efficiency of the antenna is measured to confirm low levels of cross-pol radiations and excellent radiation efficiency. The antenna is then fully embedded in an arbitrary metallic surface. Measurement indicates the embedded antenna features consistent performance regardless of it environment.
Synoptic climatology of the long-distance dispersal of white pine blister rust II. Combination of surface and upper-level conditions

An invasive forest pathogen, Cronartium ribicola, white pine blister rust (WPBR), is believed to have arrived in the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico about 1970. Epidemiological and genetic evidence supports the hypothesis that introduction was the result of long-distance dispersal (LDD) by atmospheric transport from California. This study applies a method to identify the atmospheric conditions favorable for rust transport and infection. An upper level synoptic classification (ULSC) identifies patterns of upper-level flow favorable for the transport of rust spores from a source to a target. Transport data are coupled with data for surface conditions favorable for infection at a designated target. A resulting calendar lists likelihood classes for establishment by four-times-daily observations during a dispersal season from April through July in the years 1965 to 1974. The single most-favorable period for transport and infection at the New Mexico site was identified as 1–15 June 1969. Five additional sites in the western United States with susceptible white pine populations and known infestation status were then evaluated to verify the model. Only the infested sites exhibit an establishment likelihood of “high” or “very high.” This suggests that the methodology correctly identifies locations with elevated establishment likelihood. Finally, likelihoods at nine additional points in the southwestern United States are determined and used to map regional patterns of transport, infection and establishment. The ULSC combined with appropriate surface meteorological data could be used to further investigate transport and infection, identify other areas at risk, assess the potential for gene flow of WPBR and evaluate long-distance dispersal of other pathogens.
An efficient frame-based scheduling algorithm: credit round robin

An efficient frame-based scheduling algorithm called credit round robin is proposed. Performance analysis of credit round robin shows that it provides a finer granularity bandwidth with lower latency and better fairness compared to deficit round robin (Shreedhar, M. and Varghese, G., IEEE/ACM Trans. on Networking, vol.6, no.5, p.611-24, 1998). with the same complexity. The major difference between deficit round robin and credit round robin is the frame size. The frame size of deficit round robin is a fixed value and precalculated in advance using the granularity of the worst case packet length and the reserved rate for all sessions. However, the frame size of credit round robin is variable and calculated using the head of line (HOL) packet length of a servicing session at the current time and its reserved rate. Since the packet length of the real-time traffic is not always of the maximum length, the frame size of the credit round robin is usually smaller than that of the deficit round robin. As a result, the performance of credit round robin is superior to deficit round robin.
Semantics based transaction management techniques for replicated data

Data is often replicated in distributed database applications to improve availability and response time. Conventional multi-copy algorithms deliver fast response times and high availability for read-only transactions while sacrificing these goals for updates. In this paper, we propose a multi-copy algorithm that works well in both retrieval and update environments by exploiting special application semantics. By subdividing transactions into various categories, and utilizing a commutativity property, we demonstrate cheaper techniques and show that they guarantee correctness. A performance comparison between our techniques and conventional ones quantifies the extent of the savings.
Finding the Needle: Suppression of False Alarms in Large Intrusion Detection Data Sets

Managed security service providers (MSSPs) must manage and monitor thousands of intrusion detection sensors. The sensors often vary by manufacturer and software version, making the problem of creating generalized tools to separate true attacks from false positives particularly difficult. Often times it is useful from an operations perspective to know if a particular sensor is acting out of character. We propose a solution to this problem using anomaly detection techniques over the set of alarms produced by the sensors. Similar to the manner in which an anomaly based sensor detects deviations from normal user or system behavior, we establish the baseline behavior of a sensor and detect deviations from this baseline. We show that departures from this profile by a sensor have a high probability of being artifacts of genuine attacks. We evaluate a set of time-based Markovian heuristics against a simple compression algorithm and show that we are able to detect the existence of all attacks which were manually identified by security personnel, drastically reduce the number of false positives, and identify attacks which were overlooked during manual evaluation.
Nitric Oxide, Oxygen Radicals

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the first gases discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1772. For more than 200 years, it was considered mainly as an environmental pollutant and product of bacterial metabolism. In 1980, Furchgott and Zawadzki reported a substance released from endothelial cells which is responsible for the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine’. They named this substance endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). EDRF was proven to be NO in the late 1980s2-4. Since NO is known to be generated in many different mammalian cells, a deluge of articles has implicated this ubiquitous molecule in a wide variety of regulatory mechanisms ranging from vascular tone to neurotransmissions. NO is also involved in nonspecific immunity and participates in the complex mechanism of tissue injury, acting as a major mediator of inflammation-related processes6,7
Dissecting the Axoneme Interactome The Mammalian Orthologue of Chlamydomonas PF6 Interacts with Sperm-Associated Antigen 6, The Mammalian Orthologue of Chlamydomonas PF16

The axoneme central apparatus is thought to control flagellar/ciliary waveform and maintain the structural integrity of the axoneme, but proteins involved in these processes have not been fully elucidated. Moreover the network of interactions among them that allows these events to take place in a compact space has not been defined. PF6, a component of the Chlamydomonas central apparatus, is localized to the 1a projection of the C1 microtubule. Mutations in the Chlamydomonas PF6 gene result in flagellar paralysis. We characterized human and murine orthologues of PF6. The murine Pf6 gene is expressed in a pattern consistent with a role in flagella and cilia, and the PF6 protein is indeed localized to the central apparatus of the sperm flagellar axoneme. We discovered that a portion of PF6 associates with the mammalian orthologue of Chlamydomonas PF16 (sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6)), another central apparatus protein that is localized to the C1 microtubule in algae. A fragment of PF6 corresponding to the PF6 domain that interacts with SPAG6 in yeast two-hybrid assays and colocalizes with SPAG6 in transfected cells was missing from epididymal sperm of SPAG6-deficient mice. SPAG6 binds to the mammalian orthologue of PF20, which in Chlamydomonas is located in bridges connecting the C2 and C1 microtubules. Thus, PF6, SPAG6, and PF20 form a newly identified network that links together components of the axoneme central apparatus and presumably participates in its dynamic regulation of ciliary and flagellar beat.
Nonparametric and Semi-Parametric Sensor Recovery in Multichannel Condition Monitoring Systems

Condition monitoring (CM) has been recognized as a more effective failure prevention paradigm than the time-based counterpart. CM can be performed via an array of sensors providing multiple, real-time equipment degradation information with broad coverage. However, loss of sensor readings due to sensor abnormalities and/or malfunction of connectors has long been a hurdle to reliable fault diagnosis and prognosis in multichannel CM systems. The problem becomes more challenging when the sensor channels are not synchronized because of different sampling rates used and/or time-varying operational schemes. This paper provides a nonparametric sensor recovery technique and a semi-parametric alternative to enhance the robustness of multichannel CM systems. Based on historical data, models for all the sensor signals are constructed using functional principal component analysis (FPCA), and functional regression (FR) models are developed for those correlated signals. These models with parameters updated in online implementation can be used to recover the lost sensor signals. A case study of aircraft engines is used to demonstrate the capability of the proposed approaches. In addition to recovering asynchronous sensor signals, the proposed approaches are also compared with the Elman neural network as a popular alternative in recovering synchronous sensor signals.
Temporal dependency of sway during single leg stance changes with age

Abstract Background Balance deteriorates with age and fall related injuries are often linked to long-term disability and loss of independence in older adults. This study focuses on the task of establishing single leg stance, which requires the ability to shift the center of mass onto the supporting leg. Methods Fifteen younger adults and eight older adults participated in the study. Subjects performed a step with self-selected step length onto the force plate to establish a single leg stance (SLS) on their dominant leg. The first four seconds of SLS were analyzed to investigate age related temporal dependencies of sway area, sway velocity, anterior–posterior sway, and medio-lateral sway. Findings Younger adults show a rapid decrease of sway area, anterior–posterior sway, medio-lateral sway, and sway velocity within the first fours seconds while older adults show elevated initial values in anterior–posterior sway and sway velocity and less decrease over time. Interpretation Older adults have not only diminished initial sway, but also less ability to control sway during the initial phase of single leg stance. The early phase of single leg stance is rather dynamic in older adults compared to younger adults who maintain their balance after three seconds with small adjustments.
Meta-Logical Frameworks and Formal Digital Libraries

Software verification research has become once again a very exciting research area and simultaneously a melting pot for many different subareas within computer science. In this position paper, I emphasize two of the areas that I am particularly interested in and consider to be of significant importance to this endeavor; metalogical frameworks and formal digital libraries.
Simultaneous multislice excitation by parallel transmission

PURPOSE: A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequency (RF) parallel transmission (pTX). METHODS: Spatially distinct slices are simultaneously excited by applying different RF frequencies on groups of elements of a multichannel transmit array. The localized transmit sensitivities of the coil geometry are thereby exploited to reduce RF power. The method is capable of achieving SMS-excitation using single-slice RF pulses, or multiband pulses. SMS-pTX is demonstrated using eight-channel parallel RF transmission on a dual-ring pTX coil at 3 T. The effect on B(1)(+) homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) is evaluated experimentally and by simulations. Slice-GRAPPA reconstruction was used for separation of the collapsed slice signals. RESULTS: Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired with fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and blipped-controlled aliasing results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) echo-planar imaging are presented at SMS excitation factors of two, four, and six. We also show that with our pTX coil design, slice placement, and binary division of transmitters, SMS-pTX excitations can achieve the same mean flip angles excitations at ∼30% lower RF power than a conventional SMS approach with multiband RF pulses. CONCLUSION: The proposed SMS-pTX allows SMS excitations at reduced RF power by exploiting the local B(1)(+) sensitivities of suitable multielement pTX arrays.
A comparative study of NBTI as a function of Si substrate orientation and gate dielectrics (SiON and SiON/HfO/sub 2/)

Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) causes the threshold voltage (V,) to shift with stressing time and is an increasingly important reliability issue with CMOS scaling. To continue scaling, FinFETs and FETs on hybrid orientation substrates are two new technologies that are under consideration. Recently, higher NBTI was reported for FinFETs in comparison to planar FETs and this higher NBTI was attributed to orientation of the fin sidewall. In this paper, we present a systematic study of NBTI in and orientation pFETs with thermal SiON, plasma nitrided SiON, and thermal SiON/HfO/sub 2/ as gate dielectrics. The objective of the study is to compare NBTI in pFETs as a function of substrate orientation and gate dielectric films and to apply a recently proposed physics based model to the NBTI data for gaining insights into NBTI. Three main results are reported. (I) Measurements show that the NBTI is larger for orientation in comparison to for the thermal SiON and SiON/HfO/sub 2/ pFETs. In contrast, NBTI is independent of substrate orientation for the plasma nitrided SiON pFETs. (II) NBTI induced increase in positive charge density is larger for the plasma nitrided SiON pFETs in comparison to those for thermal SiON and SiON/HfO/sub 2/ pFETs. (III) The model provides good fits to V, shift versus stressing time data for various pFETs. Using the model fits, V/sub t/ shifts after 10 years stressing are estimated and compared for various pFETs. Model parameters attribute the enhanced NBTI in orientation pFETS to higher bonded hydrogen densities at the oxide/Si interface for the case of thermal SiON and SiON/HfO/sub 2/ pFETs. Since model fitting parameters are independent of substrate orientation for pFETS with plasma nitrided SiON. a possible explanation is that the incorporation of bonded hydrogen at the silicon interface is determined predominantly by the plasma nitridation conditions.
The physical properties of bisphenol-A-based epoxy resins during and after curing†

A series of epoxy resins derived from diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A with differing initial linear molecular chain lengths have been studied during and after curing with the diamines MDA (4,4′-methylene dianiline) and DDS (4,4′-diamino diphenyl sulfone). The properties that were measured during curing were the volume, the fictive temperature Tf, the gel fraction, the viscosity, and the equilibrium compliance. Graphs of Tf as a function the time of curing tc obtained at four curing temperatures between 40 and 100°C have been reduced to a common curve. After curing, creep compliance curves J(t) were determined which characterize the viscoelastic response from the glassy compliance level to a rubbery equilibrium compliance level. The change in properties that occurs during the time-dependent spontaneous densification below the glass temperature Tg was monitored with repeated measurements of J(t). Time-scale shift factors as a function of volume contraction obtained during this physical aging below Tg were reduced to a common curve.
Practical finite difference time domain (FDTD) shielding analysis of thin coatings and shield bonding methods

Thin coatings such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or gold splatter on glass are often used on electronic display enclosures for shielding to allow compliance with radiated emissions standards while allowing optical transmission. The thin coatings are often bonded to the display enclosure to allow realization of the maximum shielding. The bonding is often accomplished by the use of a conductive gasket that mates with a busbar on one or more edges of the thin coating. Shielding effectiveness of the coating and gasket configuration is very difficult to predict using traditional shielding effectiveness equations. This paper shows how 3-dimensional (3D) finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation and analysis are used to examine trends in shielding effectiveness with respect to gasket characteristics, thin coating characteristics (thickness and conductivity), and bonding methods. Practical simulation and model setup methods are presented. Results are provided for common configurations.
Turbulence Characteristics in a Supersonic Cascade Wake Flow

The turbulent character of the supersonic wake of a linear cascade of fan airfoils has been studied using a two–component Laser Doppler Anemometer. The cascade was tested in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University intermittent wind tunnel facility, where the Mach and Reynolds numbers were 2.36 and 4.8 × 106, respectively. In addition to mean flow measurements, Reynolds normal and shear stresses were measured as functions of cascade incidence angle and streamwise locations spanning the near–wake and the far–wake. The extremities of profiles of both the mean and turbulent wake properties were found to be strongly influenced by upstream shock–boundary–layer–interactions, the strength of which varied with cascade incidence. In contrast, the peak levels of turbulence properties within the shear layer were found to be largely independent of incidence, and could be characterized in terms of the streamwise position only. The velocity defect turbulence level was found to be 23%, and the generally–accepted value of the turbulence structural coefficient of 0.30 was found to be valid for this flow. The degree of similarity of the mean flow wake profiles was established, and those profiles demonstrating the most similarity were found to approach a state of equilibrium between the mean and turbulent properties. In general, this wake flow may be described as a classical free shear flow, upon which the influence of upstream shock–boundary–layer–interactions has been superimposed.Copyright © 1993 by ASME
Identifying Social-ecological Linkages to Develop a Community Fire Plan in Mexico

Community forestry in rural Mexico presents a unique opportunity to study the linkages and feedback within coupled social-ecological systems due to the fact that agrarian or indigenous communities control approximately half of the national territory of Mexico. We used social and ecological diagnostic tools to develop a fire management strategy for a communal forest containing an endemic pinon pine species, Pinus cembroides subs. orizabensis, in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. The ecological diagnostic was done through fuel inventory, forest structure sampling, and fire behaviour modelling. The social assessment was conducted through household interviews, community workshops, and direct participant observation. The ecological fire hazard was quantified and coupled with the social assessment to develop a fire management plan. Vertical fuel continuity and flashy surface fuels created a high fire hazard. Modelled fire behaviour showed a rapid rate of spread and high flame lengths under multiple scenarios. Relative impunity for starting forest fires, poor community and inter-agency organisation, and lack of project continuity across organisational sectors appear to be the most significant social limiting factors for wildfire management. Combining both social and ecological diagnostic tools provides a comprehensive understanding of the actual risks to forests, and identifies realistic community-supported options for conservation on cooperatively managed lands.
Abstract 4225: Expression of NANOG in a prostate cancer cell line increases CD24 expression and enhances cell invasion

The transcription factor NANOG is critical for the maintenance of embryonic stem cell properties including self-renewal and pluripotency. NANOG performs these functions by regulating the expression of genes required for the preservation of the stem cell phenotype. Introduction of NANOG and other embryonic stem cell genes has successfully established disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells in several types of human cancers. Although the expression of NANOG has been documented in cancer cells, the function of NANOG in cancer has not been extensively investigated. We hypothesized that NANOG plays a role in prostate cancer cell biology based on our observation of NANOG protein expression in prostate cancer cell lines. To test this hypothesis, we transduced the PC3 prostate cancer cell line with a lentivirus capable of directing the expression of NANOG. A stable cell line containing the NANOG expression cassette was established by selection with puromycin, and expression of NANOG protein was verified by Western blot analysis. Analysis of stem cell surface markers by flow cytometry in the PC3-NANOG cells and PC3 cells transduced with empty virus revealed an increase in the percentage of CD24 positive cells in the PC3-NANOG sample as compared with the control. In addition, the density of CD24 per cell appeared to increase. This increase in CD24 expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. In multiple cancers expression of CD24, a mucin-like adhesion protein, correlates with invasion and metastatic potential. Therefore, we conducted an invasion assay to assess the ability of PC3-NANOG cells to invade through a matrix assaying invasion by migration of cells from one chamber of a bicameral chamber through a porous membrane. The results showed that PC3-NANOG cells exhibited a 30-40% increase in invasion as compared to the control cells. (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4225.
Matching host muscle and donor myoblasts for myosin heavy chain improves myoblast transfer therapy

Intensive efforts have been made to develop an effective therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Although myoblast transplantation has been found capable of transiently delivering dystrophin and improving the strength of the injected dystrophic muscle, this approach has been hindered by the immune rejection problems as well as the poor survival and limited spread of the injected cells. In the present study, we have investigated whether the careful selection of donor myoblasts and host muscle for the myosin heavy chain expression (MyHCs) plays a role in the success of myoblast transfer. Highly purified normal myoblasts derived from the m. soleus and m. gastrocnemius white of normal mice were transplanted into the m. soleus (containing 70% of type I fibers) and gastrocnemius white (100% of type II fibers) of dystrophin deficient mdx mice. At several time-points after injection (10, 20 and 30 days), the number of dystrophin-positive fibers was monitored and compared among the different groups. A significantly higher number and better persistence of dystrophin-positive myofibers were observed when the injected muscle and donor myoblasts expressed a similar MyHC in comparison with myoblast transfer between host muscle and donor myoblasts that were not matched for MyHC. These results suggest that careful matching between the injected myoblasts and injected muscle for the MyHC expression can improve the efficiency of myoblast-mediated gene transfer to skeletal muscle.
Research on Automatic Making of Joint Campaign Decision and Plan

In the paper, the research status quo, different viewpoints and military requirements of automatic making of joint campaign decision and plan are summed up. The system used to automatically make joint campaign decision and plan based on multi-agent technology and MAGE platform is discussed in detail, including the sysetem's structure, the design for the agents, methods of coordination and cooperation between agents and the software realization. The system can be used to suport the simulation and verification of strategic decision-making.
Microbiology of Middle Ear Infections: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Abstract Infectious conditions of the middle ear are a common and significant cause of morbidity and sometimes even mortality, especially in young children and elderly individuals. Pathogens and harmless commensal bacteria, viruses, and fungi co-inhabit the auditory canal and form intricate ecological networks, collectively known as a microbiome. Few studies that describe the normal flora of the middle ear have been published, and controversy exists about the roles of several possible pathogens. This review describes current literature examining otitis media and the roles various microbes play in the pathogenesis of middle ear infections. The review also highlights evolving research in middle ear microbiome studies, which begs the question, "Whose hearing could be damaged by what we don't yet know about middle ear infections?"
Disease burden of malignant tumor in urban in City Hanzhou

以往常以发病率、死亡率等指标来评价恶性肿瘤疾病负担,并以此作为制定卫生政策的依据.一种疾病对人群健康的损失有二种结局,一种是早死引起生命损失;一种是残疾引起的健康生命损失.笔者采用综合考虑残疾和死亡二种健康损失的失能调整寿命年(DALY)指标,对杭州市区近3年恶性肿瘤所造成的人群健康寿命损失和社会负担进行探讨。
Superheated Water-Cooled Small Modular Underwater Reactor Concept

A novel fully passive small modular superheated water reactor (SWR) for underwater deployment is designed to produce 160 MWe with steam at 500oC to increase the thermodynamic efficiency compared with standard light water reactors. The SWR design is based on a conceptual 400-MWe integral SWR using the internally and externally cooled annular fuel (IXAF). The coolant boils in the external channels throughout the core to approximately the same quality as a conventional boiling water reactor and then the steam, instead of exiting the reactor pressure vessel, turns around and flows downward in the central channel of some IXAF fuel rods within each assembly and then flows upward through the rest of the IXAF pins in the assembly and exits the reactor pressure vessel as superheated steam. In this study, new cladding material to withstand high temperature steam in addition to the fuel mechanical and safety behavior is investigated. The steam temperature was found to depend on the thermal and mechanical characteristics of the fuel. The SWR showed a very different transient behavior compared with a boiling water reactor. The inter-play between the inner and outer channels of the IXAF was mainly beneficial except in the case of sudden reactivity insertion transients where additional control consideration is required.
A Judgment for Solomon: Entering the Law's Shadow

Thursday, July 16, 1840, would be the first of many vexing days that summer and fall for Presiding Judge George Washington Barton of the Philadelphia Court of General Sessions. He huddled with his fellow judges Robert T. Conrad and Joseph M. Doran not knowing quite what to do. The case had seemed like a routine parental fight over a little boy, but complications quickly set in. The judges found themselves forced to decide between the clashing claims of a young, beautiful daughter of a Boston Brahmin and a youthful Swiss count. They faced five of the most eminent lawyers of the state. As usual in such delicate cases, they had decided to handle the dispute privately behind the closed doors of their chambers. But word of the case had leaked and spread around the city. A crowd demanded to be let in, and the parents differed over the wisdom of doing so. Perplexed, Barton called a recess. Two days later, the presiding judge regretfully ruled: “After a careful consideration of the circumstances of the case, we think it our duty to sit in public. The affair has already gotten into the newspapers, and, by a private hearing, great injustice would probably be done to one party, if not to both. Perfect privacy or entire publicity is desirable. The former being out of the question, we must decide upon the latter.
Cryofibrinogen-Associated Glomerulonephritis

Cryofibrinogen is an under-recognized cryoprotein. Cryofibrinogen is a cryoprecipitate that develops following plasma refrigeration, but does not occur in cold serum. People with cryofibrinogenemia may be asymptomatic, but this cryoprotein can be associated with thromboembolic disease, particularly affecting the skin. Kidney manifestations are relatively uncommon, but are likely underestimated. We describe clinical features and kidney biopsy results in 2 patients with cryofibrinogen-related kidney disease. Both patients presented with proteinuria and hematuria. One had significant cutaneous ulcers and palpable purpura. Kidney biopsy in both cases showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with no immunoglobulin deposition. Weak segmental capillary wall fibrinogen staining was noted in glomeruli. Immunofluorescence studies following pronase digestion failed to reveal masked immunoglobulin deposits. Ultrastructural studies were distinctive and characterized by organized deposits of large-bore with multilayered tubular structures and fine fibrillary structures in a matrix. To confirm the composition of deposits, we extracted the cryoprecipitate from plasma of a patient and performed ultrastructural studies, which showed identical ultrastructural characteristics to those seen on the kidney biopsy. We also performed proteomic analysis of the cryoprecipitate that confirmed the presence of fibrinogen. Subsequent laboratory evaluation was positive for cryofibrinogen in both patients on multiple occasions. Appropriate therapy was instituted in both patients, which included prednisone, immunosuppressive therapy, and avoidance of cold exposure. In summary, we present clinical, kidney biopsy, and laboratory findings and the treatment and follow-up of cryofibrinogen-associated glomerulonephritis. Awareness of this entity will result in accurate diagnoses, appropriate investigation, and treatment.