cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infectious Multifocal Choroiditis in Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to determine the incidence of infectious opportunistic choroiditis in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), to study the association of these choroidal infections with systemic dissemination, and to investigate the life expectancy and cause of death in patients with infectious opportunistic choroiditis. Methods: A total of 470 eyes of 235 consecutive autopsies of patients with AIDS were examined by histopathologic methods. The clinical charts and autopsy reports of these patients were subsequently reviewed for presence of systemic dissemination of various infectious agents. Results: Of the 235 patients, 18 were found to have infectious choroiditis. The etiologic agents found were: Cryptococcus neoformans , Pneumocystis carinii , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Histoplasma capsulatum , Candida , Aspergillus fumigatus , Toxoplasma gondii , and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare . In 15 of these 18 patients, the cause of death was considered to be due to systemic dissemination of the organism causing the choroiditis. Only 4 of the 18 cases of infectious choroiditis were diagnosed during life, and the survival time of these patients after diagnosis was only 25 days. Five of the 18 patients also were found to have cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the retina. Conclusion: Multifocal choroiditis due to endogenous infectious emboli in patients with AIDS reflects systemic dissemination and localization of infectious agents predominantly in the choriocapillaris. Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative and may be life-saving.
About Being in Time: Response to Commentaries by Dinshaw, Auerbach, and Pellegrini

This article is a response to commentaries by Dinshaw, Auerbach, and Pellegrini on “Using Queer and Psychoanalytic Times to Explore the Troubling Temporalities of Fetal Personhood” (this issue). This response describes in more detail the ways the author integrates psychoanalytic and queer theories of temporality by outlining a way of bringing the 2 forms of analysis together in the reading of fetal personhood cases. This response also explores further the profound racism and classism in the administration of these personhood laws and the ways they enact Alexander’s (2010) description of the new caste system.
Distribution and biochemical properties of an M1-family aminopeptidase in Plasmodium falciparum indicate a role in vacuolar hemoglobin catabolism.

Aminopeptidases catalyze N-terminal peptide bond hydrolysis and occupy many diverse roles across all domains of life. Here we present evidence that an M1-family aminopeptidase, PfA-M1, has been recruited to specialized roles in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PfA-M1 is abundant in two subcellular compartments in asexual intraerythrocytic parasites; that is, the food vacuole, where the catabolism of host hemoglobin takes place, and the nucleus. A unique N-terminal extension contributes to the observed dual targeting by providing a signal peptide and putative alternate translation initiation sites. PfA-M1 exists as two major isoforms, a nuclear 120-kDa species and a processed species consisting of a complex of 68- and 35-kDa fragments. PfA-M1 is both stable and active at the acidic pH of the food vacuole lumen. Determination of steady-state kinetic parameters for both aminoacyl-β-naphthylamide and unmodified dipeptide substrates over the pH range 5.0–8.5 reveals that kcat is relatively insensitive to pH, whereas Km increases at pH values below 6.5. At the pH of the food vacuole lumen (5.0–5.5), the catalytic efficiency of PfA-M1 remains high. Consistent with the kinetic data, the affinity of peptidic competitive inhibitors is diminished at acidic pH. Together, these results support a catalytic role for PfA-M1 in the food vacuole and indicate the importance of evaluating the potency of peptidic inhibitors at physiologically relevant pH values. They also suggest a second, distinct function for this enzyme in the parasite nucleus.
Rainfall, Convection, and Latent Heating Distributions in Rapidly Intensifying Tropical Cyclones

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC) rainfall, convection, and latent heating distributions are compiled from 14 years of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar overpasses. The dataset of 818 Northern Hemisphere tropical storms through category 2 hurricanes is divided by future 24-h intensity change and exclusively includes storms with at least moderately favorable environmental conditions. The rapidly intensifying (RI) category is further subdivided into an initial [RI (initial)] and continuing [RI (continuing)] category based on whether the storm is near the beginning of an RI event or has already been undergoing RI for 12 or more hours prior to the TRMM overpass. TCs in each intensity change category are combined into composite diagrams orientated relative to the environmental vertical wind shear direction. Rainfall frequency, defined as the shear-relative occurrence of PR near-surface reflectivity >20 dBZ, is most strongly correlated with future intensity change. The rainfall frequenc...
Hydrogen bonding between FNO and H2O: structure and energetics.

Nitrosyl fluoride, of some interest in atmospheric chemistry, has three atoms which could potentially serve as proton acceptors in the formation of hydrogen bonds. The optimized structure of FNO and H2O was determined at the MP4/6-31G** level of calculation. In the resulting structure, the hydrogen bonds at the fluorine with an energy of 5.15 kcal/mol, contrary to the prediction that less electronegative atoms make better proton acceptors/electron donors but consistent with results of proton affinity studies and with the contribution of a resonance structure with no bond between the N and F and a negative charge on the fluorine atom. The resulting structure also shows a significant increase in the length of the NF bond from 1.51 to 1.61 A.
Re-tweeting and the Theory of Middle-Status Conformity in the Post-adoption Use of Twitter

In this paper, we investigate the post-adoption usage of the micro-blogging platform Twitter at the firm level, specifically the act of re-tweeting (reposting what others have tweeted) and the propensity to have one's tweets re-tweeted by others. Using a sample of tweeting activity from US colleges and universities, we demonstrate empirically that re-tweeting activity is consistent with the theory of middle-status conformity and that re-tweeting in a manner inconsistent with the institution's status in the marketplace has a differential impact on their successful post-adoption usage of the platform, which was measured as the propensity to have one's tweets re-tweeted by others. For high-status and upper middle-status colleges and universities, re-tweeting content posted by others less than normative expectations is more effective than more, but for lower middle-status and low-status colleges and universities, re-tweeting content posted by others more than normative expectations is more effective than less. Our study contributes to the post-adoption usage of information systems literature at the firm level by demonstrating empirically the importance of status to the technology, organization and environment (TOE) framework.
Direct synthesis from MoCl3(THF)3 of a complex containing the [Mo3S4]4+ core

Abstract By reaction of MoCl3(THF)3 with NaSH in tetrahydrofuran, followed by addition of Me2PCH2CH2PMe2(dmpe), then chromatography on silica-gel, and finally addition of NH4PF6, the compound [Mo3S4Cl3(dmpe)3]PF6·CH3OH was prepared in moderate yield. X-ray crystallography showed the presence of a chiral cation based on a Mo3S4 core with chelating dmpe units arranged like the blades of a ship's screw. The three Cl atoms fill the remaining octahedral sites on each metal atom. The compound crystallizes in space group R3c with (hexagonal) cell dimensions of a = 15.310(7) A, c = 30.640(3) A and Z = 6. The [Mo3S4Cl3(dmpe)3]+ ion and the PF6− ion each have crystallographic C3 symmetry. The principal distances and theirs esds are: MoMo, 2.766(4) A; Mo(μ3-S), 2.360(9) A; Mo(μ2-S), 2.290(7) A, 2.336(7) A; MoP, 2.534(8) A, 2.605(8) A; MoCl, 2.473(7) A; PF, 1.56(2) A, 1.64(3) A. The correct enantiomer was obtained by refining both to convergence, which give R = 0.059 and R = 0.064.
Images in clinical medicine. Peripheral ulcerative keratitis in Wegener's granulomatosis.

This 15-year-old girl reported progressively worsening pain and redness in her left eye. The diagnosis of scleritis with peripheral ulcerative keratitis was made. Testing for antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody was positive.
Generation of Optimized Assembly Sequences Based on Priority Rules Screening

Contact-connection matrix is proposed to describe contact and connection relations between components. Extended interference matrix is given to settle non-orthogonal assembly problems effectively which other current methods are incapable of. Several rules that influence the efficiency of assembly are studied from the quantification point of view. The priorities of the rules can be customized to screen optimum components in every cyclic process to comprise an optimized sequence automatically, using the above matrices. The prototype system is developed on UG NX platform and a fixture with 30 parts containing tilt assembly directions is demonstrated as an example. The results indicate that the algorithm is efficient and flexible.
Ventricular septal defect in infants and children; a correlation of clinical, physiologic, and autopsy data.

Now that ventricular septal defect is amenable to surgical repair it is most important to define the indications for surgical intervention. In this paper the natural history of the disease and its clinical and physiologic characteristics are carefully detailed. These observations permit better recognition and understanding of the condition and offer a basis for comparison with results after surgery.
Quantitative method for measurement of the Goos-Hanchen effect based on source divergence considerations

In this paper we report on a method for quantitative measurement and characterization of the Goos-Hanchen effect based upon the real world performance of optical sources. A numerical model of a nonideal plane wave is developed in terms of uniform divergence properties. This model is applied to the Goos-Hanchen shift equations to determine beam shift displacement characteristics, which provides quantitative estimates of finite shifts near critical angle. As a potential technique for carrying out a meaningful comparison with experiments, a classical method of edge detection is discussed. To this end a line spread Green's function is defined which can be used to determine the effective transfer function of the near critical angle behavior of divergent plane waves. The process yields a distributed (blurred) output with a line spread function characteristic of the inverse square root nature of the Goos-Hanchen shift equation. A parameter of interest for measurement is given by the edge shift function. Modern imaging and image processing methods provide suitable techniques for exploiting the edge shift phenomena to attain refractive index sensitivities of the order of 10{sup -6}, comparable with the recent results reported in the literature.
A Review of Panel-Type Display Devices

A review of the activities of various governmental, industrial, and academic institutions is made in the field of panel display devices. These devices are thin sheets which can display luminescent information. Insofar as possible the present state of the art is indicated. The displays are grouped as: evacuated, solid, gas, liquid and mechanical. Among the evacuated types are listed the thin cathode ray tubes and the image intensifier. The solid-type displays employ the electroluminescent panel in conjunction with an xy matrix of electrodes. Recent progress in panels of the above type with memory are included as well as a brief discussion of solid-state image intensifiers. Descriptions of proposed gaseous displays as well as of liquid and mechanical displays are included. A brief discussion of switching circuits is included. Actual as well as possible applications of these devices are listed.
Stimulation of bone resorption in organ culture by cholera toxin.

Abstract Bone resorption in organ cultures of neonatal mouse calvaria was stimulated by choleragen (cholera enterotoxin) in a dose-related manner (0.5 to 5.0 ng/ml). Stimulation was potentiated by the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (4 μM) and was inhibited by human calcitonin (100 ng/ml), but not by indomethacin (0.7 μM), an inhibitor of the fatty acid cyclooxygenase. The action of choleragen on cyclic AMP accumulation and bone resorption was consistent with the known characteristics of this toxin: 1. choleragen increased cyclic AMP accumulation in bone cultures; 2. there was a lag period (20 – 120 min) prior to an increase in cyclic AMP accumulation following addition of choleragen; 3. incubation with choleragen for only 4 h stimulated bone resorption in the subsequent 44 h as much as did continuous incubation with choleragen for 48 h; and 4. choleragenoid, the biologically inactive toxoid, did not stimulate bone resorption in the concentration range in which choleragen was active. We conclude that activation of adenylyl cyclase and the subsequent increase in cyclic AMP production can stimulate bone resorption, and that cyclic AMP may, therefore, be involved in the enhanced bone resorption mediated by parathyroid hormone and other agents which increase cyclic AMP in bone.
Physical and fine structure properties of cotton fibers swollen with trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide

Cotton fiber was treated with aqueous trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide (Triton B) at concentrations over the range 25%–40%. After complete removal of the swelling agent, the samples were evaluated for the extent of swelling, strength and elongation, birefringence, moisture regain, density, crystallinity, x-ray diffraction patterns, and microfibrillar morphology. Electron-microscopical examination and other evaluation of fine structure properties revealed that the nature of swelling is intercrystalline up to 30% concentration of Triton B, and intracrystalline beyond that. Although the swelling as measured by propanol-2 retention after treatment with 30% Triton B is about twice as much as that of the control, the original structure remains almost unchanged except for some gain in strength and elongation and increase in moisture regain. At 32% Triton B concentration and beyond, rapid decrystallization takes place, accompanied by a fall in birefringence, density, and crystallinity index. X-Ray analysis showed significant loss of lateral order and partial conversion of cellulose I to cellulose II at 35% and 40% Triton B concentrations. The results indicate that, used at the critical concentration of 30%, Triton B can be a useful swelling agent for cotton fibers as it opens up the fine structure of cellulose considerably without impairing any important physical properties.
Seasonal Variation in Transport of the Pacific North Equatorial Current Relative to the Wind Field

Abstract Geostrophic transports in the upper 300 m relative to 1000 db are computed from observations along four meridional sections occupied monthly during the Trade Wind Zone Oceanography Study, February 1964 to June 1965. Transports varied from a minimum of about 11×106 m3 s−1 in February of both 1964 and 1965 to a maximum of 23×106 m3 s−1 in September 1964. The ridge in the thermocline at the southern edge of the current rose or fell simultaneously as the transport increased or decreased. Theoretical vertical displacements were computed from the wind stress curl using a formula derived by Yoshida and Mao. The observed vertical displacements of the thermocline are similar to the computed displacements. Thus, the observations of the Trade Wind Zone Oceanography Study are in agreement with the simple model of variation in the strength of equatorial currents that was developed by Yoshida and by Fedorov. According to the model, the divergence of Ekman transports cause variation in the meridional slope of t...
Theory of core excitation components in the ground states of the calcium isotopes

Wave functions of the ground states of the calcium isotopes are calculated. The configurations are restricted to f72(n)JT and [d32−2 IH THf72(n+2) IP TP] JT where IH, TH, IP, TP are the angular momenta and isobaric spins of the two holes and (n + 2) particles respectively. Using the abreviated notation [THTP] T for the core excitation components we show that the matrix elements between these components and the shell model states f72(n) assume a very simple form for all possible TH, TP and n. A relationship between the neutron and proton strengths in d, p reactions to opposite parity states and the average number of neutron holes and proton holes in the ground states of the calcium isotopes is worked out and is discussed in simple physical terms. It is found that the [TH = 1 TP = T + 1] T states are mainly responsible for the neutron strengths in (d, p) reactions, whereas the [TH = 1 TP = T − 1]T states contribute most to the proton strengths in (3He, d) reactions to opposite parity states. In order to reproduce the experimental trend in which the neutron strength decreases as one goes through the even calcium isotopes one must choose the energies of the [TH = 1 TP = T + 1]T states to be an increasing function of n. This is contrary to a previous prediction by this author. The work of Gerace and Green on the calcium isotopes is discussed and compared with the present work. We obtain much smaller neutron strengths for the (d, p) reactions in 40Ca and 42Ca to J = 32+ states than are obtained by some of the experimentalists. For example, the reaction 40Ca (d, p) 41Ca J = 32+ state has 0.78 as the value of the neutron strength according to Belote et al1. In our model this would imply that the percentage of core-excitation component in the ground state of 40Ca is at least 78%.
Time-resolved fluorescence and anisotropy of covalently coupled 1-pyrenebutyric acid for monitoring the crystallization conditions of lysozyme

Time-resolved fluorescence and anisotropy measurements of trace amounts of 1-pyrenebutyric acid labeled hen egg-white lysozyme (PBA-HEL) were used to characterize hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) crystallization conditions. The effects of sodium chloride and protein concentrations on the fluorescence lifetimes and rotational correlation times of the labeled protein were examined. These results were compared with the effects of the salts ammonium acetate and ammonium sulfate. Addition of protein precipitants caused increases in the rotational correlation times which were attributed to a combination of steric, hydrodynamic, general electrostatic and specific ionic interactions. This decrease in the rotational mobility of HEL appears to be a necessary but not sufficient condition to allow the formation of specific interactions leading to crystallization. The results demonstrated that fluorescence measurements are effective in characterizing and monitoring protein crystallization processes prior to the appearance of macroscopic crystals.
Critical Role of a Transcription Elongation Regulator in Mammary Gland Development and Mammary Tumorigenesis.

For a long time transcriptional regulation was thought to primarily regulated at the stage of transcription initiation. However, recent genome-wide studies suggest that the majority of genes, both active and inactive, in human cells experience transcription initiation and many of them have RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) physically present at the promoter-proximal region. Thus, transcription elongation may represent a common but under-explored step for mammalian gene regulation. Cofactor of BRCA1 (COBRA1), which was first identified as a BRCA1-binding protein, acts as an integral subunit of the negative elongation factor (NELF) complex to stall RNAPII at the promoter proximal regions of multiple estrogen-responsive genes. COBRA1/NELF-B also shares a number of target genes for transcriptional regulation with BRCA1 in breast cancer cells. In support of its potential role in tumor suppression, its reduced expression is strongly correlated with metastatic breast cancer and knockdown of COBRA1 leads to elevated hormone-dependent transcription and accelerated cell proliferation both in vitro and in xenograft models.In order to get a better understanding of the molecular functions of Cobra1 in mammary gland, we employed Cre-lox system to delete mouse Cobra1 in the mammary gland. These mammary gland-specific Cobra1 knockout mice exhibit severe defects in alveologenesis and lactogenesis. These animals also show abnormal epithelial morphology specifically in the luminal compartment. Luminal epithelial population isolated from these mice using cell surface markers showed reduced colony forming ability both in 2-D and 3-D cultures. Molecular basis for the Cobra1 -associated developmental defects and the possible impact of Cobra1 deletion on mammary tumorigenesis will be discussed. By linking regulation of transcription elongation with mammary gland-specific functions, our work establishes a new mode of gene regulation in mammary gland development. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1152.
Differences in sexual risk behaviors among male and female HIV-seronegative heterosexual methamphetamine users.

Background: Despite increased awareness and attention towards methamphetamine (MA) use among men who have sex with men (MSM), few studies have examined behaviors and effects of MA use among heterosexual populations. Objective: To learn whether behaviors and effects of MA use among heterosexuals differ according to gender. Methods: We examined gender differences in sociodemographic characteristics, drug use practices, sexual behaviors, and consequences and motivations for MA use among 452 HIV-negative MA users (306 men, 146 women) who had engaged in unprotected sex and used MA in the previous two months. Results: Females in the sample were younger and more likely to be married, to have been diagnosed with an STI in the last two months, and to report having been introduced to MA by a sexual partner. Women were also more likely to experience depressive symptoms and to report using MA “to lose weight.” Men were more likely to engage in sex marathons while high on MA and to use MA “to enhance sexual pleasure.”...
Influence of Deer Exclusion on Populations of Lone Star Ticks and American Dog Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

A 2.43-ha deer exclosure was constructed in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Land Between The Lakes in 1977–78 to study the effects of deer exclusion on the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.). Tick populations were monitored with dry ice in 1978 and 1979, and with dry ice and drags in 1982. Lone star tick larvae averaged 98% fewer on exclosed plots than on control plots for all 3 study years. Populations of overwintered nymphs and adults were reduced by acaricide application and showed no significant differences in 1978. For 1979 and 1982, nymphs averaged 38% fewer on exclosed plots. Adults averaged 22% fewer on exclosed plots for 1979 and 1982; however, this difference was not significant. Reinfestation of the exclosure by adults and nymphs was attributed to movement of small host animals between the exclosed and adjacent untreated areas. A possible exclosure response was also observed in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), in that the exclosed field became more infested with adult American dog ticks than the other areas.
Polarization properties of dielectronic satellite lines in the K-shell x-ray spectra of B-like Fe XXII

We report the results of a combined theoretical and experimental study of B-like dielectronic recombination satellite lines excited by an electron beam. Polarization sensitive spectra were accumulated at the Lawrence Livermore electron beam ion trap facility. Three beam energies were chosen in the region of maximum B-like Fe satellite emission. At each energy, spectra were obtained using two LiF crystals of differing polarization sensitivities. Polarization-dependent spectra have been calculated using the degree of polarization of single lines computed with a photon density matrix formalism. The agreement between the experiment and theory is very good. Two spectral features were observed to have polarizations that were particularly sensitive to the electron beam energy. Spectral features with this property are candidates as diagnostics of energy and direction of electron beams in plasmas.
Data-base management software for computer applications on small computers

Abstract The G-EXEC subset, described in terms of data-base management software for third-world geologists, retains all features of the full G-EXEC system including generalization, and system integration. The system is composed of selected programs for input-output operations, data vetting and validation, retrieval, and file manipulation. Implementation of the subset on the Syracuse University IBM 370/155 is described and additional planned phase-by-phase upgrades are annotated.
Carbon Isotope Ratios on the Upper Red Giant Branch of Messier 71

This paper presents measurements of the 12C/13C abundance ratio among red giants in the globular cluster Messier 71. The stars observed have absolute magnitudes of MV 10, although the observational uncertainties are larger for such stars, due to both weaker CO bands and lower signal-to-noise ratios in the spectra. Thus, there may be some evidence that 12C/ 13C is decreasing with increasing stellar luminosity among the lower luminosity giants in our sample.
Petascale Computing Research Challenges - A Manycore Perspective

Summary form only given. Future high performance computing will undoubtedly reach Petascale and beyond. Today's HPC is tomorrow's personal computing. What are the evolving processor architectures towards multi-core and many-core for the best performance per watt; memory bandwidth solutions to feed the ever more powerful processors; intra-chip interconnect options for optimal bandwidth vs. power? With Moore's Law continuing to prove its viability and shrinking transistors' geometry, improving reliability is even more challenging. Intel Senior Fellow and Chief Technology Officer of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, Steve Pawlowski, will provide his technology vision, insight and research challenges to achieve the vision of Petascale computing and beyond
Information-Theoretic Measures of Fit for Univariate and Multivariate Linear Regressions

For the purpose of measuring the relative importance of independent variables in a multiple regression, Kruskal (1987) proposed an averaging procedure over all possible orderings of these variables. The present article uses this suggestion, but it is based on a different measure, from statistical information theory, and it extends the result to systems of equations.
Cardinal directions between complex regions

Besides topological relationships and approximate relationships, cardinal directions like north and southwest have turned out to be an important class of qualitative spatial relationships. They are of interdisciplinary interest in fields like cognitive science, robotics, artificial intelligence, and qualitative spatial reasoning. In spatial databases and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) they are frequently used as join and selection criteria in spatial queries. However, the available computational models of cardinal directions suffer a number of problems like the use of too coarse approximations of the two spatial operand objects in terms of single representative points or minimum bounding rectangles, the lacking property of converseness of the cardinal directions computed, and the limited applicability to simple instead of complex regions only. This article proposes and formally defines a novel two-phase model, called the Objects Interaction Matrix (OIM) model, that solves these problems, and determines cardinal directions for even complex regions. The model consists of a tiling phase and an interpretation phase. In the tiling phase, a tiling strategy first determines the zones belonging to the nine cardinal directions of each individual region object and then intersects them. The result leads to a bounded grid called objects interaction grid. For each grid cell the information about the region objects that intersect it is stored in an objects interaction matrix. In the subsequent interpretation phase, a well-defined interpretation method is applied to such a matrix and determines the cardinal direction. Spatial example queries illustrate our new cardinal direction concept that is embedded in a spatial extension of SQL and provides user-defined cardinal direction predicates.
Information Literacy and the Introductory Management Classroom

This article proposes that the integration of information literacy standards into the management classroom can address underdeveloped student research strategies and promote effective use of print, digital, and free Web resources. Incorporating information literacy can support management educators in their need to balance disciplinary content, departmental curriculum, and broader educational goals that support the preparation of future managers. This article begins with a review of core information literacy concepts and standards. An in-depth discussion of information literacy challenges on campus and in the workplace follows. Next, the authors offer an evolving case example that illustrates the incorporation of information literacy skills and concepts into an introductory management course. Implications and suggestions for management educators are explored.
Apoptotic donor leukocytes limit mixed-chimerism induced by CD40-CD154 blockade in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Abstract "Mini" allogeneic bone marrow transplants using non-myeloablative conditioning have reduced early treatment-related mortalities, but graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection remain clinical problems. Our preliminary studies indicated that low-dose busulfan conditioning and costimulatory blockade using anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in combination with a pretransplantation "tolerating" dose of bone marrow (BM) cells were sufficient to establish stable mixed-chimerism without GVHD when transplanting moderate doses of T cell depleted (TCD)-BM from major histocompatibility complex (MHC) fully-mismatched donors (Adams AB, Durham MM, Kean L, et al. J Immunol. 2001;167:1103-1111). In this study, donor splenocytes were administered before transplantation as a tolerating cell infusion with a conditioning regimen consisting of low-dose busulfan and anti-CD154 mAb. We compared the ability of viable and apoptotic donor cells of different ex vivo treatments and purified different donor cell populations (CD3+, CD3−, CD11b+, and CD11b− splenocytes) to induce tolerance and enhance donor chimerism in a MHC mismatched model of murine bone marrow transplantation. We found that mixed chimerism without GVHD was enhanced by pretransplantation administration of viable allogeneic splenocytes and diminished in mice with prior exposure to apoptotic/necrotic donor splenocytes. CD11b+-enriched splenocytes more potently enhanced donor chimerism compared to unfractionated splenocytes or other splenocyte subsets. Mixed lymphocyte cultures demonstrated that apoptotic stimulators overcame the immune-tolerating activity of anti-CD154 mAb and led to increased interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α synthesis, increased proliferation of responder T cells, and decreased production of interleukin-10. In conclusion, viable donor splenocytes administered before transplantation in combination with costimulatory blockade induced tolerance and enhanced donor chimerism, whereas pretransplantation administration of apoptotic/necrotic donor cells led to host T cell activation and decreased overall donor engraftment.
Rationing fairly: programmatic considerations.

CONCLUSION I conclude with a plea against provincialism. The four problems I illustrated have their analogues in the rationing of goods other than health care. To flesh out a principle that says "people are equal before the law" will involve decisions about how to allocate legal services among all people who can make plausible claims to need them by citing that principle. Similarly, to give content to a principle that assures equal educational opportunity will involve decisions about resource allocation very much like those involved in rationing health care. Being provincial about health care rationing will prevent us from seeing the relationships among these rationing problems. Conversely, a rationing theory will have greater force if it derives from consideration of common types of problems that are independent of the kinds of goods whose distribution is in question. I am suggesting that exploring a theory of rationing in this way is a prolegomenon to serious work in "applied ethics."
A Multilevel Study of the Associations Between Economic and Social Context, Stage of Adolescence, and Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

OBJECTIVE. Prevention efforts targeting adolescent risk behavior have had limited effectiveness, partly because of the reliance on individual-level interventions that do not consider the context within which behavior occurs. In addition, the role of development has not been well studied regarding its possible moderating effects on contextual influences on behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of economic and social context on the odds of being inactive or having above-normal weight and whether the influence differed on the basis of stage of adolescence. METHODS. Analysis used a subset of adolescents aged 10 to 17 years from the National Survey of Children9s Health ( n = 37930) from all states and the District of Columbia ( n = 51). Dependent variables included physical activity and BMI. State-level economic context was measured by the proportion of families living below 200% of the federal poverty level. Social context was measured by aggregated means of responses to 2 indicators of social capital: mutual aid and social trust. Multilevel modeling was conducted to investigate associations between state-level economic and social context and physical activity and BMI, while controlling for individual sociodemographic characteristics, and whether these associations were dependent on an individual9s stage of adolescence. RESULTS. Both state-level mutual aid and social trust were significantly related to the odds of an adolescent not meeting current physical activity recommendations, yet state-level poverty was not. For BMI, all 3 state-level variables were significant predictors of having an above-normal BMI. Evidence was found of the moderating influence of stage of adolescence for both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. These findings point to the need for the inclusion of contextual-level data in surveillance systems assessing risk behavior in adolescents and consideration of the multilevel nature of the growing problem of inactivity and above-normal weight when focusing public health prevention efforts.
SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE NETWORKS FOR MULTI-CLASS CLASSIFICATION

The support vector machine (SVM) has recently attracted growing interest in pattern classification due to its competitive performance. It was originally designed for two-class classification, and many researchers have been working on extensions to multiclass. In this paper, we present a new framework that adapts the SVM with neural networks and analyze the source of misclassification in guiding our preprocessing for optimization in multiclass classification. We perform experiments on the ORL database and the results show that our framework can achieve high recognition rates.
Update on national toxicology program (NTP) assays with genetically altered or "transgenic" mice.

The NTP is evaluating several lines of genetically altered mice for possible use in identifying and assessing carcinogens. The NIEHS/NTP programs and progress in this area were recently reviewed by...
SU‐FF‐T‐150: In Vivo Diode Dosimetry for Helical Tomotherapy Dose Verification

Purpose: We propose and assess the feasibility of in vivo diode dosimetry for helical tomotherapy treatments. We aim to evaluate the influence of treatment parameters (grid size, field width, pitch and modulation factor) on diode measurements. Method and Materials: Isorad‐p type diodes were calibrated and diode characteristics (angular dependence, etc) were studied. Treatment plans with different delivery parameters were performed on a s30 cm diameter solid water cylindrical phantom to deliver: 1) homogeneous dose to the whole phantom target; and 2) dose to a small target located at the center of the phantom. Diodes were placed in various positions at the surface of the phantom. The megavoltage CT (MVCT) was utilized for accurate phantom and diode localization. Diode measurements on patients have been performed and will also be analyzed. Results: Diode directional dependence in the transverse direction was less than ± 1% over full 360° rotation. On the whole phantom target, in general measured data were within ± 5% of the planned dose. Use of a fine dose grid (2mm) in planning generally showed better agreement with measurements. Field width has no effect on diode response. Higher pitch resulted in poor agreement. Diode measurements were within 10% of expected dose for a centrally located small target. Dose measurements for patients have been within 10% of expected dose.Conclusion: Isorad‐p type diodes agree to ± 5% for some situations and better than ± 10% for in vivo diode dosimetry for helical tomotherapy treatments. A basic understanding of the effects of physical factors (field width, pitch and modulation factor, grid size) on variations in diode response is essential to select the accepted limit. In vivo dosimetry can be very useful as a secondary check for complicated helical tomotherapy radiation delivery.
Noncatalytic gas‐solid reactions and mechanical stress generation

The reaction rate in gas-solid systems can be affected by mechanical stresses that arise as the reaction proceeds. Stresses develop due to differences between precursor and product molar volumes and thermal expansion coefficients. Experimental evidence on the interaction of reaction rate and mechanical stress for the Ti/N{sub 2} and Ti/O{sub 2} systems is provided. A detailed and consistent mathematical model is developed for the reaction taking place at the constrained precursor/product interface. An elastic formulation for the stresses is adopted, and stress generation due to mismatches in linear thermal expansion coefficients and equivalent volume (Pilling-Bedworth ratio) for the precursor and product are considered. The effect of surface energy, which becomes significant for particle sizes below 1 {mu}m, is also included in the model. Both experimentally and theoretically, conditions exist where the mechanical stresses exceed the strength of the material, leading to mechanical breakdown of the product layer, thus causing a discontinuity in the observed reaction rate. The entire process history, including the reaction, temperature, and pressure profiles, play an important role in determining the overall reaction kinetics of the powder.
The “Silent Revolution,” Value Priorities, and the Quality of Life in Britain*

Inglehart's “Silent Revolution” thesis is examined critically through an analysis of an experimental British survey of subjective attitudes toward the “quality of life.” Inglehart's techniques were replicated to identify “Acquisitive” and “Post-bourgeois” types. It was found that whilst those holding to “postbourgeois” values possessed the demographic characteristics and the political dispositions predicted by Inglehart's thesis, on other highly relevant measures of values choices the postbourgeois group revealed attitudes similarly or even more “acquisitive” than the “Acquisitives.” Discussion is critical of the Maslovian assumptions of Inglehart's model and proposes instead an interpretation of the postbourgeois phenomenon based upon identity and status discrepancies.
Maskless etching of silicon using patterned microdischarges

Microdischarges in flexible copper-polyimide structures with hole diameters of 200 µm have been used as stencil masks to pattern bare silicon in CF4/Ar chemistry. The discharges were operated at 20 Torr using the substrate as the cathode, achieving etch rates greater than 7 µm/min. Optical emission spectroscopy provides evidence of excited fluorine atoms. The etch profiles show a peculiar shape attributed to plasma expansion into the etched void. Forming discharges in multiple hole and line shapes permits direct pattern transfer in silicon and could be an alternative to ultrasonic milling and laser drilling.
Processing Effects on The Morphology of Hydrothermally Derived Nanocrystalline Lead Titanate

Nanocrystalline lead titanate was synthesized by reacting nanocrystalline titanium oxide in aqueous solutions of potassium hydroxide and lead acetate at 200 degrees C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM studies suggest that the initial KOH concentration influenced the nucleation and growth behavior of the lead titanate nanoparticles. Powders were processed in aqueous solutions containing 0.10 M lead acetate and a Pb:Ti ratio of 1, with varying concentrations of KOH. Powders processed in 0.01 M KOH were composed of irregularly shaped particles with 50-100 nm in size, processing in 0.10 M KOH produced particles with finger-like morphology and broader particle size distribution, and processing in 1.0 M KOH resulted in anisometric plates with (001) facets, and 100-200 nm in size. XRD studies have shown systematic variations in the position and symmetry of reflections with a l component as a function of particle size. This indicates that the c/a ratio of lead titanate increases with decreasing nanoparticle size
Nonlinear simulations of solid tumor growth using a mixture model: invasion and branching

We develop a thermodynamically consistent mixture model for avascular solid tumor growth which takes into account the effects of cell-to-cell adhesion, and taxis inducing chemical and molecular species. The mixture model is well-posed and the governing equations are of Cahn-Hilliard type. When there are only two phases, our asymptotic analysis shows that earlier single-phase models may be recovered as limiting cases of a two-phase model. To solve the governing equations, we develop a numerical algorithm based on an adaptive Cartesian block-structured mesh refinement scheme. A centered-difference approximation is used for the space discretization so that the scheme is second order accurate in space. An implicit discretization in time is used which results in nonlinear equations at implicit time levels. We further employ a gradient stable discretization scheme so that the nonlinear equations are solvable for very large time steps. To solve those equations we use a nonlinear multilevel/multigrid method which is of an optimal order O(N) where N is the number of grid points. Spherically symmetric and fully two dimensional nonlinear numerical simulations are performed. We investigate tumor evolution in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor tissues. A number of important results have been uncovered. For example, we demonstrate that the tumor may suffer from taxis-driven fingering instabilities which are most dramatic when cell proliferation is low, as predicted by linear stability theory. This is also observed in experiments. This work shows that taxis may play a role in tumor invasion and that when nutrient plays the role of a chemoattractant, the diffusional instability is exacerbated by nutrient gradients. Accordingly, we believe this model is capable of describing complex invasive patterns observed in experiments.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitors and Hypertension: A Central Role for the Kidney and Endothelial Factors?

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF or VEGF-A) has numerous physiological actions, including inducing endothelial cell permeability, proliferation, angiogenesis, lymphogenesis, and vasodilation.1,2 VEGF belongs to a family of secreted glycoproteins, including VEGF-B, -C, -D and placenta growth factor. VEGF signaling is mediated via 2 receptors, VEGFR1/Flt1 and VEGFR2/Flk1. First described as a tumor-derived factor, VEGF plays a central role in the pathogenic angiogenesis that occurs in cancerous tumors.2 Thus, an array of VEGF-pathway inhibitors has been developed to block the formation of tumor vessels and cause regression of tumors.1,2 Although many of these agents have shown promise in clinical trials, a number of adverse effects, including hypertension, proteinuria, arterial thromboembolia, and gastrointestinal perforation, have been reported.1,2 These multiple and diverse adverse effects support the growing evidence that VEGF may have important physiological roles in the adult human. Indeed, previous studies indicate that VEGF is expressed in virtually every tissue in the adult.1 The highest density of VEGF-expressing cells is found in tissues with fenestrated vasculature, such as in the kidney.1 Moreover, VEGF neutralization studies in animals and studies demonstrating that the endogenous soluble VEGF receptor antagonist, sFlt-1, causes significant endothelial dysfunction, proteinuria, and hypertension support the notion that VEGF may have an important effect on endothelial and vascular functions and on blood pressure regulation in the adult animal.3,4 Although hypertension appears to be one of the most common adverse effects of VEGF inhibitors, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the increase in blood pressure in response to VEGF pathway inhibitors have yet to be fully elucidated.5,6 Because the endothelium is a major target organ for the actions of VEGF, it is likely that decreases in the production of endothelium-derived relaxing, such as NO and prostaglandin, or enhanced production of vasoconstricting factors, such as thromboxane and …
Contraction and action potentials of frog heart muscles soaked in sucrose solution.

Isolated auricles or ventricles from the frog continue to contract, either spontaneously or when stimulated, for from 2 to 4 hours after they are placed in isotonic sucrose solution. After the muscles stop contracting in sucrose solution, contractility is partially restored when the muscles are placed in chloride Ringer's. However, contractility is usually not restored if the muscles are placed in sulfate Ringer's. Ventricles soaked in sucrose solution at 4–7°C continue to contract for 12 to 24 hours and during the first few hours in sucrose solution the contractions often are enhanced. Several types of experiment indicate that the sucrose solution does replace the Ringer's in the extracellular space. Auricles and ventricles also continue to conduct action potentials, with an overshoot, for from 30 to 360 minutes after being placed in sucrose solution. Muscles soaked in sucrose until they are inexcitable rapidly recover in chloride Ringer's but often fail to recover in sulfate Ringer's. The results are discussed in relation to theories about the generation of the action potential in cardiac muscle, and the role of the extracellular fluid in contraction.