cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunological self/nonself discrimination: integration of self vs nonself during cognate T cell interactions with antigen-presenting cells.

The hypothesis is presented that immunological integration of nonefficacious vs efficacious T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signals are foundational for self/nonself discrimination and that multiple integrative mechanisms are intrinsic to the molecular to molar organization of an adaptive immune response. These integrative mechanisms are proposed to adaptively regulate expression of costimulatory signals, such that foreign proteins are associated with the expression of costimulatory signals, whereas self-proteins are associated with the lack of costimulatory signaling. Overall, this model offers several unique contributions to the study of immunology. First, this model postulates that cognate TCR/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions are sufficient to adaptively mediate immunological self/nonself discrimination. This model thereby offers a unique alternative to models that largely rely on innate immunity to prime immune discrimination. Second, the integrative model argues that the immune system can simultaneously reinforce self-tolerance and promote immunity to foreign organisms at the same time and in the same location. Many alternative models presume that pathogenic self-reactive T cells do not exist at the outset of an immune response against foreign agents. Third, the integrative model uniquely predicts relationships between immunodeficiency and autoimmune pathogenesis. Fourth, this model illustrates the regulatory advantages of cognate antigen presenting cell (APC) systems (i.e., T cell or B cell APC) compared to nonspecific APC. Cognate APC systems together with the respective clonotypic responders may comprise a fundamental “network” of lymphoid cells. Such networks would have clone-specific regulatory capabilities and may be central for immunological self/nonself discrimination. Fifth, this model provides an explanation for “infectious” tolerance without creating specialized subsets of “suppressor” or “regulatory” T cells. Each mature T cell retains the potential to reinforce tolerance or mediate immunity, depending on the specific antigenic cues present in the immediate environment.
Export promotion as a development strategy

Abstract This paper has two aims. First it presents a model of the advantages of promoting exports. Second, it warns that in such a model, export promotion may be of benefit only to a limited group of countries. Encouraging others to become outwards oriented may be detrimental to welfare. The fact that, for the exporting sector to be viable, the scale of the exporting sector must be large relative to the optimal scale of exporting firms is advanced as the motivation for export promotion. I then argue that the scale of the exporting sector may, in equilibrium, be a signal of the export good's quality. Large capacities in the sector are required to convince importers to pay high prices. Such high capacities may effectively deter countries capable of producing only low quality goods from subsidizing exports.
Population structure, reproduction and laboratory behavior of the introduced Belonesox belizanus (Poeciliidae) in Florida

The pike killifish, Belonesox belizanus, is native to Mexico and Central America and was introduced into Dade County, Florida in 1957. This study reports on the structure and reproduction of the Florida population and compares the species with other members of the family Poeciliidae. The mean standard length (SL) of mature females was about 103 mm. Most females larger than 75 mm SL contained yolked ova, fertilized eggs, or embryos. Mature males averaged about 72 mm SL, and most males larger than 55 mm SL were mature. The sex ratio was significantly skewed in favor of females among adults, but it did not differ significantly from 1:1 among immature fish. Average brood size was about 99, and there was a significant positive correlation of brood size with size of the parent female. There was no evidence of superfetation. Sizes and weights of embryos and neonates were the largest reported for the family. There was a significant decrease in mean embryo weight as development proceeded, indicating that developing embryos received little or no nutrient input from the maternal system after fertilization. The average interbrood interval of aquarium-held females was 42 days, and females stored viable sperm at least 47 days. Reproduction continued year round in the field. Laboratory-born neonates were immediately piscivorous and exhibited distinctive behavior associated with filling the swimbladder and with avoiding detection by predators.
Androgens, estrogens, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.

Abstract The task of regulating both production and activity of potent androgens and estrogens in human physiology is largely relegated to the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs). Although over two dozen enzymes with HSD activities have been described, we only understand the physiology of a small number, and for only one enzyme has the function been unequivocally determined by the study of human mutations. The physiology of the HSDs derive from their enzymatic activities, which in turn derive from their respective structures. In general, pairs of enzymes that drive steroid flux in opposite directions are found, and we have been studying the biochemical principles which enable dichotomous enzymes to perform their specific functions. In general, these directional preferences in intact cells are governed by relative affinities for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) cofactors [NAD(P)(H)] and concentration gradients of these cofactors in subcellular compartments. For the reductive HSDs human 17βHSD type 1 and rat AKR1C9, we can attenuate or reverse the directional preference in intact cells by site-directed mutagenesis in the cofactor-binding domain or by glucose deprivation, but the magnitude of such changes vary with the different enzymes.
Short communication: Use of single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and health history to predict future phenotypes for milk production, dry matter intake, body weight, and residual feed intake in dairy cattle

Abstract As feed prices have increased, the efficiency of feed utilization in dairy cattle has attracted increasing attention. In this study, we used residual feed intake (RFI) as a measurement of feed efficiency along with its component traits, adjusted milk energy (aMilkE), adjusted dry matter intake (aDMI), and adjusted metabolic body weight (aMBW), where the adjustment was for environmental factors. These traits may also be affected by prior health problems. Therefore, the carryover effects of 3 health traits from the rearing period and 10 health traits from the lactating period (in the same lactation before phenotype measurements) on RFI, aMilkE, aDMI, and aMBW were evaluated. Cows with heavier birth weight and greater body weight at calving of this lactation had significant increases in aMilkE, aDMI, and aMBW. The only trait associated with RFI was the incidence of diarrhea early in the lactation. Mastitis and reproductive problems had negative carryover effects on aMilkE. The aMBW of cows with metabolic disorders early in the lactation was lower than that of unaffected cows. The incidence of respiratory disease during lactating period was associated with greater aMBW and higher aDMI. To examine the contribution of health traits to the accuracy of predicted phenotype, genomic predictions were computed with or without information regarding 13 health trait phenotypes using random forests (RF) and support vector machine algorithms. Adding health trait phenotypes increased prediction accuracies slightly, except for prediction of RFI using RF. In general, the accuracies were greater for support vector machine than RF, especially for RFI. The methods described herein can be used to predict future phenotypes for dairy replacement heifers, thereby facilitating culling decisions that can lead to decreased feed costs during the rearing period. For these decisions, prediction of the animal's own phenotype is of greater importance than prediction of the genetic superiority or inferiority that will transmit to its offspring.
Polyethylene glycol-modified ragweed pollen extract in rhinoconjunctivitis.

Abstract Sixty-two ragweed-sensitive adult subjects volunteered to take part in a 2-year, placebo-controlled efficacy study of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified ragweed extract, in ragweed pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis. At the beginning of the study, subjects were stratified according to skin sensitivity to ragweed extract and PEG-modified ragweed and the severity of hay fever in the previous year. There was random allocation of half to active treatment and half to placebo treatment. Before the first ragweed pollen season the 36 most sensitive subjects received 10 weekly injections (group 1), and the remaining 26 received six injections (group 2). Before the second season all subjects received 10 injections. Doses increased by half a log concentration each week unless there were adverse reactions. The mean total dose received by group 1 in year 1 was 385 μg of protein (28.9 μg AgE) and received by group 2 was 218 μg of protein (16.4 μg AgE). In year 2 the mean total dose was 1829 jug (137.2 μg AgE). Sixty-six percent of injections elicited no reaction or a mild local reaction; the remaining injections produced local redness and swelling more than 2 inches in diameter. Four percent of injections produced systemic symptoms. PEG-modified ragweed stimulated increases in ragweed specific IgG antibody both years, but increases in ragweed specific IgE antibody were significant only in group 1 in year 1. The magnitude of the IgG antibody changes was directly related to the total dose injected. At the beginning of the second year, PEG-modified ragweed-treated subjects still had elevated IgG antibody levels. In the first year the subjects who had received 10 PEG-modified ragweed injections improved in symptoms and medications; however, in subjects who received only six injections there was no difference between active and placebo treatment. In year 2 the actively treated group had significantly less symptoms and needed less medication, and the improvement was significantly better than that observed during the first year. The results indicate that PEG-modified ragweed, administered in sufficient doses, is effective in reducing symptoms of ragweed-induced rhinoconjunctivitis and that the effect may be additive when it is administered over consecutive years.
Toward understanding of the synergistic oxidation of adamantane and hydrogen sulfide by molecular oxygen and with a dinuclear iron(II) macrocyclic complex as a catalyst

Abstract Dinucleating hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand [24]RBPyBC forms a dinuclear iron(II) complex, which reacts with molecular oxygen and catalyzes its insertion into CH bond of adamantane in an acetonitrile solvent system containing pyridine and in the presence of hydrogen sulfide as a two-electron reductant. Turnover number, mass balance, and mole ratios of the reaction products, the 2-adamantanone, 2-adamantanol, and 1-adamantanol vary with respect to the amount of the catalyst, O 2 , H 2 S, adamantane, and pyridine. Using the Plackett–Burman experimental design, it is shown that experimental conditions can be successfully predicted to offer an increase in turnovers or better selectivity of the reaction products. This work provides a practical application of a remarkably simple and effective statistical method to optimize catalytic oxidation of adamantane.
Achieving Voice and Security in Colleges of Education.

Finding a niche in teacher education programs in colleges of education can help adult educators secure their place in higher education while still maintaining integrity within the discipline.
Positive forgetting of sentence material

This experiment investigated the positive-forgetting phenomenon with sentence material. Sets of sentences were presented to Ss with each sentence being cued “remember” or “forget” immediately following its presentation. To-be-remembered (TBR) sentences were found to be more accessible thanto-be-forgotten (TBF) sentences and uncued control sentences. Sentence connectedness was found to be an important determiner of the magnitude of the observed recall phenomenon; but differential sentence interest was not a significant factor. Using a multiple-choice recognition test, key words or phrases from the to-be-forgotten sentences were found to be equally available as key words or phrases from the to-be-remembered sentences. These results warrant an extention of Bjork’s (1970, 1972) selective-rehearsal and differential-grouping interpretation of the positive-forgetting phenomenon to encompass sentence material. Some implications of the findings for single-presentation information acquisition were noted.
Aperture filling of phase-locked laser arrays

Arrays of lasers that are locked together with the same phase produce far-field patterns with a significant amount of the energy residing in the sidelobes. We describe a technique that channels the majority of the sidelobe energy into the desired central lobe.
Coronary Artery Spasm Producing Prinzmetal's Angina and Myocardial Infarction in the Absence of Coronary Atherosclerosis: Surgical Treatment

Abstract This report describes a patient with typical Prinzmetal's variant angina, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, and complete heart block who had a single left coronary artery and no coronary atherosclerosis. At the time of coronary arteriography, spasm was documented in the midportion of the dominant circumflex vessel. Saphenous vein bypass grafting was accomplished to the distal circumflex artery with temporary relief of all symptoms. There was, however, a recurrence of typical Prinzmetal's variant angina, and on restudy the vein graft anastomosis was seen to be closed at the area where competitive flow would be expected. Saphenous vein bypass grafting appears not to be the treatment of choice in patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina in the absence of high-grade atherosclerotic lesions.
Thermal design optimization of a segmented GFRP primary reflector for a submillimeter telescope

Results are presented of a thermal design optimization study of the segmented GFRP primary reflector of the earth-orbiting Submillimeter Imager and Line Survey telescope. The paper examines the thermal requirements of the primary reflector and the thermal environment of the telescope and describes the thermal design of the primary reflector. Particular attention is given to the geometric math model and the thermal math model of the telescope. A summary for the steady-state thermal performance of the optimized design is presented, showing that the optimized design has reduced, by an order of magnitude, structural spatial temperature gradients, which were earlier shown to be the most significant obstacle in maintaining the required telescope figure accuracy.
Characterization, Treatment, and Outcome of Intracranial Neoplasms in the First 120 Days of Life:

Little is known about brain tumors in early infancy. Investigators reviewed the records of 27 patients (12 boys and 15 girls) diagnosed within 120 days of birth. The median age was 66 days (range, 0-110 days) at diagnosis. All patients underwent surgery; 18 received adjuvant chemotherapy, and 3 received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The median follow-up was 2.1 years (range, 0.2-21.6 years). At last encounter, 15 patients were alive, and 11 had no evidence of disease. Ten patients died of progressive disease, and 2 died of treatment-related complications. All survivors experienced late effects, including endocrine, neurologic, and cognitive deficits. Of the 13 patients who completed neurocognitive assessments, 7 had an IQ score less than 70. Children in whom brain tumors arise during early infancy can be cured with conventional therapy; however, contemporary approaches can adversely affect long-term function, and families need to be aware of these effects when making therapeutic decisions.
Quantitative Determination of Direct Binding of b Subunit to F1 in Escherichia coli F1F0-ATP Synthase

Abstract The stator in F1F0-ATP synthase resists strain generated by rotor torque. In Escherichia coli, the b2δ subunit complex comprises the stator, bound to subunit a in F0 and to the α3β3 hexagon of F1. To quantitatively characterize binding of b subunit to the F1 α3β3 hexagon, we developed fluorimetric assays in which wild-type F1, or F1 enzymes containing introduced Trp residues, were titrated with a soluble portion of the b subunit (bST34–156). With five different F1 enzymes, Kd(bST34–156) ranged from 91 to 157 nm. Binding was strongly Mg2+-dependent; in EDTA buffer, Kd(bST34–156) was increased to 1.25 μm. The addition of the cytoplasmic portion of the b subunit increases the affinity of binding of δ subunit to δ-depleted F1. The apparent Kd(bST34–156) for this effect was increased from 150 nm in Mg2+ buffer to 1.36 μm in EDTA buffer. This work demonstrates quantitatively how binding of the cytoplasmic portion of the b subunit directly to F1 contributes to stator resistance and emphasizes the importance of Mg2+ in stator interactions.
Thermally enhanced enzymatic proteolysis for rapid 18O labeling in proteomics

Abstract To streamline protocols for protein identification and better understand the contributions of purely thermal versus non-thermal effects, we utilize a microwave oven and a PCR thermocycler for rapid heating to accelerate enzymatic digestion of proteins. When performed in H218O, rapid heating results in efficient C-terminal 18O atom labeling of the proteolytic peptides. The approach is illustrated on the example of several pure proteins using trypsin and other proteases for rapid digestion. MALDI TOF/TOF MS provides unambiguous identification of the individual tryptic peptides. We have performed a time-course study on the degree of 18O incorporation by varying the irradiation/heating times for each method. In order to gain insights into the mechanism of thermally enhanced trypsin digestion and 18O labeling we carry out experiments in which the two events – lysis and labeling – are decoupled. We also study the rates of 18O incorporation as a function of tryptic peptide C-terminal amino acid type and peptide length. Both heating methods are very rapid – in most cases digestion and incorporation of two 18O atoms into R-terminated tryptic peptides is completed in less than 5 min, thus considerably reducing the time for bottom-up proteomics including quantitation by 18O labeling.
The Effects of Matrix pH and Cation Availability on the Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Poly(methyl methacrylate)

The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) of poly(methyl methacrylate) has been studied using time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The effect of pH was investigated through titration of the matrix. The presence of doped alkali metal cations produced shifts in the polymer molecular weight distribution of as much as 20%. Results indicate that careful control of experimental conditions is needed to obtain reproducible mass spectra of synthetic polymers, and to critically evaluate the accuracy of polymer-size distributions measured by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, as the role of the matrix in desorption and ionization processes is not yet fully understood.
Regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae FET4 by oxygen and iron.

Abstract Saccharomyces cerevisiae expresses two distinct iron transport systems under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The high affinity transporters, Ftr1p and Fet3p, are primarily expressed in oxygenated cultures, whereas anaerobic conditions induce the low affinity iron transporter, Fet4p. The oxygen regulation of FET4 was found to involve the Rox1p transcriptional repressor. The physiological significance of this control by Rox1p is twofold. First, FET4 repression by Rox1p under oxygenated conditions helps minimize metal toxicity. Sensitivity towards cadmium was high in either anaerobically grown wild-type yeast or in oxygenated rox1Δ strains, and in both cases cadmium toxicity was reversed by FET4 mutations. Secondly, the loss of Rox1p repression under anaerobic conditions serves to induce FET4 and facilitate continual accumulation of iron. We noted that fet4 mutants accumulate lower levels of iron under anaerobic conditions. Regulation of FET4 was examined using FET4-lacZ reporters. We found that FET4 contains a complex promoter regulated both by oxygen and iron status. The region surrounding ≈−960 to −490 contains two consensus Rox1p binding sites and mediates Rox1p, but not iron control of FET4. Sequences downstream of −490 harbor a consensus binding site for the iron regulatory factor Aft1p that is essential for iron regulation in wild-type strains. In addition, a secondary mode of iron regulation becomes evident in strains lacking AFT1. The induction by iron limitation in conjunction with low oxygen is more than additive, suggesting that these activities are synergistic. Fet4p is not the only metal transporter that is negatively regulated by oxygen; we find that Rox1p also represses S. cerevisiae SMF3, proposed to function in vacuolar iron transport. This oxygen control of iron transporter gene expression is part of an adaptation response to changes in the redox state of transition metals.
Building effective strategies to decrease tobacco use in a health maintenance organisation: Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound

The experience of Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC) in the development and implementation of strategies to decrease tobacco use is an encouraging story. The conclusion to this story is that implementation of the major recommendations of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research’s (AHCPR’s) evidence-based smoking cessation guideline can be done. The accomplishments described in this paper have occurred over the past 12 to 15 years. It is important to note that managed care organisations who are beginning this work now have a lot of advantages compared with when we started in the 1980s. Group Health Cooperative (GHC) is a group model, not-for-profit health maintenance organisation (HMO). It was a staff model HMO until January 1998. GHC serves over 450 000 enrollees who receive their care at approximately 25 different medical centres in the Puget Sound [Seattle, Washington] area. Our primary care practice panel sizes are about 2000, and there are approximately 200 primary care practices. The population that receives their care at GHC is demographically representative of the population in the region. A key feature of GHC is the extensive automated clinical systems, including automated enrolment systems which allow one to identify population-based samples of enrollees, automated appointment systems, automated data on the use of laboratory and radiography facilities and automated pharmacy systems. To date, however, there is no automated registry or clinical information system that routinely tracks the smoking status of enrollees. To begin at the end, figure 1 summarises data on the smoking prevalence for GHC and for Washington state from 1985 to 1994.1 As evidenced in the graph, for the state as a whole and for GHC, smoking prevalence has declined. Of note, however, is that the rate of decline is greater among GHC enrollees. How could this happen? Figure 1 Smoking prevalence for Group …
A novel activity of E. coli uracil DNA N-glycosylase excision of isodialuric acid (5,6-dihydroxyuracil), a major product of oxidative DNA damage, from DNA

We describe a novel activity of E. coli uracil DNA N-glycosylase (UNG) that excises isodialuric acid from DNA. Isodialuric acid is formed in DNA as a major oxidative product of cytosine. DNA substrates, which were prepared by γ-irradiation, were incubated with UNG. Following precipitation of DNA, analyses of pellets and supernatant fractions by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry showed an efficient excision of isodialuric acid from DNA by UNG. None of the other 15 identified DNA base lesions was excised. The excision of isodialuric acid indicates that the non-aromaticity of a substrate may not be a limiting factor for UNG.
In Vitro Efficacy of Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles Containing Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs

Purpose To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of dexamethasone (DM) and methotrexate (MTX) entrapped within polysialic acid (PSA)-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) nanoparticles using an in vitro model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
24 ADOLESCENT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME-OUT-PATIENT DIAGNOSIS

We have expanded the endocrine diagnostic criteria for PCOS and have identified it in 8 adolescents. PCOS consists of a spectrum of functional ovarian hyperandrogenic states ranging from cases without histologic ovarian abnormalities through classic Stein-Leventhal ovaries. Diagnostic criteria developed for adults are: elevated plasma free (unbound) testosterone (T) (≥12 pg/ml) which does not fall to ≤ 8 upon adequate adrenal suppression by dexamethasone (dex). In addition, we found bioactive LH (B-LH) to be more often significantly elevated in PCOS than radioimmunoassayable LH (I-LH). We first established that adult female levels of total and free T and LH are normally achieved prior to the time of menarche. The 8 PCOS patients were 12.5-17 years old. 5 had menstrual disturbances (4 oligo- or amenorrhea × 1.5-2.5 yrs and 1 menometrorrhagia × 1.5 yrs), 6 had hirsutism, and 5 were obese. I with subclinical problems was detected in a school screening program. A high free T level was found in each (15-25 pg/ml), though total T (51-133 ng/dl) and free T (10.1-25) were intermittently normal in some. Free T fell only to 9-28 pg/ml on dex. B-LH was elevated in 4/6 (>620 ng/ml), while I-LH was only elevated in 2/6 (>91 ng/ml). 1 patient with persistently high I-LH (260-410 ng/ml) underwent laparoscopy which revealed sclerocystic ovaries. Estrogen-progestin (BCP) (n=3) normalized free T (≤8 pg/ml). PCOS, as the basis of teenage menstrual difficulties or hirsutism--sometimes minor, can be diagnosed from elevated free T levels pre and post dex and elevated B-LH without invasive procedures.
Long-term atmospheric variability on Uranus and Neptune

Abstract Long-term photometric measurements of Uranus and Neptune through 2005 show variations in brightness. For Uranus, much of the variation can be interpreted as seasonal, i.e., caused by viewing angle changes of an oblate planet. The photometry suggests that if seasonal variations on Uranus are north–south symmetric, then the northern pole should begin to brighten in 2006. However, seasonal “aspect” changes cannot explain all the variation; the Uranus observations require intrinsic atmospheric change. Furthermore, Uranus observations spanning many scale heights in the atmosphere may show similar change. For Neptune, variations in sub-solar latitude may explain the general shape of the long-term light curve, but significant deviations occur that have no explanation at present. Observations are needed over a longer temporal baseline than currently exists to fully characterize both atmospheres.
Pathogenesis of diffuse intimal thickening (DIT) in non-human primate thoracic aortas

The pathogenesis of diffuse intimal thickening (DIT) is not well understood. In animals, it is positively correlated with size, and with the exception of the pig, is thought to involve the proximal more than the distal portions of vessels. DIT is often not visible grossly, so that it's study requires extensive microscopic sampling of tissue. Review of previous studies in animals suggests that microscopic sampling may not have been sufficient to determine exactly where DIT occurs throughout the entire length of a vessel. The present study is a longitudinal step-serial section examination of the entire descending thoracic aorta from 12 adult non-human primates of varying size and species and with varying degrees of DIT as determined previously by more limited cross-section techniques. The findings indicate that DIT is not more pronounced in the proximal versus the distal segments of the vessel, and is not correlated with branch orifices. Review of the literature suggests that DIT may not be a single process, but may vary in pathogenesis from vessel to vessel and from species to species.
Hierarchical control of cooperative nonlinear dynamical systems

Cooperative control methods that are scalable with low computational cost are crucial for networked dynamical systems to respond quickly in unknown or cluttered environments. In an attempt to make the problem tractable, many existing cooperative controls are designed with oversimplified assumptions and/or without the capabilities of rapidly handling different environmental and dynamical constraints. In this article, proposed is a two-level hierarchical, cooperative control framework using a divide-and-conquer strategy so that challenges can be separately handled at different levels. It is scalable and has low computational cost. Based on a simplified homogeneous double-integrator dynamic model, the top-level planner first computes cooperative trajectories satisfying obstacle avoidance requirements. Then at the lower level, state and control constraints, nonlinear dynamics and self-collision/obstacle avoidance as related to the real system are addressed through a bio-inspired fast trajectory planning algor...
Criteria for the Design of Loop-Type Directional Couplers for the L Band

For many years the design of loop type directional couplers has relied heavily on experiment. One of the most common varieties has been the loop coupler much shorter than a wavelength and having a built-in termination (vestigial arm). In this paper the criteria for the design of loop couplers of any length are considered, and their application to either coaxial line or waveguide are discussed. The theoretical basis for design is established by first considering the theory of coupled transmission lines. Several designs which utilize a quarter-wavelength or shorter loops and which have very desirable features with regard to coupling, directivity, and band-width are illustrated. Typical performance of couplers having couplings of 20-40 db and directivities of over 30 db are presented.
Autoantibody Profiling for Lung Cancer Screening Longitudinal Retrospective Analysis of CT Screening Cohorts

Recommendations for lung cancer screening present a tangible opportunity to integrate predictive blood-based assays with radiographic imaging. This study compares performance of autoantibody markers from prior discovery in sample cohorts from two CT screening trials. One-hundred eighty non-cancer and 6 prevalence and 44 incidence cancer cases detected in the Mayo Lung Screening Trial were tested using a panel of six autoantibody markers to define a normal range and assign cutoff values for class prediction. A cutoff for minimal specificity and best achievable sensitivity were applied to 256 samples drawn annually for three years from 95 participants in the Kentucky Lung Screening Trial. Data revealed a discrepancy in quantile distribution between the two apparently comparable sample sets, which skewed the assay’s dynamic range towards specificity. This cutoff offered 43% specificity (102/237) in the control group and accurately classified 11/19 lung cancer samples (58%), which included 4/5 cancers at time of radiographic detection (80%), and 50% of occult cancers up to five years prior to diagnosis. An apparent ceiling in assay sensitivity is likely to limit the utility of this assay in a conventional screening paradigm. Pre-analytical bias introduced by sample age, handling or storage remains a practical concern during development, validation and implementation of autoantibody assays. This report does not draw conclusions about other logical applications for autoantibody profiling in lung cancer diagnosis and management, nor its potential when combined with other biomarkers that might improve overall predictive accuracy.
Observations of Boundary Mixing over the Continental Slope

Observations of mixing over the continental slope using a towed body reveal a great lateral extent (several kilometers) of continuously turbulent fluid within a few hundred meters of the boundary at depth 1600 m. The largest turbulent dissipation rates were observed ove ra5k mhorizontal region near a slope critical to the M2 internal tide. Over a submarine landslide perpendicular to the continental slope, enhanced mixing extended at least 600 m above the boundary, increasing toward the bottom. The resulting vertical divergence of the heat flux near the bottom implies that fluid there must be replenished. Intermediate nepheloid layers detected optically contained fluid with u‐S properties distinct from their surroundings. It is suggested that intermediate nepheloid layers are interior signitures of the boundary layer detachment required by the near-bottom flux divergance.
Improving the Care for Depression in Patients With Comorbid Medical Illness

OBJECTIVE: The authors compared treatment and outcomes for depressed primary care patients with and without comorbid medical conditions and assessed the impact of quality improvement programs for these patients. METHOD: The study group included 1,356 patients with major depression, dysthymia, or subthreshold depression from 46 managed primary care clinics. Clinics were randomly assigned depression treatment programs consisting of usual care for depression or one of two quality improvement programs for depression. The quality improvement programs included training experts and nurse specialists to provide education and assessment, plus access to nurse specialists for medication follow-up or access to psychotherapists. Outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: At 6- and 12-month follow-up, the likelihood of having a probable depressive disorder was higher, but the rates of use of antidepressant medication and specialty counseling were similar, for depressed patients with comorbid medical disorders ...
Effects of layer waviness on the compression strength of thermoplastic composite laminates

Layer waviness was investigated in T300/P1700 carbon/polysulfone com posite laminates under static compression loading. A three-step procedure was used to fab ricate isolated layer waves into the c...
A simple algorithm to eliminate ambiguities in EBSD orientation map visualization and analyses: application to fatigue crack-tips/wakes in aluminum alloys.

A simple algorithm is developed and implemented to eliminate ambiguities, in both statistical analyses of orientation data (e.g., orientation averaging) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) orientation map visualization, caused by symmetrically equivalent orientations and the wrap-around or umklapp effect. Using crystal symmetry operators and the lowest Euclidian-distance criterion, the orientation of each pixel within a grain is redefined. An advantage of this approach is demonstrated for direct determination of the representative orientation of a grain within an EBSD map by mean, median, or quaternion-based averaging methods that can be further used within analyses or visualization of misorientation or geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density. If one also considers the lattice curvature tensor, five components of the dislocation density tensor—corresponding to a part of the GND content—may be inferred. The methodology developed is illustrated using EBSD orientation data obtained from the fatigue crack-tips/wakes in aerospace aluminum alloys 2024-T351 and 7050-T7451.
Phylometrics: a pipeline for inferring phylogenetic trees from a sequence relationship network perspective

Background: Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene is frequently used to characterize the microbial diversity of environmental samples. However, sequence similarities do not always imply functional or evolutionary relatedness due to many factors, including unequal rates of change and convergence. Thus, relying on top BLASTN hits for phylogenetic studies may misrepresent the diversity of these constituents. Furthermore, attempts to circumvent this issue by including a large number of BLASTN hits per sequence in one tree to explore their relatedness presents other problems. For instance, the multiple sequence alignment will be poor and computationally costly if not relying on manual alignment, and it may be difficult to derive meaningful relationships from the resulting tree. Analyzing sequence relationship networks within collective BLASTN results, however, reveal sequences that are closely related despite low rank. Results: We have developed a web application, Phylometrics, that relies on networks of collective BLASTN results (rather than single BLASTN hits) to facilitate the process of building phylogenetic trees in an automated, highthroughput fashion while offering novel tools to find sequences that are of significant phylogenetic interest with minimal human involvement. The application, which can be installed locally in a laboratory or hosted remotely, utilizes a simple wizard-style format to guide the user through the pipeline without necessitating a background in programming. Furthermore, Phylometrics implements an independent job queuing system that enables users to continue to use the system while jobs are run with little or no degradation in performance. Conclusions: Phylometrics provides a novel data mining method to screen supplied DNA sequences and to identify sequences that are of significant phylogenetic interest using powerful analytical tools. Sequences that are identified as being similar to a number of supplied sequences may provide key insights into their functional or evolutionary relatedness. Users require the same basic computer skills as for navigating most internet applications.
New Results for the Stability Analysis of Time-Varying Linear Systems Part I: The Case of Reduced Systems

Let A(t) be a real-valued matrix function on [0, + ?]. A (time-varying) Linear Dynamical Systems (LDS) of the form x=A(t)x is said to be well-defined if A(t) is Lebesgue integrable on every finite subinterval of [0, + ?], and is called proper if A(t)=f(t,G) for some constant generating matrix G and scalar primitive function f(t, ?) (see [13], [15]). According to a recent result obtained in [17], every well-defined LDS is reducible to a proper one by a D-similarity transformation. Therefore, it is interesting to study the stability of the reduced (proper) LDS as a means for uncovering new stability information for well-defined LDS. In this paper we use some recent results on proper LDS (see [13], [14], [15], [16]), to derive new necessary and sufficient stability criteria for proper time-varying LDS in terms of the conventional (time-varying) eigenvalues of A(t) and a new entity we have named co-eigenvalues of A(t). The notion of stability index for proper A(t) with Laplace transformable elements is also introduced and serves to unify the well-known stability criteria for time-invariant LDS and periodic proper LDS which are based on the eigenvalues of A and the Floquet characteristic exponents of A(t), respectively.
FPGA-accelerated 3D reconstruction using compressive sensing

The radiation dose associated with computerized tomography (CT) is significant. Optimization-based iterative reconstruction approaches, e.g., compressive sensing provide ways to reduce the radiation exposure, without sacrificing image quality. However, the computational requirement such algorithms is much higher than that of the conventional Filtered Back Projection (FBP) reconstruction algorithm. This paper describes an FPGA implementation of one important iterative kernel called EM, which is the major computation kernel of a recent EM+TV reconstruction algorithm. We show that a hybrid approach (CPU+GPU+FPGA) can deliver a better performance and energy efficiency than GPU-only solutions, providing 13X boost of throughput than a dual-core CPU implementation.
COLREGS-based navigation of autonomous marine vehicles

This paper addresses the issue of autonomous control and safe navigation in an unmanned marine vehicle. Primarily it is concerned with the issue of effective collision avoidance. The first part of the paper examines known legal issues regarding autonomous marine vehicles, and the second part addresses how to provide an autonomous COLREGS capability in an autonomous marine vehicle.
NK Dendritic Cells Expanded in IL-15 Exhibit Antitumor Responses In Vivo

NK dendritic cells (NKDC) are a novel subtype of DC with NK cell properties. IL-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an obligate role in the proliferation and survival of NK cells. We hypothesized that IL-15 is also essential for NKDC development. NKDC were nearly absent in IL-15(-/-) mice, but restored by administration of exogenous IL-15. Treatment of wild-type mice with IL-15 caused a 2- to 3-fold expansion of both NK cells and NKDC. After 7 days of culture with IL-15, sorted splenic NKDC expanded 10-fold while NK cells increased 5-fold. NKDC expanded in IL-15 retained their cytolytic capacity but lost the ability to stimulate naive T cells. Meanwhile, NKDC expanded in IL-15 produced 10 times more IFN-gamma as fresh NKDC and conferred protection in a tumor prevention model. Thus, IL-15 is essential to the proliferation and survival of NKDC and IL-15 expanded NKDC possess antitumor properties.
Including Children and Adolescents With Schizophrenia in Medication-Free Research

OBJECTIVE: There has been an increasing focus on the ethical issues raised by studies requiring the withdrawal of effective medication in schizophrenic adults. This article examines the risks and benefits of a medication-free period for pediatric patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia who are participating in an ongoing study. METHOD: Between April 1993 and March 1998, 31 children and adolescents were admitted with a diagnosis of treatment-resistant, childhood-onset schizophrenia. Parental consent was obtained so that patients could participate in a medication-free research period. Patients were evaluated at screening, at the end of a 4-week washout, at the completion of a 6- to 8-week atypical neuroleptic trial, and at a 2- to 4-year follow-up. RESULTS: At the completion of a 4-week drug-free period, seven patients (23%) were diagnosed with another disorder on the basis of data gained from the drug-free period and their lack of schizophrenic symptoms. Their revised diagnoses were posttraumatic ...
Life History of Phalloceros caudiomaculatus: A Novel Variation on the Theme of Livebearing in the Family Poeciliidae

Abstract We describe the life-history pattern of Phalloceros caudiomaculatus on the basis of wild-caught and preserved fish from four different South American locations and laboratory data on livestock from a fifth location. This species is matrotrophic; the estimated dry weight of the young at birth is up to five times the weight of eggs at fertilization. In addition, these fish lack superfetation, meaning that there is only one brood of developing young at a time. This observation suggests that matrotrophy and superfetation can evolve independently of one another. The size distribution of mature males was bimodal in two of three samples and significantly skewed in the third. Such size distributions have indicated the presence of a genetic polymorphism for age and size at maturity in other species of Poeciliidae.
Human simulation applied to the functional design of information systems.

Three studies used humans to simulate the functions of science information systems. The simulated systems were made available to biochemist users to fulfill their information needs. The requesting behavior of the users and of the simulated system elements in response to requests was measured with respect to a number of variables: (e.g., frequency, time and type of requests). The results are interpreted in terms of their implications for the design of improved science information services and systems and the functional properties that these systems should have to meet user requirements.
Global stabilization of a class of uncertain systems with saturated adaptive robust control

In this paper, a class of saturated adaptive robust control (SARC) laws are developed for nonlinear systems in the "chain-of-integrator" form with both parametric uncertainties and nonrepeatable uncertainties. A guaranteed transient performance and final tracking accuracy is achieved in general. Furthermore, asymptotic output tracking is also achievable provided that the system undergoes parametric uncertainties only. Discontinuous projection method is used in the adaptation law for a controlled learning. Given the saturation limits of control authority, certain criteria are obtained to predict the achievable high-performance working range of the closed-loop system by taking into account the order of system, the bounds of both parametric uncertainties and nonrepeatable nonlinearities, and the required performance, such as reaching time. At the same time, these criteria can also be used in the trajectory planning to obtain realizable desired trajectories. Consequently, an integrated design of achievable desired trajectory and control law may be achieved. The proposed SARC is then applied to the control of a linear motor drive system, and an excellent output tracking performance is obtained in experiments.
THE MARINE DIATOM GENUS TRYBLIOPTYCHUS HENDEY (THALASSIOSIRACEAE, COSCINODISCOPHYCEAE): FINE STRUCTURE, TAXONOMY, SYSTEMATICS AND DISTRIBUTION

Detailed examination of the fine structure of frustules in Tryblioptychus cocconeiformis (Grunow ex Cleve) Hendey, the generitype, supports its placement in the family Thalassiosiraceae, as suggested by Simonsen (1979). Its taxonomic relationships are discussed. An account of its geographical distribution is also presented. Examination of original illustrations and descriptions suggests that Cyclotella crassa Tynni, a marine diatom described from the Persian Gulf, is probably conspecific with Tryblioptychus cocconeiformis.
Relationship Between Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein Expression and Progesterone Production in Hen Granulosa Cells During Follicle Development

The present studies were conducted to address cellular mechanisms responsible for regulating steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression and progesterone synthesis at maturational stages corresponding to both the time of hen follicle selection, as well as before and after the LH surge in preovulatory follicle granulosa cells. A recently published report has established that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling induced by transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) treatment blocks FSH-induced differentiation and StAR expression in cultured hen granulosa cells, whereas inhibitors of MAP kinase signaling enhance FSH-induced differentiation. The present in vitro studies demonstrate that in addition to MAP kinase signaling, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) blocks both FSH-induced StAR expression and the initiation of progesterone production in prehierarchal follicle granulosa cells, whereas the pharmacologic inhibitor of PKC, GF109203X, potentiates FSH-induced StAR expression and, as a consequence, the initiation of progesterone synthesis. Moreover, we demonstrate in granulosa cells collected from preovulatory follicles that although an acute increase in progesterone production in response to LH treatment requires rapid transcription and translation of StAR, the magnitude of progesterone production is rate-limited by one or more factors other than StAR (e.g., the P450 cholesterol side-chain enzyme). Finally, the rapid turnover of StAR protein, such as occurs following the withdrawal of LH, provides an additional mechanism for the tight regulation of progesterone production that occurs during the hen ovulatory cycle, and explains the rapid loss of steroidogenesis in the postovulatory follicle. In summary, data reported herein support the proposal that paracrine/autocrine factors (including but not necessarily limited to TGFalpha) prevent premature expression of StAR in prehierarchal follicle granulosa cells by more than one receptor-mediated signaling pathway. Furthermore, subsequent to follicle selection into the preovulatory hierarchy, StAR transcription and translation is necessary but not sufficient for the full potentiation of the preovulatory surge of serum progesterone.