cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms for Alternaria alternata Function in the Skin During Induction of Peanut Allergy in Neonatal Mice With Skin Barrier Mutations

Neonatal mice with heterozygous mutations in genes encoding the skin barrier proteins filaggrin and mattrin (flaky tail mice [FT+/-]) exhibit oral peanut-induced anaphylaxis after skin sensitization. As we have previously reported, sensitization in this model is achieved via skin co- exposure to the environmental allergen Alternaria alternata (Alt), peanut extract (PNE) and detergent. However, the function of Alt in initiation of peanut allergy in this model is little understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate candidate cytokines induced by Alt in the skin and determine the role of these cytokines in the development of food allergy, namely oncostatin M (Osm), amphiregulin (Areg) and IL-33. RT-qPCR analyses demonstrated that skin of FT+/- neonates expressed Il33 and Osm following Alt or Alt/PNE but not PNE exposure. By contrast, expression of Areg was induced by either Alt, PNE or Alt/PNE sensitization in FT+/- neonates. In scRNAseq analyses, Osm, Areg and Il33 were expressed by several cell types, including a keratinocyte cluster that was expanded in the skin of Alt/PNE-exposed FT+/- pups as compared to Alt/PNE-exposed WT pups. Areg and OSM were required for oral PNE-induced anaphylaxis since anaphylaxis was inhibited by administration of neutralizing anti-Areg or anti-OSM antibodies prior to each skin sensitization with Alt/PNE. It was then determined if intradermal injection of recombinant IL33 (rIL33), rAreg or rOSM in the skin could substitute for Alt during skin sensitization to PNE. PNE skin sensitization with intradermal rIL33 was sufficient for oral PNE-induced anaphylaxis, whereas skin sensitization with intradermal rAreg or rOSM during skin exposure to PNE was not sufficient for anaphylaxis to oral PNE challenge. Based on these studies a pathway for IL33, Areg and OSM in Alt/PNE sensitized FT+/- skin was defined for IgE induction and anaphylaxis. Alt stimulated two pathways, an IL33 pathway and a pathway involving OSM and Areg. These two pathways acted in concert with PNE to induce food allergy in pups with skin barrier mutations.
Solar module orientation and tracking type performance and optimization

The efficiency and performance of solar cells and modules are typically evaluated and reported at normal incidence under peak solar radiation. We present a simple clear-sky model for solar irradiance that can be used to study the angular and annual performance of new photovoltaic materials. Using this model, we study the effect of solar module orientation for fixed-tilt module installations and different types of tracking (seasonal, 1D, and 2D) as a function of latitude. For fixed-tilt modules, the optimum tilt as a fraction of latitude varies from 0.83 at 1 deg to 0.73 at 60 deg. The effect of tilt misorientation for panels at the optimum azimuth is not very strong as the solar irradiance is about 94.5% of its optimum at ±20 deg mistilt. Both azimuth misorientation and tilt misorientation are studied. Optimized tilts and times of year for tilting are also obtained for modules that are seasonally adjusted twice and three times a year. The annual solar insolation of fixed modules is compared with modules that are seasonally adjusted twice and three times a year, continuously tracked in the north/south direction, continuously tracked in the east/west direction, and continuously tracked in two directions. The use of single-axis tracking in the east/west direction is preferable to north/south tracking and potentially improves overall energy collection by 16.2% to 31.0%. Continuous dual-axis tracking enhances overall annual energy collection by 36.0% to 45.5%. The model and provision of open source code provides for a way to assess the performance of new materials.
Red River Valley In the Prehistory of the Northern Plains

Archaeological reconnaissance in the valley of the Red River of the North indicates a heavy utilization of this area by Late Woodland peoples, especially manufacturers of Sandy Lake pottery. Artifa...
A SMES Shuntable Vapor-Cooled Current Lead Array Reduces Liquid Helium Usage and Improves Reliability

In a conventionally designed vapor-cooled current lead, the geometry is governed by the criterion that the cryogen heat input is minimized at the maximum design current. At lower currents, the heat input due to conduction gives rise to a performance penalty in a SMES device because of its variable current duty cycle. A new design has been tested that uses an array of parallel current leads with independent liquid helium level control which significantly reduces the time-averaged cryogen heat load in a superconducting magnet that operates at variable currents. At reduced magnet currents, one or more leads can be “shunted out” by lowering the liquid helium level in those leads. Test data indicates that an order of magnitude reduction in cryogen heat load is possible at zero current compared to conventionally optimized leads, and about a factor of two reduction is achievable for a typical SMES operating cycle.
Automatic Extraction of Implanted Electrode Grids

It is common in epilepsy surgery to implant grids and strips of electrodes between the skull and brain or inside the brain, in order to localize functional areas. MR scans are currently used for a variety of image-guided surgical planning tasks, including the localization of the electrode grids. However, the MR scan taken of a patient with implanted electrodes is distorted, and it is difficult to visualize and relate the electrode positions to head and brain structures. For this reason we have developed an automatic algorithm that reliably extracts grids of electrodes from corrupted post-op MR scans. The grid is fitted as a smooth, curved surface through the estimated electrode positions, properly estimating the orientation of the thin disk-shaped electrodes. The extracted grid is then displayed in 3D together with the desired brain structures, coloring the electrodes corresponding to particular functional areas. It is now much easier to visualize and locate the positions of the important functional areas with respect to other brain structures and plan the surgery. This method is currently in clinical use within the Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Flow-Cytometric DNA Content Analysis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract To better understand the mechanisms of esophageal carcinogenesis, abnormalities in DNA content of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas were studied. Cellular DNA content was determined by flow cytometric study of 70 endoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from 26 patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma. High-quality histograms were obtained for 23 patients. Twenty-one patients had at least one aneuploid population in their tumor. In 7 patients, multiple aneuploid peaks were detected. Specimens from 2 patients were diploid. The interpretation of the DNA histograms was difficult in 3 patients; an aneuploid population of cells was probable in 2 of them. A statistically significant relationship was found between the degree of differentiation and DNA content abnormalities in the regions of the tumors that could be evaluated by endoscopic biopsies: well-differentiated carcinomas had diploid or small aneuploid populations containing
Benchmarking and pondering ASERL interlibrary loan operations, 2010 and 2013

Purpose – In 2010 and 2013, the libraries in the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) were surveyed to identify benchmarks and programs to support resource sharing. Benchmarks and challenges identified generate discussions regarding programming, networking, and other support to improve resource sharing operations. This paper seeks to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This study compares and contrasts the two surveys using mixed methods data analysis. This study assesses ILL performance and explores the challenges and trends interlibrary loan practitioners see today. Findings – The article identifies changes and trends in consortia-wide transaction volumes; staffing levels; campus document delivery; professional issues and challenges; and library organizational schemes. Research limitations/implications – The study did not include data from constituencies outside of interlibrary loan. It also did not include interview follow-ups with survey participants to discuss challe...
Formation of elliptical galaxies at moderate redshifts

Different cosmological models make specific predictions about the number of elliptical galaxies as a function of redshift1, so observations can in principle be used to discriminate between those models. Traditionally, elliptical galaxies have been thought to have formed in a single, rapid burst of star formation at high redshifts ( z > 5), and then evolved quietly—with no significant further star formation—since that time2,3. Yet evidence suggests that at least some ellipticals formed for the merger of two spiral galaxies4,5. It remains unclear which process dominates the formation of elliptical galaxies. Here I use the results of deep optical6 and near-infrared7,8,9,10 images to show that there are fewer galaxies with very red colours than predicted by models in which typical ellipticals have completed their star formation by z ≈ 5, which means that elliptical galaxies must have significant star formation at z < 5. This requirement, combined with constraints on bursts of star formation in lower-redshift galaxies11,12, and the observed properties of galaxies in the redshift range 0< z < 1 (refs 13,14,15,16,17), suggests either that ellipticals form at moderate redshifts, where a large initial burst of star formation is shrouded by dust, or that they form through the merging of smaller galaxies.
Computational Markets to Regulate Mobile-Agent Systems

Mobile-agent systems allow applications to distribute their resource consumption across the network. By prioritizing applications and publishing the cost of actions, it is possible for applications to achieve faster performance than in an environment where resources are evenly shared. We enforce the costs of actions through markets, where user applications bid for computation from host machines. We represent applications as collections of mobile agents and introduce a distributed mechanism for allocating general computational priority to mobile agents. We derive a bidding strategy for an agent that plans expenditures given a budget, and a series of tasks to complete. We also show that a unique Nash equilibrium exists between the agents under our allocation policy. We present simulation results to show that the use of our resource-allocation mechanism and expenditure-planning algorithm results in shorter mean job completion times compared to traditional mobile-agent resource allocation. We also observe that our resource-allocation policy adapts favorably to allocate overloaded resources to higher priority agents, and that agents are able to effectively plan expenditures, even when faced with network delay and job-size estimation error.
Implementation of a maximum likelihood convolutional decoder in the DSN

The development status of the decoder and the factors which were considered in defining the specific functional requirements are described. The design is discussed to the block diagram level. A description of the detailed design is provided, along with a description of the test software developed and a brief summary of the performance evaluation testing completed so far.
Cortical and subcortical afferent connections of a posterior division of feline area 7 (area 7p).

Area 7 of the cat, as identified cytoarchitecturally, includes cortex both on the middle suprasylvian gyrus and on the anterior lateral gyrus. The aim of the experiments reported here was to determine whether within this zone there are subdivisions with qualitatively different patterns of afferent connectivity. Deposits of distinguishable retrograde tracers were placed at 29 sites in and around area 7 of 15 cats; cortical and subcortical telencephalic structures were then scanned for retrograde labeling. Our results indicate that cortex on the anterior lateral gyrus, although often included in area 7, is indistinguishable on connectional grounds from adjacent somesthetic cortex (area 5b), Cortex with strong links to visual, oculomotor, and association areas is confined to the middle suprasylvian gyrus and the adjacent lateral bank of the lateral sulcus. We refer to this discrete, connectionally defined zone as posterior area 7 (area 7p). Area 7p receives input from visual areas 19, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, AMLS, ALLS, and PLLS; from frontal oculomotor cortex (areas 6m and 61); and from cortical association areas (posterior cingulate cortex, the granular insula, the posterior ectosylvian gyrus, and posterior area 35). Thalamic projections to area 7p arise from three specific nuclei (pulvinar; nucleus lateralis intermedius, pars caudalis; nucleus ventralis anterior) and from the intralaminar complex (nuclei centralis lateralis, paracentralis and centralis medialis). Neurons in a division of the claustrum immediately beneath the somatosensory and visual zones project to area 7p. Within area 7p, anterior-posterior regional differentiation is present, as indicated by the spatial ordering of projections from cingulate and frontal cortex, the thalamus, and the claustrum. Area 7p, as delineated by connectional analysis in this study, resembles cortex of the primate inferior parietal lobule both in its location relative to other cortical districts and in its pattern of neural connectivity.
Efficacy of morning-only compared with split-dose polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for afternoon colonoscopy: a randomized controlled single-blind study.

Efficacy of Morning-Only Compared With Split-Dose Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Solution for Afternoon Colonoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Single-Blind Study
Hadronic tau decay, pion radiative decay, and pion polarizability

Using conserved vector current and the first Weinberg sum rule, it is shown that the ''missing'' 10% of the hadronic tau decay could come from the axial-vector current. This implies for ..pi -->..e..nu gamma.. decay, F/sub A/(0)/F/sub V/(0) = 0.50 +- 0.15, and a charged-pion polarizability ..cap alpha../sub ..pi../ = 5 x 10/sup -42/ cm/sup 3/.
Student-Athletes’ Perceptions of an Extrinsic Reward Program: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Self-Determination Theory in the Context of College Football

Self-determination theory provides a complex yet practical understanding of motivation in sport. This study used a mixed-methods design to evaluate effects of an off-season extrinsic reward system on basic psychological need fulfillment and motivation of collegiate football players. Quantitative analyses indicated no statistically significant change in psychological need fulfillment, statistically significant decreases in amotivation and extrinsic regulation, and statistically significant increases in intrinsic motivation. Emergent qualitative themes included (a) rewarded behaviors were not meaningfully connected to successful performance; (b) extrinsic rewards were enjoyable, but not motivating; and (c) program effectiveness was heavily influenced by individual differences.
Meaning, Comprehension, and Manageability of End-Stage Renal Disease in Older Adults Living with Long-Term Hemodialysis

The association between perceived meaning of chronic illness and adherence to treatment was explored with a sample of 100 participants, 50 years old and older, diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and being treated with outpatient hemodialysis. The meanings participants attached to their condition were examined in relation to their attitudes toward and adherence to their long-term hemodialysis and other prescribed interventions. The findings of this study suggest that the subjective meanings attached to a chronic illness greatly influence how older adults comprehend and manage their condition. The findings have important implications for health care professionals in terms of assessment and discharge planning for older adults.
SNP-set analysis replicates acute lung injury genetic risk factors

We used a gene – based replication strategy to test the reproducibility of prior acute lung injury (ALI) candidate gene associations. We phenotyped 474 patients from a prospective severe trauma cohort study for ALI. Genomic DNA from subjects’ blood was genotyped using the IBC chip, a multiplex single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Results were filtered for 25 candidate genes selected using prespecified literature search criteria and present on the IBC platform. For each gene, we grouped SNPs according to haplotype blocks and tested the joint effect of all SNPs on susceptibility to ALI using the SNP-set kernel association test. Results were compared to single SNP analysis of the candidate SNPs. Analyses were separate for genetically determined ancestry (African or European). We identified 4 genes in African ancestry and 2 in European ancestry trauma subjects which replicated their associations with ALI. Ours is the first replication of IL6, IL10, IRAK3, and VEGFA associations in non-European populations with ALI. Only one gene – VEGFA – demonstrated association with ALI in both ancestries, with distinct haplotype blocks in each ancestry driving the association. We also report the association between trauma-associated ALI and NFKBIA in European ancestry subjects. Prior ALI genetic associations are reproducible and replicate in a trauma cohort. Kernel - based SNP-set analysis is a more powerful method to detect ALI association than single SNP analysis, and thus may be more useful for replication testing. Further, gene-based replication can extend candidate gene associations to diverse ethnicities.
An all-digital A/D converter TAD with 4-shift-clock construction for sensor interface in 0.65-μm CMOS

TAD (Time A/D converter)-composite architecture with 4-shift-clock construction for both fast conversion and increased resolution is presented. An all-digital A/D converter using TAD architecture includes the following: 1) a ring-delay-line (RDL), that is a loop inverter chain, with 16 delay units (DUs), in which delay times are modulated by an A/D conversion voltage V in for the DU supply voltage; 2) pulse latches; 3) an encoder; and 4) an RDL-frequency counter. The operating principle is to count the number of DUs through which the pulse passes within a sampling time interval T s with (1/4)LSB-offset for 4-TAD-module by applying a new method named “Clock-Edge-Shift construction (CKES)” to achieve ADC speed-up and resolution-improvement effectively. The 15-bit TAD ADC with 1.2 mm2 using a 0.65-μm CMOS achieved both 2.9 mV/LSB at 10 MS/s and 5.7 mV/LSB at 20 MS/s, respectively, by applying the CKES construction with 4-TAD-composite core, resulting in the same level as 0.25-μm digital CMOS performance.
A Channel Independent Precoding for MIMO-OFDM Systems with Insufficient Cyclic Prefix

In this paper, a channel independent precoding for MIMO-OFDM systems of $n_t$ transmit and $n_r$ receive antennas with insufficient cyclic prefix (CP) is proposed. By empolying the interference alignment (IA) idea, we show that our proposed channel independent precoding scheme can eliminate the inter-block interference (IBI) caused by the insufficient CP with a higher bandwidth efficiency than the conventional zero-padding or adding a sufficient CP when $n_r\leq n_t$. It is also shown that when $n_r>n_t$, the IBI can be eliminated without any zero-padding or adding CP or precoding when the OFDM block length is not small.
CONTACT: sensors for aerospace and Fano-resonance photonic crystal cavities

CONTACT or Consortium for Nanomaterials for Aerospace Commerce and Technology is a cooperative program between the Air Force Research Laboratory and seven Texas universities focused on four research areas in aerospace. This paper summarizes recent developments in one of those areas, sensors, for eventual use in aircraft and spacecraft. We report direct measurement of spectrally selective absorption properties of PbSe and PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) in Si nanomembrane photonic crystal cavities on flexible plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The interaction of CQD absorption with photonic crystal Fano resonances is presented both analytically and experimentally for use in wavelength selective sensors.
“More rapid than the lightning's flash”: Photography, Suddenness, and the Afterlife of Romantic Illumination

This essay considers the actual and metaphorical power of the lightning's flash. As a natural phenomenon repeatedly described by Romantic writers, its startling, sudden illumination was repeatedly invoked by the pioneers of flash photography who looked to find suitable language in which to convey their new-found power to light up darkness. The sun already provided a vocabulary in which to describe daytime picture-taking; the associations with awe, danger, revelation and grandeur that lightning provided were readily adopted by such practitioners as Adolf Miethe and Johannes Gaedicke, inventors in 1887 of “Blitzlichtpulver,” or “lightning light powder.” But as I show through a close examination of nineteenth-century flash photographs, especially those of Jacob Riis, the characteristics of this medium are significantly dissimilar to the effects of lightning. This technology of visibility produced light that dazzled and lit up surfaces, rather than providing illumination in any deeper sense. Its literature lo...
Kinetics of 3-nitrotyrosine modification on exposure to hypochlorous acid

AbstractThe markers 3-nitrotyrosine and 3-chlorotyrosine are measured as surrogates for reactive nitrogen species and hypochlorous acid respectively, which are both elevated in inflamed human tissues. Previous studies reported a loss of 3-nitrotyrosine when exposed to hypochlorous acid, suggesting that observations of 3-nitrotyrosine underestimate the presence of reactive nitrogen species in diseased tissue (Whiteman and Halliwell, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 258, 168–172 (1999)). This report evaluates the significance of 3-nitrotyrosine loss by measuring the kinetics of the reaction between 3-nitrotyrosine and hypochlorous acid. The results demonstrate that 3-nitrotyrosine is chlorinated by hypochlorous acid or chloramines to form 3-chloro-5-nitrotyrosine. As 3-nitrotyrosine from in vivo samples is usually found within proteins rather than as free amino acid, we also examined the reaction of 3-nitrotyrosine modification in the context of peptides. The chlorination of 3-nitrotyros...
Discriminability of Real and Virtual Surfaces with Triangular Gratings

Human sensitivity to height differences in textured surfaces is on the order of microns. Research on human texture perception requires texture samples with precisely controlled micro-geometry. This can be achieved with an electrical discharge machining (EDM) procedure, but the process is time consuming and labor intensive. An alternative approach is to simulate textured surfaces with a haptic interface with high position resolution. The present study measured the amplitude discrimination thresholds for surfaces with triangular gratings using real EDM textured samples and virtual textures rendered with a high-precision force-feedback device called the ministick. The results indicated that the just noticeable differences for real and virtual textures, respectively 3.69plusmn0.65 and 4.94plusmn0.96 mum, were of similar magnitude. Therefore, we propose that this device is suitable for the study human perception of surface micro-geometry with features on the scale of human perceptual resolution
Biochemical characterization of the feline AB blood group system.

Summary The biochemical nature of the feline AB blood group system was characterized by analysing red blood cells from homozygous (genotype A/A) and heterozygous (A/B) type A, type B (B/B), and type AB cats. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) of red cell gly-colipids revealed that specific neuraminic acids (NA) on gangliosides, containing ceramide dihexoside (CDH) as a backbone, correlated with the feline AB blood group antigens. Although disialogangliosides predominated, mono- and trisialogangliosides were also isolated. B cats expressed solely N-acetyl-NA (NeuNAc) on these gangliosides. In addition to expressing N-glycolyl-NA (NeuNGc) containing gangliosides, A red cells have gangliosides with only NeuNAc or mixtures of both NA. HPTLC profiles of disialogangliosides from homozygous and heterozygous A cats differed slightly in the quantity of disialogangliosides. Equal amounts of NeuNAc and NeuNGc containing disialogangliosides, as well as two intermediary forms, were recovered from AB erythrocytes. Analysing disialogangliosides from red cells belonging to 17 genetically related cats, we consistently obtained the expected disialoganglio-side profile, based on blood typing and pedigree information. SDS-PAGE of red cell membrane proteins and blotting with Triticum vulgaris, a lectin recognizing NeuNAc, revealed glycoproteins of approximately 51, 53, and 80 kD in B and AB cats but only a faint band of approximately 53 kD in A cats. By haemagglutination, Triticum vulgaris could also distinguish different blood types by specifically binding to B and AB cells. Flow cytometry showed that more anti-B bound to B cells than anti-A bound to A cells. Although AB cells had a broad range of fluorescence when compared to the profiles seen with A and B cells, the mean fluorescence with AB cells was half of that seen with A or B. These results further characterize the antigens determining the feline AB blood group system illustrating differences between A, B and AB cats, and between homozygous and heterozygous A cats.
Tyrosine's vasoactive effect in the dog shock model depends on the animal's starting blood pressure.

We examined the effect of tyrosine (10–200 mg/kg given intravenously) or placebo on blood pressure (BP) in dogs made hypotensive (systolic BP=50 mm Hg) by bleeding one hour previously. Animals which, prior to induction of hypotension, had been normotensive (mean arterial pressures, [MAP]≦145 mm Hg) subsequently exhibited a dose-related increase in BP after tyrosine administration. In contrast, dogs which had beenhypertensive prior to bleeding exhibited afall in BP after tyrosine. These observations indicated that prior cardiovascular status may be an important factor influencing responses to exogenous tyrosine, and to endogenous catecholamines produced from the tyrosine.
Organofluorine inhibitors of amyloid fibrillogenesis.

The design and application of an effective, new class of organofluorine inhibitors of amyloid fibrillogenesis are described. Based on experimental evidence a core structure containing indol-3-yl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxyl, and carboxylic acid ester functions has been designed. Several substituted derivatives of this core structure have been synthesized, using various indole derivatives. While all inhibitor candidates have shown considerable effect (20−70% inhibition) in structure−activity relationship studies (inhibitor/Aβ = 10 ratio), several compounds have demonstrated excellent activity (93−96% inhibition). Using concentration dependence studies, the activity of the most active molecules have been quantified. These inhibitors practically completely block the fibril formation of Aβ1-40, as shown by maximum inhibition values (ICmax = 98−100%). The median inhibitor concentration values (IC50 = 0.23−0.53 molinhibitor/molAβ) demonstrate favorable stoichiometry for the inhibition. The respective elimination ...
Determinants of cardiovascular performance: Modification due to aging

With advancing age the ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to stress declines. The present discussion examines several mechanisms at both the organismal and cellular level that are known to determine cardiovascular performance, and analyses the current state of knowledge regarding the effect of aging on these processes. The conclusion reached is that aging does not result in a generalized decline in all parameters that regulate cardiovascular function, but rather a few specific functional deficits can be identified. Notably, these include a diminished responsiveness to catecholamines and altered vascular loading of the myocardium during high work load states.
Myocardial dysfunction in children with acute meningococcemia

Acute meningococcemia is frequently associated with cardiovascular collapse of uncertain cause. Review of the records of 12 consecutive children revealed clinical evidence of myocardial dysfunction in six (50%). Subsequently myocardial function was prospectively assessed clinically and echocardiographially in 12 children. Seven (58%) of the 12 children had echocardiographic evidence of myocardial dysfunction as defined by a depressed left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF). The mean LVSF in these seven children was 0.25±0.03, as compared with the mean LVSF of 0.39±0.7 in the remaining children. The LVSF estimate of myocardial function strongly correlated with cardiac output as measured by standard thermodilution (r=0.98, P
An Experimental Data Base for the Computational Fluid Dynamics of Reacting and Nonreacting Methanol Sprays

Author(s): McDonell, VG; Samuelsen, GS | Abstract: The present data set consists of detailed measurements obtained within methanol sprays produced by a research atomizer which is operated with three atomizing air modes: none, non-swirling, and swirling. In addition, the cases with nonswirling and swirling atomizing air are characterized under reacting conditions. In each case, state-of-the-art diagnostics are applied. Measurements of the gas phase velocities in both the single and two-phase cases, droplet size distributions, and vapor concentration are obtained. The data are reported in a standardized format to ensure usefulness as modeling challenges. The results obtained reveal the presence of significant interaction between phases and significant changes in spray structure as a result of altering the atomizing air characteristics. Efforts have been directed toward delineation of errors and comparison with existing data sets where possible. The result is a comprehensive data base for vaporizing sprays under reacting and non-reacting conditions which permit a systematic variation in aerodynamic effects to be explored. © 1995 by ASME.
Mesenchymal progenitor cell markers in human articular cartilage: normal distribution and changes in osteoarthritis

Recent findings suggest that articular cartilage contains mesenchymal progenitor cells. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of stem cell markers (Notch-1, Stro-1 and VCAM-1) and of molecules that modulate progenitor differentiation (Notch-1 and Sox9) in normal adult human articular cartilage and in osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage. Expression of the markers was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry. Hoechst 33342 dye was used to identify and sort the cartilage side population (SP). Multilineage differentiation assays including chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and adipogenesis were performed on SP and non-SP (NSP) cells. A surprisingly high number (>45%) of cells were positive for Notch-1, Stro-1 and VCAM-1 throughout normal cartilage. Expression of these markers was higher in the superficial zone (SZ) of normal cartilage as compared to the middle zone (MZ) and deep zone (DZ). Non-fibrillated OA cartilage SZ showed reduced Notch-1 and Sox9 staining frequency, while Notch-1, Stro-1 and VCAM-1 positive cells were increased in the MZ. Most cells in OA clusters were positive for each molecule tested. The frequency of SP cells in cartilage was 0.14 ± 0.05% and no difference was found between normal and OA. SP cells displayed chondrogenic and osteogenic but not adipogenic differentiation potential. These results show a surprisingly high number of cells that express putative progenitor cell markers in human cartilage. In contrast, the percentage of SP cells is much lower and within the range of expected stem cell frequency. Thus, markers such as Notch-1, Stro-1 or VCAM-1 may not be useful to identify progenitors in cartilage. Instead, their increased expression in OA cartilage implicates involvement in the abnormal cell activation and differentiation process characteristic of OA.
Effect of distracter preexposure on the reset of an internal clock

Abstract Interruptions and unfamiliar events (distracters) during a timed signal disrupt (delay) timing in humans and other animals. We hypothesized that repeated exposure to a stimulus may reduce its subsequent time-disrupting properties. To test this hypothesis rats were trained in a reversed peak-interval (RPI) procedure, in which dark timing trials were separated by illuminated inter-trial intervals. Rats were then repeatedly exposed to an auditory stimulus (noise) in either dark (DARK group), or illuminated chambers (LIGHT group); control rats were not exposed to the noise (NOVEL group). Afterwards, the time-resetting properties of the noise were tested by presenting it unexpectedly during the (dark) RPI trials. The noise reset timing in NOVEL rats, but stopped timing in DARK rats, suggesting that preexposure reduces the time-resetting effects of distracters. However, in LIGHT rats, the noise stopped timing when the presented early in the RPI trial, but reset when presented late, suggesting that exposure to noise was only partly effective in overriding other relevant variables, such as distracter location. These results suggest that the effect of distracter preexposure on the reset of an internal clock depends on complex associative and temporal interactions which require further investigations. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Associative and Temporal Learning.
The Role of Xgrip210 in γ-Tubulin Ring Complex Assembly and Centrosome Recruitment

The γ-tubulin ring complex (γTuRC), purified from the cytoplasm of vertebrate and invertebrate cells, is a microtubule nucleator in vitro. Structural studies have shown that γTuRC is a structure shaped like a lock-washer and topped with a cap. Microtubules are thought to nucleate from the uncapped side of the γTuRC. Consequently, the cap structure of the γTuRC is distal to the base of the microtubules, giving the end of the microtubule the shape of a pointed cap. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a new subunit of Xenopus γTuRC, Xgrip210. We show that Xgrip210 is a conserved centrosomal protein that is essential for the formation of γTuRC. Using immunogold labeling, we found that Xgrip210 is localized to the ends of microtubules nucleated by the γTuRC and that its localization is more distal, toward the tip of the γTuRC-cap structure, than that of γ-tubulin. Immunodepletion of Xgrip210 blocks not only the assembly of the γTuRC, but also the recruitment of γ-tubulin and its interacting protein, Xgrip109, to the centrosome. These results suggest that Xgrip210 is a component of the γTuRC cap structure that is required for the assembly of the γTuRC.
New Creodonta from the Sespe Upper Eocene, California.

In contrast to the Hyanodontidae and the cercoleptoid miacid occurring in the uppermost Eocene fauna of the Sespe deposits north of the Simi Valley, the Creodonta now known from the upper Eocene stage of this region include two representatives of the Miacidae. One of these, herein described as a new genus, is important because of its close relationship to a form recorded by Peterson(1) from the Uinta upper Eocene of Utah.
Hemisphericity style and belief in ESP.

108 students were classified as preferring either a style of left or right hemisphericity using Zenhausern's Preference Questionnaire. The students then completed two scales designed to measure belief in extrasensory perception (ESP). Students who scored as preferring a right style scored higher on belief in ESP than those who preferred a left style. The results are consistent with previous findings which suggest a connection between right hemisphere functions (e.g., imagery) and belief in ESP.
The ACGME audit of the IR fellowship program: "surviving an attack of bureaucracy".

Abbreviations: ACGME Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education, AMA American Medical Association, ACS American College of Surgeons, RRC residency review committees, ABMS American Board of Medical Specialties, AHA American Hospital Association, AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges, CCME Coordinating Council on Medical Education, LCGME Liaison Committee for Graduate Medical Education, IRC Institutional Review Committee
Dose uniformity from a computerized three-dimensional tissue compensating system

Abstract A verification of dose uniformity of the Huestis Compu-Former, a three dimensional megavoltage tissue compensator, is presented. Tissue compensators were built for three different anthropomorphic phantoms; a head and neck, a mantle, and a breast. Film densitometry was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the tissue compensators by comparing isodose curves generated for a compensated and an uncompensated field. Evaluation of the isodose distributions for the three regions confirmed the use of the Compu-Former as a reliable tissue compensating system.
Atomic resolution imaging of polyhedral PtPd core-shell nanoparticles by Cs-corrected STEM.

Bimetallic nanoparticles present different properties than their monometallic counterparts, opening a wide range of possibilities for different applications. PtPd nanoparticles have raised interest for their many applications in fuel cells, ethanol and methanol oxidation reactions, hydrogen storage, and so on. However, the cost of Pt makes it unpractical to use in big quantities; therefore, one of the big challenges is to synthesize very small catalysts in order to maximize the efficiency in their use. In this work, we synthesized polyhedral PtPd core–shell nanoparticles under 20 nm and characterized them by Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. This technique allowed us to probe the structure at the atomic level of these nanoparticles revealing new structural information. We determined the structure of the three main polyhedral morphologies obtained in the synthesis: octahedral, decahedral, and triangular plates. Decahedral PtPd core–shell nanoparticles are novel morphologies for this s...
The bulk processing of 2223 BSCCO powders I. Densification and mechanical response

Abstract The anisotropic mechanical properties of densified BSCCO (Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O) powders are of paramount importance during thermo-mechanical processing of superconducting tapes and wires. Maximum current transport requires both high relative density and a high degree of alignment of the single crystal superconducting planes parallel to the plane of the tape. This is also a configuration that causes high stresses during compressive (i.e. densifying) processing modes. These high stresses can lead to cracking, and thus degrade the density, and eventually the conductive properties of the tape. The current work develops a micromechanically based material model for such densified powders. The deformation mechanisms of interest are crystallographic glide and porosity evolution; thus the model takes the form of a porous, elastic viscoplastic polycrystal material theory. This has been achieved by coupling the modified Taylor type polycrystal model of Schoenfeld, Ahzi and Asaro in a generic way to yield surface t...
Validation of corrosion rates measured by the Tafel extrapolation method

Abstract This paper discusses the validity and limitations of the Tafel extrapolation method for the determination of corrosion rates for activation-controlled corrosion processes. Experimental corrosion rates determined by the Tafel method are compared with corrosion rates obtained by an independent chemical (i.e., non-electrochemical) method for iron in hydrochloric acid, iron in 3.5% NaCl, and for titanium in boiling 1 M sulfuric acid. The methods of confirmation of the corrosion rates involved colorimetric analysis of the dissolved cation or the use of an ion-implanted inert Xe marker. Additional examples taken from the literature involving other metals and other methods of validation are also discussed.
Racial Centrality and Health Care Use Among African American Adults With Sickle Cell Disease

The present study examined an exploratory model of the confluence of racial centrality, pain, psychological variables, and health care use in a sample of African American adults with sickle cell disease. Significant path coefficients were observed between pain severity, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms. The model yielded direct effects for paths to health care use from pain frequency and racial centrality—indicating that participants who reported more frequent pain episodes tended to use more health care services and those who endorsed a highly central African American identity utilized fewer health care services. Generally, these findings suggest a need for expanded thinking about determinants of health care use in this population beyond psychological and physiological variables. These findings support a rationale for further exploring the sociocultural context of sickle cell and highlight a specific need for better understanding the complex relationships among multidimensional aspects of rac...
The Combined Use Of Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV) And Nasopharyngeal CPAP (NP-CPAP) In Premature Infants Following Extubation. 1536

The Combined Use Of Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV) And Nasopharyngeal CPAP (NP-CPAP) In Premature Infants Following Extubation. 1536
Harmless axions in superstring theories

Abstract We explore the possibility of obtaining an axion in superstring theories whose decay constant lies in a phenomenologically acceptable range. We find in agreement with Choi and Kim that this is not possible in SO(32) theories. However, we find that it appears to be possible in the E 8 × E′ 8 heterotic string theory.
A novel vaccine targeting Fusobacterium nucleatum against abscesses and halitosis

An abscess in a gum pocket, resulting from bacterial infection, is a common source of chronic halitosis. Although antibiotics are generally prescribed for abscesses, they require multiple treatments with risks of creating resistant bacterial strains. Here we develop a novel vaccine using ultraviolet-inactivated Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a representative oral bacterium for halitosis. A gum pocket model, established by continuous inoculation of F. nucleatum, was employed to validate the vaccine potency. Mice immunized with inactivated F. nucleatum effectively minimized the progression of abscesses, measured by swollen tissues of gum pockets. Most notably, the immunized mice were capable of eliciting neutralizing antibodies against the production of volatile sulfur compounds of F. nucleatum. The novel vaccine inducing protective immunity provides an alternative option to conventional antibiotic treatments for chronic halitosis associated with abscesses.
Optical leaky-wave nanoantenna: Complex modes along linear arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles

We discuss the fundamental leaky-wave properties of linear arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles, in order to realize sub-diffraction optical leaky-wave nanoantennas, with particular attention to the mathematical and analytical aspects of the associated boundary value problem. We focus on the longitudinal polarization regime, which may provide efficient and directive radiation, despite the inherent presence of material absorption in plasmonic materials. Using closed-form dispersion relations derived in the complex domain, we discuss the dispersion properties of leaky and complex modes, and we highlight under which conditions a sub-diffractive nanoparticle array may support directive conical radiation with frequency scanning properties. This may be of great interest for a variety of potential applications in optical communications and radiation.
The Inhibition Mechanisms of the Regulatory Domain of Cyctic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator

The cyctic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a member of the human C subfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters but functions as a chloride channel. Activity of CFTR is tightly controlled not only by ATP binding-induced NBD1-NBD2 dimerization but also by phosphorylation of the unique regulatory (R) domain by protein kinase A (PKA). The R domain has multiple phosphorylation sites for which only Ser737 and Ser768 are inhibitory. The underlying mechanisms are unclear because neither the structure of the R domain nor its interactions with other parts of CFTR have been fully illuminated. Here I applied the crystal structure of bacterial transporter Sav1866 and sulfhydryl-specific crosslinking strategy to determine which part of CFTR interacts with the R domain regulating channel activity. The results show that diamide-induced disulfide bond crosslinking of S768C to H950C, K951C, H954C or S955C from cytoplasmic loop 3 (CL3) inhibited the channel activity and inhibition was reversed by DTT. Similarly, disulfide crosslinking of S737C to H954C, S955C or Q958C also suppressed the channel activity. Furthermore, mutation of these residues to alanines weakened the curcumin-induced relative PKA-dependence which was completely removed by deletion of the R domain. Finally, activation of a double mutant H950R/S768R CFTR did not need any PKA while either H950R or S768R construct needed it. These results suggest that S768 and S737 may form putative H-bonds with hydrophilic residues of CL3 and thus inhibit the channel activity in the unphosphorylated state. In the phosphorylated state, a putative ferrous bridge involving H950, H954, C832, D836, H775 and H667 at the CL3-R interface may inhibit the channel activity. All these observations are consistent with the recent electron cryomicroscopy-based structural model on which the R domain is closed to cytoplasmic loops regulating channel gating.
Evidence for autonomous secretion of prolactin in some alcoholic men with cirrhosis and gynecomastia

Abstract Prolactin responses to provocative thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation were evaluated in 20 cirrhotic men with gynecomastia. Fifteen of these cirrhotic men had normal responses with a minimum doubling of the prolactin concentration above basal in response to TRH. Five had abnormal (autonomous) responses in that they failed to double their basal level or had a paradoxical decrease from basal in response to TRH. Moreover, these same five men failed to have a sleep-related increase in plasma prolactin. Three of them also failed to respond to chlorpromazine stimulation. Such abnormal responses are generally associated with the presence of a prolactin secreting pituitary tumor. Basal plasma levels of prolactin were measured in all 20 men studied. The five men who failed to respond to TRH had significantly greater basal prolactin concentrations (80.5 ± 18.7 ng/ml) than did the 15 men who responded normally (33.7 ± 4.3 ng/ml) ( p p
Probing electronic state charging in organic electronic devices using electroabsorption spectroscopy

Abstract In metal/organic-film/metal device structures with different metal contacts there is a built-in electrostatic potential at equilibrium due to the asymmetric contacts. At thermal equilibrium the electrochemical potential is constant across the device structure. The electrochemical potential can be divided into the sum of two parts, the electrostatic potential and the chemical potential. By measuring the built-in electrostatic potential change across a structure at equilibrium, one can determine the change in chemical potential across the structure. Measuring this built-in electrostatic potential for devices with different contact metals provides a way of changing the chemical potential (μ) in the organic material and identifying the values of μ at which charged excitations are populated. Such measurements can be used to gain information on the energy spectrum of intrinsic charged excitations, charged trap states and charged interface states. We apply an electroabsorption technique to measure the built-in potentials of metal/organic-film/metal structures fabricated from poly[2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4 phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV), C60-doped MEH-PPV, and 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA) and discuss what is learned about the charged excitations in these materials from the results.