cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Coronary Artery Compression by Pacemaker Lead

A 12 year-old girl with corrected transposition (L-transposition of the great arteries with ventricular inversion) and congenital complete atrioventricular block underwent epicardial pacemaker implantation with a single ventricular lead at 1 week of life. Subsequently, she presented for routine follow-up care in the electrophysiology clinic with no symptomatic concerns. She denied chest pain. Her physical examination was unremarkable, with the pacemaker generator palpable in the left subcostal region. ECG at that time demonstrated ventricular pacing with 100% capture and no evidence of atrioventricular conduction. Her chest x-ray revealed that the pacemaker lead completely encircled the cardiac silhouette and prompted concern for cardiac strangulation (Figure 1). A subsequent computed tomography scan showed a likely restrictive effect on both ventricles caused by the pacemaker lead encircling the heart with concern …
Molecular calculations with the MODPOT, VRDDO, and MODPOT/VRDDO procedures. V. Ab initio and MODPOT LCAO‐MO‐SCF calculations on the chlorofluoromethanes

Ab initio LCAO-MO-SCF calculations were carried out on the chlorofluoromethanes CF4, CF3Cl, CF2Cl2, CFCl3, and CCl4 both with a minimum STO 4–3G basis set and with a larger, extended s. p basis set. Ab initio effective core model potential (31G/MODPOT) calculations were then carried out on this same series of chlorofluoromethanes. Valence orbital energies, core orbital energies, total energies, gross atomic populations, total overlap populations, and dipole moments are presented for comparison among the various computational results as well as to measured experimental properties. The results of the 31G/MODPOT calculations compared favorably with those from the ab initio larger extended s. p basis set, which themselves were in better agreement with experiment than those from the ab initio minimum 4–3G set.
Optimizing wireless network resource allocation

This tutorial discusses the optimization models and methods in wireless network resource allocation, especially power control and scheduling. Emphasis will be on deriving distributed algorithms, bridging the theory-practice gap, and evaluating fairness of allocation. Both classical results and recent advances will be covered, and implications to industry standards and practical implementation discussed.
A monoclonal anti-peptide antibody recognizes the adrenocorticotropic receptor.

Abstract We have produced a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the adrenocorticotropic receptor on rat adrenal cells. The immunogen was designed from an RNA sequence complementary to the mRNA coding for ACTH1–24. This complementary peptide, termed HTCA, has been shown to specifically bind ACTH and was proposed to mimic the ACTH binding site of the hormone receptor. The monoclonal anti-HTCA antibody recognized a restricted domain of the HTCA peptide, bound to Y-1 adrenal cells with a KD of 1.8 nM, and blocked the binding of 125I-ACTH to rat adrenal cells. These findings show that anti-HTCA competes with ACTH for binding to the ACTH receptor.
Lung perfusion studies after detachable coil occlusion of persistent arterial duct

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate relative lung perfusion following complete occlusion of persistent arterial duct with detachable Cook coils. METHODS—Ductal occlusion using detachable coils was performed in 35 patients (median age 3.9 years, range 0.5 to 16; 32 native ducts, three patients with previous devices). If the duct could be crossed with a 0.035 inch guidewire and a 4 F catheter after coil implantation, a further coil was implanted. Between one and seven coils were used (median two). RESULTS—Complete ductal occlusion was confirmed by echocardiography 24 hours after the procedure in all patients. Lung perfusion scans were performed three months after the procedure in 33 of 35 patients (two older patients with a single coil each did not attend). Decreased perfusion to the left lung (defined as < 40% of total lung flow) was observed in only one patient, who had previously had a 17 mm Rashkind umbrella implanted. There was no correlation between left lung perfusion and peak left pulmonary artery Doppler velocities (r = 0.27 and p = 0.125 for the entire group; r = 0.29 and p = 0.124 after excluding patients with previous devices). CONCLUSIONS—Coil occlusion is effective in achieving complete closure of the duct. An aggressive approach using multiple coils did not compromise perfusion to the left lung. Keywords: arterial duct; coil occlusion; lung perfusion
Tribological properties of adaptive nanocomposite coatings made of yttria stabilized zirconia and gold

Abstract Composite coating architectures where hard nanocrystalline grains are embedded in an amorphous matrix provide considerable improvement in hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and environmental adaptation. Using this concept, nanocrystalline yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was embedded in an amorphous YSZ/Au matrix to address problems with YSZ ceramics in sliding wear. The coatings were produced by a hybrid of laser ablation of YSZ and magnetron sputtering of Au. Coating composition and microstructure were investigated using a number of analytical techniques, and correlated with results of sliding friction tests at 25 and 500°C. In situ transmission electron microscope imaging of microstructure evolution during a temperature cycling from 25 to 500°C was performed to explain changes in tribological properties. In comparison to YSZ ceramic, YSZ/Au coatings were tougher, formed less wear debris, and reduced friction coefficients from 1.0 to 0.3–0.4 at 25°C and to 0.2 at heating to 500°C. Improvements in tribological properties were related to the microstructure adaptive changes at elevated temperatures and formation of lubricating Au transfer films.
MODELING CADMIUM ADSORPTION BY ACTIVATED CARBON USING THE LANGMUIR AND FREUNDLICH ISOTHERM EXPRESSIONS

Abstract Cadmium adsorption isotherms were conducted using two commercially available powdered activated carbons (PACs). Isotherms were conducted at several pH values and metal and carbon concentrations. Both PACs removed significant amounts of cadmium, and removal was a strong function of solution pH: increasing the solution pH increased cadmium adsorption. Adsorption data at a specific pH were successfully modeled using both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Adsorption and surface precipitation were hypothesized to be the operative removal mechanisms. Cadmium removal is strongly related to the carbon's pHzpc, acid-base characteristics, and surface charge-pH relationship. Surface area, an important adsorption parameter for organic adsorbates, does not appear to influence metal removal strongly.
Signaling pathways activated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation in lymphocytes

Antigen and cytokine receptors induce rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of receptor subunits, other membrane proteins, and signaling components. Each receptor induces phosphorylation of a number of proteins. Although there is often overlap between targets of different receptors, any given receptor only induces phosphorylation of a subset of possible targets. How this choice of targets is achieved for these receptors is not yet understood. The cellular events downstream of some signaling components are beginning to come into view. Recent progress in these areas is discussed.
Wage change in the late career: A model for the outcomes of job sequences

Abstract This paper elaborates a model for the outcomes of job sequences and illustrates its utility by an empirical analysis of the determinants of wage change for men in their late careers. We argue that job sequences represent the basic components of careers and that a focus on these sequences is useful for explaining the determinants of socioeconomic inequality over the life cycle. Our model permits us to estimate the effects on wage change of a wide array of personal resources and measures of the opportunity structure. We further assess how these types of factors differentially affect wage change for various patterns of labor market behavior and for blacks vs whites. Our empirical analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Middle-Aged Men suggests the importance of patterns of job sequences for wage change and for the explanation of racial differentials in career advancement.
An Individual Difference Explanation of Why Married Couples Engage in the Demand/Withdraw Pattern of Conflict

Demand/withdraw is a pattern in which one spouse nags or complains while the other spouse avoids or withdraws. Given the fact that demand/withdraw has been repeatedly linked to marital discord, it is important to understand why couples engage in such a seemingly dissatisfying conflict pattern. Although several scholars have suggested that power differences between men and women lead to demand/withdraw, the research reported here focused on an alternative explanation: That individual differences are important contributors to demand/withdraw communication. In particular, two models connecting individual differences to demand/withdraw were examined. The first model, a self-influence model, suggested that individuals' attributes primarily affect their own communication behaviors. The second model, a relational influence model, posited that individuals' characteristics affect the extent that the couple (i.e., both partners) engages in demand/withdraw. Results supported both the self-influence and relational in...
Interparty Differences in Elite Support for Presidential Nomination Candidates

Studies of the 1970s and 1980s viewed the political party insiders as having little influence on the selection of the presidential nominees. Recent studies, however, find a significant effect for party elite endorsements in presidential nomination campaigns. This study presents a theory of elite influence in the postreform presidential nomination system and analyzes patterns of elite party endorsements to address questions of when and why elites converge on a preferred candidate. Both party- and candidate-centric factors appear to affect elite endorsements of presidential candidates. Elite elected officials are mainly motivated to have a nominee with electoral appeal. Fewer elite Democratic elected officials endorse presidential candidates, they endorse later, and they tend to divide their endorsements among the presidential candidates to a greater degree than do elite Republican elected officials.
Correction for solute/solvent interaction extends accurate freezing point depression theory to high concentration range.

The authors describe empirical corrections to ideally dilute expressions for freezing point depression of aqueous solutions to arrive at new expressions accurate up to three molal concentration. The method assumes non-ideality is due primarily to solute/solvent interactions such that the correct free water mass Mwc is the mass of water in solution Mw minus I.M(s) where M(s) is the mass of solute and I an empirical solute/solvent interaction coefficient. The interaction coefficient is easily derived from the constant in the linear regression fit to the experimental plot of Mw/M(s) as a function of 1/delta T (inverse freezing point depression). The I-value, when substituted into the new thermodynamic expressions derived from the assumption of equivalent activity of water in solution and ice, provides accurate predictions of freezing point depression (+/- 0.05 degrees C) up to 2.5 molal concentration for all the test molecules evaluated; glucose, sucrose, glycerol and ethylene glycol. The concentration limit is the approximate monolayer water coverage limit for the solutes which suggests that direct solute/solute interactions are negligible below this limit. This is contrary to the view of many authors due to the common practice of including hydration forces (a soft potential added to the hard core atomic potential) in the interaction potential between solute particles. When this is recognized the two viewpoints are in fundamental agreement.
Circular double-stranded RNA in potato spindle tuber viroid-infected tomatoes

Viroids are circular molecules of single-stranded RNA consisting of ∼360 nucleotides1,2, and the mechanism by which these smallest of all known infectious agents replicate in host cells has been extensively studied. Earlier work suggested that viroids replicate using DNA intermediates3, but rigorous hybridization experiments4,5 failed to detect DNA complementary to potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) in infected plants, and there is no specific inhibition of viroid synthesis6 by actinomycin D. There is strong evidence that the replication of viroids involves RNA intermediates. Citrus exocortis viroid (CEV)7,8-infected and PSTV-infected4,9,10 tissues have been shown to contain RNA that is complementary to the infecting viroid, and recently it was shown that DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II, isolated from tomato, will produce full-length complementary copies of purified viroids in vitro11. Because much of the RNA complementary to CEV was shown to be double stranded, it could be anticipated that viroid-infected tissue contains unique species of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Using serologically specific electron microscopy12, we have now detected molecules of circular dsRNA in crude extracts of PSTV-infected tomato. These molecules have contour lengths that would be expected for a double-stranded intermediate of PSTV.
Effect of Intravenous L-Isoleucine Infusion upon Concentration of Free Isoleucine in Milk

Abstract The growth of Streptococcus agalactiae in milk is inhibited by elevated free isoleucine. Free amino acid concentrations in both plasma and milk from three lactating dairy cows were studied after intravenous infusions of L-isoleucine at 62, 300, 380, and 840 μmol/kg of body weight. Free isoleucine was lower in milk than in plasma. The concentration of free isoleucine in plasma increased after infusions of isoleucine at the three higher amounts. The highest concentration of free isoleucine in milk measured was 1.5 μmol/100ml of skim milk. This was observed after infusion of isoleucine for 12h at 380 μmol/kg of body weight. Free isoleucine in both plasma and milk dropped to the preinfusion concentrations a short time after the isoleucine infusions were stopped. When relatively large quantities of isoleucine were infused into the blood of cows, free isoleucine in blood increased as much as twofold. The source of free isoleucine in milk appeared to be free isoleucine in plasma, but isoleucine in milk only reached concentrations that would give about 50% of the growth inhibition of S. agalactiae obtainable with isoleucine in vitro. It would be difficult to elevate free isoleucine in milk by dietary manipulation sufficiently to inhibit S. agalactiae.
Assessing adherence to dermatology treatments: a review of self‐report and electronic measures

Background: Nonadherence to prescribed medications is a common problem in dermatology, and assessing adherence can be difficult. Electronic monitors are not always practical, but self-report measures may be less reliable. Purpose: To review the literature for self-report instruments and electronic monitors used to measure medication adherence in patients with chronic disease. Methods: A PubMed literature search was conducted using the terms ‘scale,’ ‘measure,’ ‘self-report,’ ‘electronic,’ and ‘medication adherence.’ Relevant articles were reviewed and selected if they addressed self-report or electronic measures of adherence in chronic disease. Results: Eleven self-report instruments for the measurement of adherence were identified. Four were validated using electronic monitors. All produced an estimate of adherence that correlated with actual behavior, although this correlation was not strong for any of the measures. None of the scales was tested in patients who had dermatologic disease and/or used topical medications. Several electronic monitoring systems were identified, including pill counts, pharmacy refill logs, and the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS s ). Validity was higher among electronic monitoring systems compared with self-report measures. Conclusion: While several self-report measures of adherence have been validated in chronic disease populations, their relevance in dermatology patients has not been studied. A dermatology-specific instrument for the measurement of adherence would contribute to improved outcomes; until such a tool exists, researchers and clinicians should consider nonadherence as a possible factor in skin disease that is not responsive to treatment. Electronic monitoring provides the most reliable means of measuring adherence, and may provide additional clues to identify barriers to adherence.
Unattended ground sensors standards working group: transforming the unattended sensor paradigm

The FY 10-15 Defense Intelligence Guidance (DIG) issued by the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI) tasked the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to generate an Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) roadmap. The roadmap was intended to encapsulate a broad understanding of ongoing and planned UGS development and deployment activities across the Department of Defense (DoD). This understanding supports an evolution to a cross-DoD and intelligence community (IC) integrated approach for acquiring and fielding UGS. To further this approach, a memorandum signed by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Technical Collection & Analysis endorsed the creation of an UGS Standards Working Group (SWG). The UGS SWG is working across the defense community via its newly established Technology Focus Groups (TFGs) to address the specifics of the open architecture standards for unattended sensors (OASUS). Derived from the Terra Harvest-developed, open, integrated battlefield UGS architecture, OASUS separates the UGS system into fundamental components and standardizes internal and external interfaces to optimize interoperability. The TFGs are looking specifically at software component architecture, wired and wireless interfaces, and physical and logical user interfaces. This paper details the progress of these focus group efforts and invites participation in ongoing development of unattended sensor standards that advance the technology beyond the familiar pattern of controller, trigger, and camera.
Chip-level MMSE equalization for high-speed synchronous CDMA in frequency-selective multipath

This work deals with synchronous CDMA transmission using orthogonal channel codes in frequency selective multipath. The motivating application is the Forward Link in 3G CDMA Cellular Systems. In saturated systems, the intra-cell Multi-user Access Interference created by the multipath causes the RAKE receiver to yield extremely poor performance. The chip-level MMSE estimate of the (multi- user) synchronous sum signal transmitted from the base followed by a correlate and sum with the desired user's spreading code, Walsh-Hadamard channel code multiplied by appropriate portion of long code, has been shown to yield superior performance to the RAKE receiver. This work considers reduced-rank, chip-level MMSE estimation based on the Multi-Stage Nested Weiner Filter (MSNWF) of Goldstein and Reed. It is shown that only a small number of stages of the MSNWF are needed in order to achieve near full-rank MMSE performance over a practical SNR range. This implies rapid adaptation in the case where the chip-level MMSE equalizer is adapted based on the pilot channel.
The Application Research of ESFT-Based Security Data Exchange

Data exchange is one of the material bottlenecks in information construction. Many data exchange methods have been proposed to improve application interoperability. However, how to reliably provide numerous exchanges of data is a new challenge. In this paper, we design a new file format, aim to solve the above problem. The format ESFT not only guarantees the safety performance, but also dynamically generates ESFT label to record exchange historical information.
Design principle of telluride-based nanowire heterostructures for potential thermoelectric applications.

We present a design principle to develop new categories of telluride-based thermoelectric nanowire heterostructures through rational solution-phase reactions. The catalyst-free synthesis yields Te–Bi2Te3 “barbell” nanowire heterostructures with a narrow diameter and length distribution as well as a rough control over the density of the hexagonal Bi2Te3 plates on the Te nanowire bodies, which can be further converted to other telluride-based compositional-modulated nanowire heterostructures such as PbTe–Bi2Te3. Initial characterizations of the hot-pressed nanostructured bulk pellets of the Te–Bi2Te3 heterostructure show a largely enhanced Seebeck coefficient and greatly reduced thermal conductivity, which lead to an improved thermoelectric figure of merit. This approach opens up new platforms to investigate the phonon scattering and energy filtering.
The effect of various dissolved gases on the heat defect of water

Recent measurements of the absorbed dose to air-saturated water, made using water calorimetry and assuming a zero heat defect for irradiated water, gave results 2%-5% higher than those determined by more conventional means. According to the current radiation chemical model for air-saturated water, the dose measured by water calorimetry assuming a zero heat defect should actually be 2% too low because of the endothermicity of the radiolysis processes in water. In order to examine possible sources for this discrepancy, we have constructed a small calorimeter (holding 100 ml of water) with which to measure the temperature rise in irradiated water saturated with various gases. The gases used were air, oxygen, argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen/oxygen mixtures. Irradiations were carried out with 20-MV x rays at a dose rate of 0.41 Gy/s. Our results are consistent with model calculations, except for some differences for accumulated doses of less than 100 Gy. The discrepancies we find at low doses and the discrepancies observed by others using water calorimeters may arise from impurities in the water.
Bounds for the expected duration of the monopolist game

The monopolist game is a multi-player ruin process that arose in the study of certain learning processes. We prove that when the players begin with equal stakes, the expected duration of the game is, up to constant factors, the square of their collective initial wealth. This proves a conjecture of Amano, Tromp, Vitanyi, and Watanabe. More generally, we find that the expected duration is similarly related to a quadratic function that reflects the uniformity of the initial stakes, and calculate the expected duration exactly for three players.
Redundancy based feature selection for microarray data

In gene expression microarray data analysis, selecting a small number of discriminative genes from thousands of genes is an important problem for accurate classification of diseases or phenotypes. The problem becomes particularly challenging due to the large number of features (genes) and small sample size. Traditional gene selection methods often select the top-ranked genes according to their individual discriminative power without handling the high degree of redundancy among the genes. Latest research shows that removing redundant genes among selected ones can achieve a better representation of the characteristics of the targeted phenotypes and lead to improved classification accuracy. Hence, we study in this paper the relationship between feature relevance and redundancy and propose an efficient method that can effectively remove redundant genes. The efficiency and effectiveness of our method in comparison with representative methods has been demonstrated through an empirical study using public microarray data sets.
Critical flicker frequency after unilateral temporal lobectomy in man

Abstract Patients with left or right temporal lobectomy were compared with a matched normal group on CFF. Of the patients without field defects, those with left, but not with right, hemisphere removals were impaired (especially in the nasal fields), suggesting that hemispheric specialization may extend even to basic sensory processes. Regardless of the side of the lobectomy, patients with field defects (from optic radiation damage) showed losses not only in the partially anopic quadrant but also in all three “intact” quadrants. This result confirms earlier reports and suggests that interdependence among parts of the visual field is based on interaction between as well as within the hemispheres.
The role of early life stress as a predictor for alcohol and drug dependence

Rationale Genetic and environmental influences on the development of alcohol and drug dependence are equally important. Exposure to early life stress, that is unfortunately common in the general population, has been shown to predict a wide range of psychopathology, including addiction.
A sensitive reaction for dilute cholesterol determinations

Abstract A sensitive reaction for the peroxidase-coupled sequence of the determination of a dilute total cholesterol mixture of free and esterified forms is described. Substitution of a chlorinated auxochrome of phenol made water soluble by sulfonation through a synthetic procedure previously described created a severalfold enhancement factor which magnified considerably the sensitivity of one equilibrium reaction over the other. This enabled the determination of dilute cholesterol solutions to be carried out with high absorbance signals across the range of 0.0–10.0 mg/liter (0–0.0259 mmol/liter) of cholesterol, a range which includes and exceeds the normal values one would encounter in dilute solutions such as cerebrospinal fluid. Important potential interference factors including increased protein concentrations and calcium and magnesium were considered and studied. The formidable interacting compound, bilirubin, which is competitive with the 4-aminoantipyrene and sodium 2-hydroxy-3, 5-dichlorobenzenesulfonate mixture in the peroxidase sequence was also studied, its interference characteristics were determined and an alternative methodology suggested for obviating this perturbing effect. It is believed that the simple substitution of the auxochrome derivative is a useful contribution not only here but in studies presently ongoing involving needed sensitivity for cholesterol fractions which are considerably lower than the serum total cholesterol concentrations most commonly determined.
The distinction between moral judgment development and verbal ability: some relevant data using socio‐political outcome variables

Critics of moral judgment measures question whether the obtained pattern of relationships between moral judgment scores and outcome variables might be better explained by verbal/general ability. To address this concern, we assess the degree to which moral judgment development reduces to verbal ability using the Defining Issues Test (DIT). Our findings suggest that DIT scores describe a latent variable that is distinct from verbal ability. Second, we show that verbal ability cannot account for the relationship between moral judgments and social political attitudes and actions. These results are consistent with the developmental view that moral judgment development scores are related to, but do not reduce to, cognitive and ability measures.
A numerical study of the leading edge of laminar diffusion flames

Abstract This study deals with a fundamental numerical investigation of chemically reacting fluid flows through two-dimensional burners. We make use of a detailed set of finite chemical kinetic rate equations to numerically simulate a laminar diffusion flame. The code has been constructed to consider the viscous effects in a mixing layer, heat conduction, the multicomponent diffusion and convection of important species, the finite rate reactions of these species, and the resulting interactions between the fluid mechanics and the chemistry. The numerical model has been used to obtain a detailed description of the leading edge of laminar diffusion flames obtained above two-dimensional methane/air burners. It is shown that the leading edge flame, a flame holding point for the rest of the diffusion flame, is dominated by the kinetic aspects of the fuel/oxidizer species and is mainly responsible for heat transfer to any upstream boundary surface.
The Deubiquitinating Enzyme BAP1 Regulates Cell Growth via Interaction with HCF-1

The deubiquitinating enzyme BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) possesses growth inhibitory activity and functions as a tumor suppressor. In this study we report that BAP1 also plays positive roles in cell proliferation. BAP1 depletion by RNAi inhibits cell proliferation as does overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of BAP1. Mass spectrometry analyses of copurified proteins revealed that BAP1 is associated with factors involved in chromatin modulation and transcriptional regulation. We show that the interaction with host cell factor-1 (HCF-1), a cell-cycle regulator composed of HCF-1N and HCF-1C, is critical for the BAP1-mediated growth regulation. We found that HCF-1N is modified with Lys-48-linked polyubiquitin chains on its Kelch domain. The HCF-1 binding motif of BAP1 is required for interaction with HCF-1N and mediates deubiquitination of HCF-1N by BAP1. The importance of the BAP1-HCF-1 interaction is underscored by the fact that growth suppression by the dominant negative BAP1 mutant is entirely dependent on the HCF-1 binding motif. These results suggest that BAP1 regulates cell proliferation by deubiquitinating HCF-1.
Exploring the mechanisms of primary antibody responses to T cell-dependent antigens

We have developed a model of the early events that occur during a primary antibody response to a T cell-dependent antigen. Within secondary lymphoid organs, B cell proliferation in response to antigen injection gives rise to two kinds of transient structures: foci that develop in the T cell area, and germinal centers, that develop in the secondary follicles of the B cell area. Foci give rise to plasma cells that are responsible for the majority of early circulating antibody, whereas germinal centers are sites of somatic mutation and memory cell formation. Here we model the cell-cell interactions and cell population kinetics involved in the generation of antibody-forming cell foci, and compare our model with experimental data. We focus on fundamental issues involving the control of B cell proliferation and differentiation, using simple kinetic models that depend on direct cell-cell interactions and on the action of cytokines. We show that with realistic parameter assumptions our model can account for both the rapid cellular expansion and the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting cells. By summing the expected antibody production of all the plasmablasts and plasma cells that are generated during the focus response we can account for much of the antibody observed in the serum of mice during a primary response. Lastly, we compare the predictions of our model for two different scenarios for the control of B cell proliferation. In one model, we assume that B cells, once activated, proliferate under the control of cytokines without direct interaction with activated T cells. In the other model, we assume that after dividing B cells return to rest and require a contact-dependent signal from an activated T cell to divide again. The first model gives rise to large foci and antibody levels similar to that observed in experiment, whereas the latter model gives rise to four-fold smaller foci and to circulating antibody levels that are one order of magnitude lower than typical experimental values. This result suggests that B cells may be able to divide without further contact with T cells once a cognate interaction has occurred.
Characterization of the Crystalline and Solution Phases in N,N‘-Dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) with Sodium Triflate (NaCF3SO3)

Linear poly(ethylenimine), [LPEI], is a synthetically versatile polymer host compared to poly(ethylene oxide), in that various groups can be attached to the backbone nitrogen atoms. The interactions of LPEI with sodium cations are modeled by solutions of N,N‘-dimethylethylenediamine, DMEDA, containing dissolved sodium triflate [NaTf]. During these studies, the crystalline compound (DMEDA)2(NaTf)5 was discovered and characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The compound crystallizes in polymeric chains in a triclinic unit cell of the P1 space group. In the crystal, the sodium ions are both five- and six-coordinate. A spectroscopic comparison of DMEDA, the (DMEDA)2(NaTf)5 crystal, and (DMEDA)xNaTf solutions over a composition range of 7.5:1 to 1.5:1 [DMEDA:NaTf, molar ratio] was conducted using infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In (DMEDA)2(NaTf)5, the triflate ions vibrate as either [Na2Tf]+ or [Na3Tf]2+ species du...
Au commencement il était le Soi: L’herméneutique du soi et tant que début de l’herméneutique du monde dans la Recherche de Marcel Proust

By reviewing two famous episodes, in which the Narrator fails to efficiently communicate with Gilberte and Albertine, we attempt to construct a theory, able to explain Marcel’s communicative strategy. In order for a desired meaning to appear in the addressee’s mind, it first behooves the issuer to present the latter with a hermeneutical problem. The article argues that the communication, envisioned by the Narrator, can succeed only if the issuer of the message also becomes an interpreter of himself. As soon as this scattering of Ego happens, a hermeneutic situation presents itself as an operating room, where a fragmented Ego undergoes its reconstitution back into a coherent communicating entity.
AnchorSeed for the reduction of source movement in prostate brachytherapy with the Mick applicator implant technique

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of potential contributing factors to the incidence of seed slippage and quality of prostate brachytherapy dosimetry comparing “coated” vs. “bare” seeds with a Mick applicator. Methods and Materials Two consecutive groups of 89 patients were treated with 125 I prostate brachytherapy at a high treatment volume single institution. All the patients were evaluated with Day 0 plain films of the pelvis and CT-based dosimetry analysis. The incidence of seed slippage was quantified. The seed slippage outcome was evaluated with respect to source type (bare vs. coated). The Day 0 prostate V 100 , V 150 , D 90%, rectal V 100 , and urethra D 30 outcomes were evaluated with respect to source type. Results A total of 13,512 seeds were placed in 178 patients. An average of 76 seeds and 16 needles were used for each patient. The bare seed group was significantly higher on fluoroscopy minutes (2.34 vs. 1.58 min), seed slippage (5 vs. 1.5 mm), volume of rectum receiving 100% of dose (0.05 vs. 0.0 cc), dose percentage received by 30% of urethra (119% vs. 113.64%), and volume of prostate receiving 100% of prescription dose (95.21% vs. 92.8%). No significant differences in volume of prostate receiving 150% of prescription dose, dose percentage received by 90% of prostate, vascular seed migration, or operating room procedure time were seen. No seed drift greater than 10 mm outside the “packet” of other seeds was seen in the AnchorSeed (BrachySciences, a division of Biocompatibles, Inc. Oxford, CT) cohort. Conclusion The report is the first to show the unique “fixity” of AnchorSeed to remain in position after deployment from the Mick applicator. Minimizing seed drag can reduce dose to the penile bulb, and maximize radiation coverage to the apex of the gland.
Thyroid Hormone Therapy for Obesity and Nonthyroidal Illnesses: A Systematic Review

Context: Thyroid hormone therapy to enhance weight loss in obesity during caloric deprivation and to improve morbidity and mortality in adults with nonthyroidal illnesses remains controversial. Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review evaluating effectiveness and risks of T3 and/or T4 therapy in these populations. Data Sources: Electronic databases and reference lists were searched. Study Selection: Studies with comparable control groups comparing T3 and/or T4 therapy to placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective observational studies were selected. Data Extraction: Three reviewers performed serial abstraction. Data Synthesis: During caloric deprivation of obese subjects, T3 therapy decreased serum TSH and T4 concentrations. Consistent effects of T3 or T4 on weight loss, protein breakdown, metabolic rate, and heart rate could not be established. In euthyroid cardiac patients, T3 decreased TSH and free T4 levels, without consistent effects of T3 or T4 on heart ...
Dynamic dictionary matching with failure functions

In the dynamic dictionary matching problem, a dictionary D contains a set of patterns that can change over time by insertion and deletion of individual patterns. The user also presents text strings and asks for all occurrences of any patterns in the text.
Using non-volatile memory to save energy in servers

Recent breakthroughs in circuit and process technology have enabled new usage models for non-volatile memory technologies such as Flash and phase change RAM (PCRAM) in the general purpose computing environment. These technologies display high density and low power consumption as well as persistency that are appealing properties in a memory device. This paper summarizes our earlier work on improving NAND Flash based disk caches and extends it to consider PCRAM. We first present the primary challenges in reliably managing non-volatile memories such as NAND Flash, reviewing our past work on architectural support for Flash manageability. We then provide a preliminary analysis of how our current Flash manageability architecture may be simplified when we replace Flash with PCRAM. Our evaluations on PCRAM shows a potential for more than a 65% throughput improvement for a disk-intensive database workload. Although more detailed studies are needed, we conclude that PCRAM is a strong contender to replace Flash if it becomes cost-effective.
A Wider Pelvis Does Not Increase Locomotor Cost in Humans, With Implications for the Evolution of Childbirth

The shape of the human female pelvis is thought to reflect an evolutionary trade-off between two competing demands: a pelvis wide enough to permit the birth of large-brained infants, and narrow enough for efficient bipedal locomotion. This trade-off, known as the obstetrical dilemma, is invoked to explain the relative difficulty of human childbirth and differences in locomotor performance between men and women. The basis for the obstetrical dilemma is a standard static biomechanical model that predicts wider pelves in females increase the metabolic cost of locomotion by decreasing the effective mechanical advantage of the hip abductor muscles for pelvic stabilization during the single-leg support phase of walking and running, requiring these muscles to produce more force. Here we experimentally test this model against a more accurate dynamic model of hip abductor mechanics in men and women. The results show that pelvic width does not predict hip abductor mechanics or locomotor cost in either women or men, and that women and men are equally efficient at both walking and running. Since a wider birth canal does not increase a woman’s locomotor cost, and because selection for successful birthing must be strong, other factors affecting maternal pelvic and fetal size should be investigated in order to help explain the prevalence of birth complications caused by a neonate too large to fit through the birth canal.
Men's and women's use of intimate partner violence in clinical samples: toward a gender-sensitive analysis

Early research with nationally representative samples suggested that women reported initiating violence as often as men. Such research has been criticized as focusing only on participation rates, and not assessing gender differences in impact, context, and motivation for using partner violence. Furthermore, research with nationally representative samples has been largely a-theoretical and may lack relevance to those working with clinical samples. Research with clinical populations has begun to address gender similarity and differences in the commission and experience of partner violence. The present article reviews research on men's and women's partner violence using a model for examining such gender differences that incorporates key elements of partner violence, including initiation of the overall pattern of partner violence, proportional initiation rates of violent episodes, physical and mental health impacts of partner violence, behavioral and emotional responses to partner-initiated violence, motivations for using partner violence, and fearfulness of partner-initiated violence. The review concludes that, within and across clinical samples, women are disproportionately victimized by partner violence compared to men. Implications for research, clinical programs, and policy development are discussed.
Polymerization and Bundling Kinetics of FtsZ Filaments

FtsZ is a tubulin homolog essential for prokaryotic cell division. In living bacteria, FtsZ forms a ringlike structure (Z-ring) at the cell midpoint. Cell division coincides with a gradual contraction of the Z-ring, although the detailed molecular structure of the Z-ring is unknown. To reveal the structural properties of FtsZ, an understanding of FtsZ filament and bundle formation is needed. We develop a kinetic model that describes the polymerization and bundling mechanism of FtsZ filaments. The model reveals the energetics of the FtsZ filament formation and the bundling energy between filaments. A weak lateral interaction between filaments is predicted by the model. The model is able to fit the in vitro polymerization kinetics data of another researcher, and explains the cooperativity observed in FtsZ kinetics and the critical concentration in different buffer media. The developed model is also applicable for understanding the kinetics and energetics of other bundling biopolymer filaments.
Learning Through Reflective Classroom Practice Applications to Educate the Reflective Manager

Reflection is an important yet often-neglected aspect of management performance. This article proposes that management educators take advantage of the contemplative classroom learning process by modeling and teaching reflective practice. A framework for conceptualizing reflective learning is presented. Reflection can result in deeper learning not only about the subject studied but also about the learner. Moreover, critical reflection can challenge embedded assumptions, beliefs, and values. A major focus of the study is sharing specific examples of how and when to add introspective practice throughout a management course. Concerns about the consequences of opening up one's classroom for reflective learning are also discussed.
Preface to the Paperback Edition of Why Tolerate Religion

This is a new preface to the forthcoming paperback edition of Why Tolerate Religion? (Princeton, cloth edition, 2013). I briefly discuss the reception of the book, in both Europe and the United States, focusing especially on the response of some conservative Christian readers and "scholars." I also clarify some themes from the book, and explain why this book does not devote much time to the topic of the possible rationality of religious belief.
A Principal Component Analysis Noise Filter Value-Added Procedure to Remove Uncorrelated Noise from Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) Observations

This technical report provide a short description of the application of the principle component analysis techniques to remove uncorrelated random noise from ground-based high spectral resolution infrared radiance observations collected by the atmospheric emitted radiance interferometers (AERIs) deployed by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. A general overview of the technique, the input, and output datastreams of the newly generated value-added product, and the data quality checks used are provided. A more complete discussion of the theory and results is given in Turner et al. (2006).
Calculation and measurement of stimulated rotational Raman scattering in atmospheric oxygen

Summary form only given. It is well known that stimulated rotational Raman scattering (SRRS) in atmospheric nitrogen presents a limitation to the propagation of high-intensity laser radiation through long air paths. A method that has sometimes been proposed to mitigate this problem in laser fusion facilities is to replace part of the air path with a breathable mixture of oxygen and a monatomic gas such as argon. A calculation of the rotational Raman gain in atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen at 1053 nm is indicated by the stick spectrum.
Chemoreceptor evolution in Hymenoptera and its implications for the evolution of eusociality

Eusocial insects, mostly Hymenoptera, have evolved unique colonial lifestyles that rely on the perception of social context mainly through pheromones, and chemoreceptors are hypothesized to have played important adaptive roles in the evolution of sociality. However, because chemoreceptor repertoires have been characterized in few social insects and their solitary relatives, a comprehensive examination of this hypothesis has not been possible. Here, we annotate ∼3,000 odorant and gustatory receptors in recently sequenced Hymenoptera genomes and systematically compare >4,000 chemoreceptors from 13 hymenopterans, representing one solitary lineage (wasps) and three independently evolved eusocial lineages (ants and two bees). We observe a strong general tendency for chemoreceptors to expand in Hymenoptera, whereas the specifics of gene gains/losses are highly diverse between lineages. We also find more frequent positive selection on chemoreceptors in a facultative eusocial bee and in the common ancestor of ants compared with solitary wasps. Our results suggest that the frequent expansions of chemoreceptors have facilitated the transition to eusociality. Divergent expression patterns of odorant receptors between honeybee and ants further indicate differential roles of chemoreceptors in parallel trajectories of social evolution.
Pharmacodynamics of Vancomycin at Simulated Epithelial Lining Fluid Concentrations against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Implications for Dosing in MRSA Pneumonia

Little is known regarding killing activity of vancomycin against methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pneumonia since the extent of vancomycin penetration into epithelial lining fluid (ELF) has not been definitively established. We evaluated the impact of the extent of ELF penetration on bacterial killing and resistance by simulating a range of vancomycin exposures (24-h free drug area under the concentration-time curve [fAUC24]/MIC) using an in vitro pharmacodynamic model and population-based mathematical modeling. A high-dose, 1.5-g-every-12-h vancomycin regimen according to American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines (trough concentration, 15 mg/liter) with simulated ELF/plasma penetration of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% (fAUC24/MIC of 0, 70, 140, 210, 280, or 350) was evaluated against two agr-functional, group II MRSA clinical isolates obtained from patients with a bloodstream infection (MIC = 1.0 mg/liter) at a high inoculum of 10(8) CFU/ml. Despite high vancomycin exposures and 100% penetration, all regimens up to a fAUC24/MIC of 350 did not achieve bactericidal activity. At regimens of or = 80% penetration (fAUC24/MIC > or = 280) suppressed development of resistance. Resistant mutants amplified by suboptimal vancomycin exposure displayed reduced rates of autolysis (Triton X-100) at 72 h. Bacterial growth and death were well characterized by a Hill-type model (r2 > or = 0.984) and a population pharmacodynamic model with a resistant and susceptible subpopulation (r2 > or = 0.965). Due to the emergence of vancomycin-intermediate resistance at a fAUC24/MIC of < or = 210, exceeding this exposure breakpoint in ELF may help to guide optimal dosage regimens in the treatment of MRSA pneumonia.