cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of the hydroxyl radical and gel electrophoresis to study DNA structure

The hydroxyl radical has been used as a chemical probe to study in solution the structure of DNA and DNA-protein complexes. The hydroxyl radical abstracts a deoxyribose hydrogen atom, cleaving one strand of the DNA. The cutting pattern, visualized by separating the cleavage products using gel electrophoresis, shows the reactivity of each backbone position toward the radical. This method has been applied to studies of DNA bending and helical twist. Phased runs of adenines (adenine tracts) cause sequence-directed DNA bending. The hydroxyl radical cleavage of a bent DNA fragment containing short adenine tracts phased with the helix screw gives rise to an unusual cutting pattern. The hydroxyl radical cleavage rate decreases in the 5′ to 3′ direction along each adenine tract, with a minimum at the 3′ end of each adenine tract. The cleavage of the matching thy mine tract is similar, but the minimum in the pattern is offset in the 3′ direction. This pattern on the autoradiograph of the gel is interpreted to indicate that bending is accompanied by a narrow minor groove in the DNA molecule. Furthermore, hydroxyl radical cleavage results in different cutting patterns for two similar sequences, (CGA4T4)5 and (CGT4A4)5, which have been shown to be bent and relatively straight, respectively. The hydroxyl radical method has also been used to determine the helical repeat of the metallothionein IIA gene to be about 10.5 base pairs per turn. Methods of optimizing the hydroxyl radical reaction for DNA-protein footprinting are discussed. Because individual gel bands give information about cutting frequency at particular positions in the backbone, gel resolution and clear autoradiographs are important to this work. We discuss two problems in these areas which our lab has encountered and solutions we have found for them. Band compressions often occur in G/C-rich sequences. This can be avoided by adding 25–40 % formamide to 50 % urea denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Drying gels affords clearer autoradiographs of gels, yet higher percentage polyacrylamide gels are difficult to dry or even to remove from the plates. A method has been developed for drying 20–25 % polyacrylamide gels that involves using plastic wrap, instead of filter paper, to remove the gel from the second plate.
Compound III kinetics and chemiluminescence in oscillatory oxidation reactions catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

Abstract 1. The peroxidase (donor: H 2 O 2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) catalyzed oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides, dihydroxyfumaric acid or indole-3-acetic acid, in a reaction system open to O 2 , exhibit damped oscillations in the reaction rate. 2. All known aerobic oxidation reactions catalyzed by peroxidase alone are autocatalytic. The damped oscillation is a consequence of the autocatalysis. 3. Compound III is observed spectroscopically in the NADH and the dihydroxyfumaric acid oxidation but not in the indole-3-acetic acid oxidation. Large differences exist in the Compound III kinetics in the NADH and the dihydroxyfumaric acid oxidation. Compound III is not essential in the mechanism of the oscillation. 4. The oxidation of the three donors is accompanied by chemiluminescence whose intensity increases in the order NADH
U.S. atlantic coastal fisheries — How effective have management plans been in maintaining “sustainable fisheries”?

Abstract Coastal and residential development along the Atlantic coast of the United States is expected to increase by about 73% between 1980 and 2000. Present estimates indicate that over 59% of the population of the United States lives within 50 miles of the coast. This increase in coastal population coupled with increased demands for fishery products and increased efficiency in catching fish has severely stressed many Atlantic coast fisheries. Fisheries have been affected by increased pollution, habitat loss and overfishing. In 1976, the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act was passed creating Fishery Management Councils with the goal of imposing strict conservation measures in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This paper discusses potential causes of Atlantic Coast fisheries declines and gives examples of specific fishery plans that have been developed to manage U.S. fisheries.
Long-term variation of driven and unloading effects on polar cap dynamics

[1] The influence of the solar wind on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system can be described in terms of driven and unloading processes. In a driven process, the response is proportional to the input with at most a small time delay. In an unloading process, the input energy accumulates without a corresponding output until, after a significant time delay, the energy is unloaded. The polar cap index, which has been used as a monitor of the polar cap activity, can be decomposed into a driven component and an unloading component through a linear regression with the polar cap index as response andEK-R, an electric field proposed by Kivelson and Ridley (2008) as representative of the electric field imposed on the ionosphere by magnetopause reconnection when saturation is taken into account, and AL index as predictors. Such an analysis has been systematically applied day-by-day to most of the days in solar cycle 23. The driven-to-unloading ratio (DUR) is characterized in terms of the ratio of the regression coefficients for an appropriately normalized representation of the predictors. We have found that the ratio of the responses of the driven component to the unloading component is smaller near solar maximum than near solar minimum with variation of around ±5%. There is also a strong annual variation of as much as ±15% with stronger driven-to-unloading ratio in summer than in winter. The variation of driven-to-unloading ratio in solar cycle 23 is explained in terms of enhancement of ionospheric conductance by electron precipitation during strong solar wind high-speed streams and the annual variation can be understood as seasonal variation of conductance caused by solar illumination.
Late Paleozoic Partial Remagnetization of Ordovician Rocks from Southern Oklahoma

Measurements of the NRM (natural remanent magnetization) of Lower Ordovician sediments collected from both flanks of the Arbuckle anticline (south-central Oklahoma) correspond to an upper Carboniferous–Permian magnetization direction. Directions of magnetization are well grouped and remain essentially unchanged through thermal demagnetizations up to 400°C. Correction for folding indicates that the magnetization is post-folding and that the Arbuckle orogeny was of sufficient intensity to heat and remagnetize the sediments involved. Upon thermal demagnetization to temperatures of 550°C, the directions of magnetization changed considerably to directions distinctly removed from the observed upper Carboniferous–Permian direction. Sample in-in tensities are very weak and therefore a reliable direction was unattainable. The data form a streaked distribution away from the Carboniferous-Permian direction. The calculated upper Carboniferous–Permian pole, corrected for the primary prefolding remanence direction observed above 400°C, is located at 128.9° E., 46.1° N. Orogenic temperature calculations based on differing stabilities of this late Paleozoic remanence on opposite flanks of the anticline indicate a more intense orogeny to the north with minimum temperatures of 200°C. Lesser temperatures, of at least 120°C but less than 200°C, prevailed on the south flank.
A novel scavenger of nitric oxide decreases heme protein nitrosylation and prolongs graft survivial during cardiac transplant rejection

lymphocytes (20x106IV) were injected 9 days after aortic transplantation into animals with or without anti-a4 and anti-b2 monoclonal antibodies. All animals were sacrificed on day 10 and evaluated by histology and g counting. Results: All allografts had significant infiltration of the adventitia by mononuclear cells at day 10 as compared to control aorta. There was an average of 220675 51Cr cpm and 224668 111In cpm labeled T cells in transplanted aorta as compared to 41637 cpm in control aorta (p,0.05). Anti a4/b2 treatment resulted in significant reduction in labeled T cell infiltration with a 91% reduction in naive and 72% reduction in allo-exposed T cell accumulation. Anti a4/b2 resulted in 92% and 95% reduction in T cell accumulation in LPS and TNF-a injected control dermal sites respectively. Discussion: In summary, we have demonstrated that T lymphocytes infiltrate vascular tissue early after transplantation and this infiltration appears to be mediated via a4 and b2 integrin mechanisms. This represents the first direct evidence of the role of CAMs in trafficking of T cells in transplanted allografts.
An Evaluation of a Two-Fluid Eulerian-Liquid Eulerian-Gas Model for Diesel Sprays

A two fluid Eulerian-liquid Eulerian-gas (ELEG) model for diesel sprays is developed. It is employed to carry out computations for diesel sprays under a wide range of ambient and injection conditions. Computed and measured results are compared to assess the accuracy of the model in the far field, i.e., at axial distances greater than 300 orifice diameters, and in the near field, i.e., at axial distances less than 100 orifice diameters. In the far field, the comparisons are of drop mean velocities and drop fluctuation velocities and in the near field they are of entrainment velocities and entrainment constants. Adequate agreement is obtained quantitatively, within 30 percent, and qualitatively as parameters are changed. Unlike in traditional Lagrangian-drop Eulerian-fluid (LDEF) approaches that are employed for diesel spray computations, adequate resolution can be employed in the near field to achieve numerical grid independence when the two-fluid model is employed. A major source of uncertainty in the near field is in the modeling of liquid jet breakup and atomization.
Library instruction and college student self-efficacy in electronic information searching

From 85 students surveyed before and after library instruction, it was found that their self-efficacy in electronic information searching increased after the training. That increase was related to attitudes, emotional experiences, search performance, and so on. Implications of these findings to library instruction and reference services are discussed.
Preoperative dietary restriction reduces intimal hyperplasia and protects from ischemia-reperfusion injury

Objective Whereas chronic overnutrition is a risk factor for surgical complications, long-term dietary restriction (reduced food intake without malnutrition) protects in preclinical models of surgical stress. Building on the emerging concept that acute preoperative dietary perturbations can affect the body's response to surgical stress, we hypothesized that short-term high-fat diet (HFD) feeding before surgery is detrimental, whereas short-term nutrient/energy restriction before surgery can reverse negative outcomes. We tested this hypothesis in two distinct murine models of vascular surgical injury, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and intimal hyperplasia (IH). Methods Short-term overnutrition was achieved by feeding mice a HFD consisting of 60% calories from fat for 2 weeks. Short-term dietary restriction consisted of either 1 week of restricted access to a protein-free diet (protein/energy restriction) or 3 days of water-only fasting immediately before surgery; after surgery, all mice were given ad libitum access to a complete diet. To assess the impact of preoperative nutrition on surgical outcome, mice were challenged in one of two fundamentally distinct surgical injury models: IR injury to either kidney or liver, or a carotid focal stenosis model of IH. Results Three days of fasting or 1 week of preoperative protein/energy restriction attenuated IH development measured 28 days after focal carotid stenosis. One week of preoperative protein/energy restriction also reduced plasma urea, creatinine, and damage to the corticomedullary junction after renal IR and decreased aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and hemorrhagic necrosis after hepatic IR. However, exposure to a HFD for 2 weeks before surgery had no significant impact on kidney or hepatic function after IR or IH after focal carotid stenosis. Conclusions Short-term dietary restriction immediately before surgery significantly attenuated the vascular wall hyperplastic response and improved IR outcome. The findings suggest plasticity in the body's response to these vascular surgical injuries that can be manipulated by novel yet practical preoperative dietary interventions.
Linear programming in bid evaluation

This paper presents the difficulties which arise in a particular Government procurement agency in an attempt to determine the allocation of contracts which would result in the lowest over-all cost to the Government. It is shown how the recently developed mathematical discipline of linear programming can be applied to such problems.
Geomorphic control of landscape carbon accumulation

[1] We use the CREEP process-response model to simulate soil organic carbon accumulation in an undisturbed prairie site in Iowa. Our primary objectives are to identify spatial patterns of carbon accumulation, and explore the effect of erosion on basin-scale C accumulation. Our results point to two general findings. First, redistribution of soil carbon by erosion results in a net increase in basin-wide carbon storage relative to a noneroding environment. Landscape-average mean residence times are increased in an eroding landscape owing to the burial/preservation of otherwise labile C. Second, field observations taken along a slope transect may overlook significant intraslope variations in carbon accumulation. Spatial patterns of modeled deep C accumulation are complex. While surface carbon with its relatively short equilibration time is predictable from surface properties, deep carbon is strongly influenced by the landscape's geomorphic and climatic history, resulting in wide spatial variability. Convergence and divergence associated with upland swales and interfluves result in bimodal carbon distributions in upper and mid slopes; variability in carbon storage within modeled mid slopes was as high as simulated differences between erosional shoulders and depositional valley bottoms. The bimodality of mid-slope C variability in the model suggests that a three-dimensional sampling strategy is preferable over the traditional two-dimensional analog or “catena” approach.
Optimizing esterification of safflower, cottonseed, castor and used cottonseed oils

Abstract Depletion of fossil fuels warrants the use of biofuels as an alternate source to minimize the usage of petroleum reserves. Biodiesel fuels are renewable source of energy derived from plant oils or animal fats. They are mono alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids formed by transesterification of oils/fats. Efficiency of transesterification of oils from four sources (safflower, cottonseed, castor, used cottonseed oil) was determined in this study with both methanol and ethanol as alcohols and sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide as catalysts. Methanol was found to be a better solvent and sodium hydroxide a better catalyst. The highly viscous nature of raw vegetable oils has been shown to decrease through transesterification process. In our experiments, the highest viscosity reduction was observed for castor oil even though it was the most viscous among four oils, both methyl and ethyl esters of safflower was shown to have a similar viscosity as No. 2 diesel.
Comparison of the armed/disarmed building blocks of the D-gluco and D-glucosamino series in the context of chemoselective oligosaccharide synthesis.

A very elegant Fraser-Reid armed−disarmed approach recently expanded to the building blocks of the superarmed and superdisarmed series shows very high utility in chemoselective oligosaccharide synthesis. Although a number of studies dedicated to the chemoselective activation of 2-amino-2-deoxysugars have emerged, little remains known about how the reactivity of the armed/disarmed building blocks of the neutral sugars directly compares to that of their 2-aminosugar counterparts. A preliminary study of this comparative reactivity is presented.
Ada and the control of intrusion

One of the strengths of the Ada Programming Language is its support of software engineering principles. In particular, many Ada constructs assist in the control of various anomalies of computer systems. This paper discusses two classes of anomalies that are shown to have similar characteristics. The first of these classes involves the mutual exclusion problem, for which there exists considerable literature within the Ada community. We compare this category of anomalies to intrusion, a security anomaly, and suggest that mechanisms for the control of the first should be considered for the second.
Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: the results justify its use.

UNLABELLED A mini-midvastus capsular incision was used in a feasibility study of 100 patients having primary total knee arthroplasty. Patients with marked limitation of motion were excluded from the study. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years after surgery. The exposure yielded excellent results clinically and radiographically with restoration of stability and motion. The length of the skin incision varied from 8 to 15 cm with a mean of 10.5 cm. Using the limited exposure did not result in implant malpositioning. The surgical approach was not applicable in patients with a BMI > 40 or in those patients with a severe fixed valgus deformity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, Level IV-1 (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Cellular localization and function of the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1): I. Ovine Mx1 is secreted by endometrial epithelial cells via an 'unconventional' secretory pathway

Problem Embryonic loss is a major contributor to infertility. Understanding factors contributing to embryonic loss will aid in development of technologies to improve/regulate fertility in animals and humans. Method of study We tested the hypothesis that the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1), is secreted by uterine epithelial cells. Uterine flushes were obtained from cyclic and early pregnant ewes and examined for levels of oMx1 protein. The pathway for ovine Mx1 secretion in ovine glandular epithelial (oGE) cells was determined using brefeldin A (BFA), an inhibitor of the conventional secretory pathway. Effects of BFA were determined using β2-microglobulin (β2MG) as a marker for the conventional secretory pathway, and interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and Galectin-1 (Gal-1) as markers for the unconventional secretory pathways. Results Ovine Mx1 protein levels were low in uterine flushes from cyclic ewes and levels increased in pregnant ewes after D 15. Ovine GE cells secreted oMx1 in response to interferon and secretion was not reduced by BFA, suggesting oMx1 was secreted via an unconventional secretory pathway. β2MG secretion was reduced by BFA, whereas ISG15 and Gal-1 were not. Conclusion This is the first report that the antiviral protein, oMx1, is secreted and provides evidence that secretion occurs via unconventional secretory pathway(s).
A Rocky Road to Publication

The path to the publication of our collaborative research concerning an aspect of earliest Church Missionary Society history has been an irregular, and often despairing, one. For a time it seemed unlikely that we would ever finish our research, and that was simply the research part of it. The prospect of collaboration by husband and wife, persons trained in disciplines—history and sociology—guided by approaches seemingly opposed to each other, was not a promising one from the start. Simply put, could we cooperate, work through the processes of writing, thinking, and rewriting/rethinking within a single household, and endure the stress associated with meeting demands placed upon us by a publisher and full-time jobs as instructors? Had we been aware that this project would last for nearly thirty years for Bruce and twenty for Nancy, and consume entirely too much of our lives, we are pretty certain—in retrospect—that we would never have embarked on it. Bruce was the first to encounter the archive of the Church Missionary Society, during his dissertation research in London in 1966. At that time his principal objective was to scan records found in that archive for bits and pieces of data relating to political development and economic transformation of a part of coastal Guinea/Conakry from 1800 to 1850. That was a region where the Church Missionary Society had operated schools and mission stations between 1808 and 1816/17. Among the Society's earliest missionaries sent to West Africa was one named Peter Hartwig—a person who, according to other missionaries and early historians, had deserted the sacred cause to become a slave trader, and yet had returned to the Society's service at the eleventh hour, only to die in 1815 in a yellow fever epidemic then sweeping the African coast. Still, something seemed to be amiss in that narrative, for correspondence found in the archive suggested that it was a very complex affair. It was apparent that a careful review of Hartwig's experiences would be a worthwhile research project, but for a later time.
Desorption of hydrogen from Si(100)2×1 at low coverages : the influence of π-bonded dimers on the kinetics

The recombinative desorption of hydrogen from the Si(100)2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 monohydride state was investigated by means of isothermal measurements using optical second-harmonic generation to monitor the hydrogen coverage. In agreement with previous results, we observe approximately first-order kinetics for hydrogen coverages above 0.1 monolayer. For lower hydrogen coverages, the desorption rate is found to decrease more rapidly. The data are interpreted within the recently developed model of hydrogen pairing at the Si dimers. We relate the observed kinetics to the \ensuremath{\pi} bonding of the Si-Si units and deduce an effective \ensuremath{\pi}-bond strength of 0.25 eV. The desorption activation energy determined from the present data is 2.48\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV, with a first-order prefactor of \ensuremath{\sim}2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$.
Anxiety and hypervigilance to cardiopulmonary sensations in non-cardiac chest pain patients with and without psychiatric disorders

We investigated body vigilance, cardiac anxiety, and the mediating role of interoceptive fear on pain in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP; a syndrome of chest pain in the absence of identifiable organic etiology). Patients were more attentive to cardiac-congruent sensations than cardiac-incongruent sensations (e.g., gastrointestinal, cognitive dyscontrol; p's < .001). Patients with a DSM-IV Axis I anxiety or mood disorder were more body vigilant compared to patients who did not have a disorder (p's < .05). Patients with anxiety disorders were particularly vigilant to and fearful of cardiac sensations relative to patients without anxiety disorders. Latent variable path models examined the extent that interoceptive fear mediated the association between body vigilance and cardiac anxiety on chest pain. Within each model, diagnostic status, body vigilance, and cardiac anxiety were exogenous and predicted interoceptive fear that in turn predicted pain. Separate models examined body vigilance and cardiac anxiety, and both models fit the data well. Findings showed partial mediation for the body vigilance factor, and full mediation for the cardiac anxiety factor. Interoceptive fear played a mediating role in both models. The syndrome of NCCP may persist partly due to conscious hypervigilance to and fear of cardiac-congruent body sensations, particularly among anxious patients.
High temperature behaviour and long-term stability of lithium drifted silicon surface-barrier detectors

Abstract Lithium-drifted silicon surface-barrier detectors have been fabricated which exhibit stable electrical and α-particle characteristics under conditions of prolonged aging and repeated exposure to thermal-vacuum environments. The detectors will operate at a temperature of 85°C abd high vacuum for several days and at a temperature of 100°C and high vacuum for several hours, with no evidence of noise instability. The operating characteristics of such detectors have been studied over a period of fourteen months. These studies included measurements of their electrical and α-particle characteristics taken before, during and after extended thermal-vacuum testing at 50°C and 85°C and short-term testing at 100°C. Degradation in electrical and α-particle characteristics resulting from such testing and aging was found to be negligible over the fourteen month time period. The α-particle measurements at 100°C indicate that the fractional change in the mean energy per ion pair in going from room temperature to 100°C is approximately −1.8%. The results of these studies are reported.
Stoic Rhetoric: Prospects of a Problematic

Both “stoicism” and “rhetoric” are approached as, among other things, traditions. In this essay, I attempt to locate “tradition” within systematic knowledges in order to ask, What does it mean to approach the problematic of “stoic rhetoric” in a traditional-historical mode?
Development of an Electro-Optic Scanner for Potential Endoscope Application

Technological advancements in endoscopy design are in current development due to the increased demand for minimally invasive medical procedures. One such advancement is reducing the overall size of the endoscope system while maintaining the resolution and field-of-view (FOV). Reduction of size results in less tissue damage and trauma during operation as well as faster recovery times for patients. Additionally, areas that are inaccessible by today's endoscope designs will be possible to examine. Current endoscopes use either a bundle of optical fibers (optical waveguides) and/or one or more cameras having an array of detectors to capture an image. Thus, the diameter of these devices employed for remote imaging cannot be reduced to smaller than the image size. Even if one ignores additional optical fibers used for illumination of a region of interest, the scope diameter is therefore limited by the individual pixel size of a camera or by the diameter of optical fibers used to acquire the image. Therefore, it is apparent to achieve scopes with less than 3 mm overall diameter using current technologies, resolution and/or FOV must be sacrificed by having fewer pixel elements. All commercially available scopes suffer from this fundamental tradeoff between high image quality and small size. More recently, our research has been working on developing a 2-D electro-optic scanner potentially be implemented for clinical endoscopic imaging application. The proposed optical device has several unique advantages. Electro-optical scanning offers a sensitive, facile, accurate, and superb quality method to capture images of physical and biological tissues. In addition, the minute physical size of the imaging system has a much needed advantage over conventional imaging systems. The proposed design is based on the fact that the propagation direction of a light beam can be changed when the index of refraction of an electro-optic medium is altered by the application of an external electric field. The basic design of the system consists of a thin film electro-optic polymer waveguide with built-in cascaded prisms structure for horizontal beam deflection and an electro-optic grating structure for vertical beam deflection. The cascaded prisms are combined with the electro-optic polymer to create a voltage-controlled horizontal beam deflection. A grating coupler, a structure that is commonly used as light coupling device for dielectric waveguide, is combined with the EO polymer to create the vertical controlled beam deflection. A collimated light beam coupled into the waveguide by a mechanical coupler via an optical fiber cascaded down these two deflection stages. When the beam exits, the emitted light beam is displaced along two orthogonal directions in a raster pattern. A photodetector array integrated in the same substrate captured the reflected intensity. The scanned imaged is then analyzed and reconstruct based on the received signal.
The anemia of ageing is not associated with increased plasma hepcidin levels

It has been proposed that the anemia of ageing may be caused, at least in part, by elevated hepcidin levels, representing a response to increased IL-6 levels. Using a recently developed immunoassay, we have measured the plasma hepcidin levels of eight patients with the anemia of ageing and sex- and age-matched controls, and found that the levels of hepcidin were not increased in patients with the anemia of ageing. In contrast, patients with the anemia of inflammation have higher hepcidin levels than sex- and age-matched controls. In the overall group there was a strong correlation between serum ferritin levels and hepcidin levels, as has been found previously.
Epoxy polymers. III. Factors affecting the cure

The rate of cure of epoxy polymers appears to be diffusion-controlled, and after gelation is dependent upon the capillary dimensions in a floccular matrix. The floccule dimensions and packing determine the size of the interfloccular capillaries and are inversely related to the cure temperature. The degree of cure is inversely related to the pregelation cure temperature (thermal history, including preheat) and directly related to the total cure time.
Cytokines as adjuvants for vaccines: antigen-specific responses differ from polyclonal responses.

The use of cytokines in the administration of vaccines has a unique value in obtaining the appropriate immune response and in ensuring a protective outcome. Earlier studies indicating that cytokines can influence the generation of a particular antibody isotype may represent an oversimplification of a more complex problem. Several studies discussed in this review show that the effect of a given cytokine on the immune response depends on whether one examines the antigen-specific response or the polyclonal response (i.e., total serum immunoglobulins). Further, a balanced regulation of immune responsiveness is important in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. Consequently, for any vaccine that uses cytokines to boost the response, due consideration must be given to these important variables.
Bayesian inference for Plackett-Luce ranking models

This paper gives an efficient Bayesian method for inferring the parameters of a Plackett-Luce ranking model. Such models are parameterised distributions over rankings of a finite set of objects, and have typically been studied and applied within the psychometric, sociometric and econometric literature. The inference scheme is an application of Power EP (expectation propagation). The scheme is robust and can be readily applied to large scale data sets. The inference algorithm extends to variations of the basic Plackett-Luce model, including partial rankings. We show a number of advantages of the EP approach over the traditional maximum likelihood method. We apply the method to aggregate rankings of NASCAR racing drivers over the 2002 season, and also to rankings of movie genres.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/cellulose blends

Amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and cellulose blends in film form were obtained by room temperature hydrolysis of PET/cellulose trifluoroacetate solution cast films. Evidence is presented indicating that the cellulose, or the water associated with it, nucleates the crystallization of the PET during differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) runs. At about the 50/50 composition, a phase inversion, from continuous PET to continuous cellulose appears. Hydrolysis and/or annealing in water at the boil yields a mixture of cellulose II and cellulose IV. The nature of the cellulose appears to be different in the case of the room temperature hydrolyzed structures. Hydrolysis appears to proceed more readily when the films are richer in the cellulose component.
Predictors of Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Among Sexually Active Homeless Youth

We examined the association between sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in a sample of homeless youth. Of 261 youth interviewed, 50% had been sexually active in the past 3 months. Gender variation in sexual behaviors and risk were found. Boys were more likely than girls to engage in anal sex (46% vs. 15%), to have 3 or more sexual partners (46% vs. 17%) and to engage in anonymous sex (38% vs. 21%). Girls were less likely to use condoms consistently and more likely to engage in sex with a partner suspected of having an STI (20% vs. 4%). In the past 3 months, the STI testing rates were similar for boys and girls (46%). However, girls were more likely to have positive STI results (46% vs. 9%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the only variable that was an independent predictor of STI testing was having either gotten someone or having become pregnant in the past 3 months. High-risk sexual behaviors did not predict STI testing in our sample. Outreach programs are needed that target sexually active homeless youth for early STI testing and treatment.
An analytical method for estimating SET propagation

In sub-micron technology, a small inaccuracy in computing the probability of occurrence of a soft error results into an unacceptable chip failure rate. A method to estimate the probability of SET propagation to the output gate at any time instant within the latching window is proposed. Its accuracy is evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations.
The POTATO chip architecture: a study in tradeoffs for signal processing chip design

The authors describe an example signal-processing design which illustrates partitioning, performance, cost, and fault-tolerance tradeoffs. They focus on high-performance multiplication using the power-of-two number representation as implemented in the POTATO (power of two arithmetic time-optimized) chip architecture. The implementation is compared to more conventional designs, and performance estimates are given. It is concluded that the design compares favourably to more conventional implementations. >
Acamprosate for the adjunctive treatment of alcohol dependence

OBJECTIVE:To review the literature related to the treatment of alcohol dependence with acamprosate, a synthetic compound structurally similar to the naturally occurring amino acid, homotaurine.DATA SOURCES:Primary literature and review articles were identified by MEDLINE search (1966–June 2003). Abstracts from recent meetings were also reviewed.DATA SYNTHESIS:Acamprosate has been marketed in 24 countries. Although the precise mechanism of acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients is unclear, it may restore the balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. European trials have shown consistent increases in abstinence rates compared with placebo when acamprosate use was paired with appropriate psychosocial and behavioral therapies. Decreased direct and indirect healthcare costs associated with acamprosate treatment have also been reported.CONCLUSIONS:Acamprosate is a promising medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence in the US.
The influence of an impedance surface on eigenfrequency of a hemispherical quasi-optical dielectric resonator

The influence of an impedance on a complex frequency of a hemispherical dielectric resonator has been studied. The expressions for determination of conductor inclusion factor were obtained.
Phenomenology and the Philosophy of the Natural Sciences

In different ways both Edmund Husserl (1859–1938) and Martin Heidegger (1889–1976) were deeply and continuously involved with the philosophical nature of mathematics and modern science, i.e., post-Galilean, theoretical/experimental science.1 Both tended to see mathematics as the study of implicitly defined idealities and, in the spirit of the Gottingen School of theoretical physics, they saw modern science as the projection of such idealities on the world of experience, that is, as interpretations of experience projected in terms of mathematical symmetries or invariants related to group theoretical operations or variations. In this way the empirical operations on the manifolds of empirical data were represented as mathematical operators on ideal numerical manifolds.2
Effect of ACE Inhibitor on DOCA-Salt– and Aortic Coarctation–Induced Hypertension in Mice Do Kinin B2 Receptors Play a Role?

Abstract —Kinins have been shown to play an important role in the cardioprotective effect of ACE inhibitors (ACEi) during heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion. However, it is controversial as to whether kinins oppose the hypertensinogenic effect of deoxycorticosterone acetate plus salt (DOCA-salt) or aortic coarctation and whether they mediate both chronic antihypertensive and cardiac antihypertrophic effects of ACEi in hypertension. Using normal 129/SvEvTac mice and mice lacking the bradykinin B2 receptor gene (B2-KO), we investigated whether (1) the hypertensinogenic effect of DOCA-salt or aortic coarctation is enhanced in B2-KO mice and (2) the chronic antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects of an ACEi (ramipril, 4 mg · kg−1 · d−1) are mediated by B2 receptors in aortic coarctation (6 weeks)– and DOCA-salt (4 weeks)–induced hypertension. Before surgery, there was no difference between 129/SvEvTac and B2-KO mice in terms of blood pressure and heart weight, suggesting that kinins are not essential to maintaining normal blood pressure. DOCA-salt (volume expansion) or aortic coarctation (renin-dependent) induced similar hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 129/SvEvTac and B2-KO mice, suggesting that kinins do not play an essential role in the development of DOCA-salt– or aortic coarctation–induced hypertension. We found that B2 receptors mediate only the early (1 week) but not the late phase (4 weeks) of the chronic hypotensive effect of ACEi in DOCA-salt hypertension. On the other hand, chronic ACE inhibition prevented the development of hypertension and LVH in both 129/SvEvTac and B2-KO mice given DOCA-salt or subjected to aortic coarctation, suggesting that kinins do not participate in the chronic antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects of ACEi in these 2 models of hypertension. Thus, in mice, kinins acting via B2 receptors do not participate in (1) maintenance of normal basal blood pressure, (2) establishment and maintenance of hypertension induced by DOCA-salt or aortic coarctation, and (3) chronic antihypertensive and cardiac antihypertrophic effects of ACEi in DOCA-salt and aortic coarctation hypertension.
HOW DO LEARNERS PERCEIVE INTERACTIONAL FEEDBACK

Theoretical claims about the benefits of conversational interaction have been made by Gass (1997), Long (1996), Pica (1994), and others. The Interaction Hypothesis suggests that negotiated interaction can facilitate SLA and that one reason for this could be that, during interaction, learners may receive feedback on their utterances. An interesting issue, which has challenged interactional research, concerns how learners perceive feedback and whether their perceptions affect their subsequent L2 development. The present research addresses the first of these issues–learners' perceptions about interactional feedback. The study, involving 10 learners of English as a second language and 7 learners of Italian as a foreign language, explores learners' perceptions about feedback provided to them through task-based dyadic interaction. Learners received feedback focused on a range of morphosyntactic, lexical, and phonological forms. After completing the tasks, learners watched videotapes of their previous interactions and were asked to introspect about their thoughts at the time the original interactions were in progress. The results showed that learners were relatively accurate in their perceptions about lexical, semantic, and phonological feedback. However, morphosyntactic feedback was generally not perceived as such. Furthermore, the nature as well as the content of the feedback may have affected learners' perceptions.
Effect of DNase I treatment and neutrophil depletion on acute limb ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice

Objective Extracellular traps (ETs) consisting of DNA-protein complexes formed after tissue injury contribute to the inflammatory and thrombosis cascades, thereby exacerbating injury. Exogenous DNase I has been suggested as a therapeutic strategy to limit injury in the brain and myocardium. These studies were designed to evaluate the effects of exogenous DNase I treatment on skeletal muscle injury after acute hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in mice and to determine whether neutrophils are a major source of ETs in postischemic muscle tissue. Methods C57BL6 mice were subjected to 1.5 hours of tourniquet ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion with and without human recombinant DNase I treatment. A separate set of mice was subjected to neutrophil depletion (ND), followed by the same intervals of IR. Laser Doppler imaging and tissue harvesting were done at 24 hours for assessment of limb perfusion, muscle fiber injury, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, markers of inflammation, thrombosis, and formation of ETs. Results DNase I treatment significantly reduced detection of ETs in postischemic muscle but did not alter skeletal muscle fiber injury, levels of proinflammatory molecules, or ATP level. DNase I treatment did enhance postischemic hindlimb perfusion, decreased infiltrating inflammatory cells, and reduced the expression of thrombin-antithrombin III. ND resulted in a significant yet small reduction in ETs in the postischemic muscle. ND did not alter skeletal muscle fiber injury, hindlimb perfusion, or ATP levels. Conclusions These data suggest that neither DNase I treatment nor ND was protective against IR injury, even though both decreased detection of ETs in skeletal muscle after IR. Neutrophils are not the only source of ETs after IR.
EDITORIAL FOR 100TH VOLUME OF INTEGRATED FERROELECTRICS

With the publication of this 100th the Volume of Integrated Ferroelectrics, it is appropriate to reflect on the progress that has been made in this field of science and technology since Volume 1 wa...
Two-Phase Pressure Drop Characteristics During Low Temperature Transients in PEMFCs

Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells are being considered as the powertrain of choice for automotive applications. Automotive fuel cells experience transients during start-up, shut-down and changing load conditions, which constitute a significant part of the drive cycle. Transient behavior of PEMFCs can be classified into three categories: electrochemical, thermal and two-phase flow. Two-phase transients require a longer time to return to steady state than the electrochemical transient (which typically requires less than 1 second). Experiments have shown two-phase transients to be more prominent at the lower temperatures due to the increased presence of liquid water.Overshoot / undershoot behavior of current and voltage has been observed during investigations of electrochemical transients. This study investigates similar overshoot / undershoot behavior in the two-phase pressure drop in the reactant channels. An increase in the current drawn from the PEMFC is accompanied by larger air flow rates and greater water generation. An in situ setup is utilized to measure the pressure drop in the reactant channels across the length of the channel, when the electrical load drawn from the PEMFC is changed. This pressure drop measurement along the length of the reactant channels is used to characterize the overshoot / undershoot behavior.A parametric study is conducted to identify the factors which influence the overshoot / undershoot in two-phase flow pressure drop. The transient behavior is explored at the temperatures of 40, 60 and 80°C. Transient behavior is more pronounced at the lower temperature. Five different ramp rates have been used to show that faster ramp rates results in larger overshoot. The effect of magnitude of current change is investigated using four levels of load change. It was observed that increased magnitude of change results in increased overshoot behavior. However, no direct relationship has been observed between the magnitude of overshoot and the time required to return to steady state.© 2014 ASME
Design of a Transonic Research Turbine Facility

*† ‡ The design of a continuous operation transonic research turbine facility is described. The purpose of this turbine rig is to provide an environment for the development of performance enhancing flow control technologies at conditions that are similar to those in real engines. The unique design features include using the power generated by the turbine to load-share with a motor to drive a centrifugal compressor which supplies the air to drive the turbine, and re-circulating most of the compressor discharge air to the turbine inlet to control the inlet temperature. The facility, as defined by the characteristics of the 500HP drive motor, centrifugal compressor, and piping system, can be used with a wide range of turbine blade designs. A number of design points are described based on a mean-radius analysis. High loading axial turbines can be tested in this facility at a pressure ratio of 2.1.
THE MECHANISM OF EVOLUTION IN THE GENUS CLARKIA

Clarkia is a genus of Onagraceae which consists of about 30 annual species endemic to western North America except for one in South America. This paper is based upon a 6-year study of all of the North American species both in their natural habitats and in the experimental garden. Its purpose is to examine the morphological, cytogenetical, and ecological relationships within the genus at levels from those within a population to those which characterize distinct species, and to suggest means by which the observed pattern of differentiation and divergence has evolved. It reports results obtained from morphological and cytogenetical studies of all known species of the genus and an extensive program of hybridization. The genetical work of Hiorth (1940, 1941, 1942, 1947 and others), and the cytological work of H'akansson (1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1949 and others) on certain species, has been taken into account and is correlated with my own evidence. Most of the genetical and cytological studies in this group have appeared under the name Godetia. This genus is better considered congeneric with Clarkia for reasons which will appear elsewhere (Lewis and Lewis, unpub..). Namnes used by these authors are listed below with the synonyms used in this paper. This 'list does not include entities with the same specific name in both genera except where the names have been incorrectly applied.
Analyses of China's Foreign Investment and Its Foreign Trade Policy

The paper, based on previous literature, discusses the relatinship between an industry's tariff level and its foreign investment level.It particularly extends the model of political economics in the classical literature concerning foreign investment and tariff determination by introducing an endogeneous foreign investment decision machanism. By using MATLAB we solve the equilibrilum solution of the model under numerical parameters and discuss the the properties of the equilibrilum solution. Thus, a proposition is reached that under certain conditions there is a positive relation between the equilibrilum foreign investment level and tariff level while whether a high level equilibrilum or a low level equilibrilum appear is determined by the parameters of the industry. It is just the differences between these industries' parameters that induce the complicated structure of thrade protection and foreign invetment level in reality.