cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scenario development: using geopolitical wargames and strategic simulations

The art of scenario development is the core of successful and effective wargaming and conflict simulation which includes some fairly scientific aspects combined to form a proving ground for decision making, leadership and public policy. Paying attention to situational detail, estimating the relative strength, disposition, leadership and logistic determinants of contending opponents is key. Military wargames, in particular, have been effective in developing future leaders, assessing critical decisions, analyzing tactical pitfalls and helping to devise strategy for many centuries. The value of geopolitical wargames and strategic simulations is profoundly influential and valuable in helping aspiring leaders, executives and military commanders understand the obvious and hidden dynamics of contending armies and contextual influences. Likewise, the principles involved include substantial insights and benefits to those wishing to know more about the power of scenarios and wargaming on the development of leaders, the assessment of challenging pressures and the resolution of complex problems.
Effects of Rapamycin in the Eker Rat Model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) presents in the pediatric population with a constellation of benign tumors that affect the brain, heart, kidney, lung, and skin. No therapy has been shown to halt disease progression or to prevent its onset. The pathogenesis of TSC stems from the inactivation of one of the two TSC genes, TSC1 and TSC2. A key function of these genes is to regulate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in response to cellular energy and nutrient and growth factor availability. Consequently, TSC-related tumors exhibit uncontrolled activation of mTOR and its effectors. Previous work has shown that a specific mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, effectively down-regulated mTOR activity in renal tumors of Eker rats that carry a germline Tsc2 mutation. Using this model, we investigated the effects of rapamycin on pituitary and renal tumors. We observed that rats with pituitary tumors had significantly shorter survival than those without pituitary pathology. Treatment with rapamycin effectively improved their clinical state and prolonged their survival. Rapamycin also resulted in a significant decrease in the size of the Tsc2-related renal tumors. In both types of pathology, tumor response was accompanied by down-regulation of ribosomal S6 kinase activity, reduction in cell size, and induction of apoptosis. Evidence for drug resistance was found in a small percentage of lesions after prolonged therapy. When rapamycin was given before onset of disease, subsequent development of macroscopic renal tumors was reduced, but no effect on the number of microscopic precursor lesions was found. We conclude that rapamycin-sensitive mTOR activity was critical to tumor progression in the Eker rat model, but rapamycin is unlikely to eradicate all disease as a result of the development of drug resistance. Our data also suggest the role of a rapamycin-insensitive pathway during tumor initiation.
Normal Lung Structure and Pulmonary Function in a Twin with Agenesis of the Cloacal Membrane and Persistent Severe Oligohydramnios

Pulmonary hypoplasia has been associated with persistent severe oligohydramnios. We present a twin gestation in which one twin had agenesis of the cloacal membrane and absent amniotic fluid with normal neonatal pulmonary structure and function prior to neonatal death. This case adds further knowledge to one of the suggested pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying pulmonary hypoplasia.
Coherence-transfer table: a convenient method for deriving coherence-transfer pathways of an NMR pulse sequence. I. coherence-transfer table in I x , I y , and I z system

A convenient method for deriving coherence-transfer pathways in a table format, called a coherence-transfer table, using the shift operator basis I+, I−, and Iz has been developed. This method can be used for analyzing various nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pulse sequences. The coherence-transfer table is constructed by using some fairly simple rules. Coherence-transfer pathways, coherence-level pathways, and NMR signals of an NMR pulse sequence can be found easily from the table. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 12: 43–53, 2000
Evidence for a group II intron–like catalytic triplex in the spliceosome

To catalyze pre-mRNA splicing, U6 snRNA positions two metals that interact directly with the scissile phosphates. The U6 metal ligands correspond stereospecifically to metal ligands within the catalytic domain V of a group II self-splicing intron. In domain V, the ligands are organized by base-triple interactions, which also juxtapose the 3′ splice site with the catalytic metals. However, in the spliceosome, the mechanism for organizing catalytic metals and recruiting the substrate has remained unclear. Here we show by genetics, crosslinking, and biochemistry in yeast that analogous triples form in U6 and promote catalytic metal binding and both chemical steps of splicing. Because the triples include an element that defines the 5′ splice site, the triples also provide a mechanism for juxtaposing the pre-mRNA substrate with the catalytic metals. Our data indicate that U6 adopts a group II intron-like tertiary conformation to catalyze splicing.
ON POINTWISE AND ANALYTIC SIMILARITY OF MATRICES

LetA(e) andB(e) be complex valued matrices analytic in e at the origin.A(e)≈pB(e) ifA(e) is similar toB(e) for any |e|<r,A(e)≈aB(e) ifB(e)=T(e)A(e)T−1(e) andT(e) is analytic and |T(e)|≠0 for |e|<r! In this paper we find a necessary and sufficient conditions onA(e) andB(e) such thatA(e)≈aB(e) provided thatA(e)≈pB(e). This problem arises in study of certain ordinary differential equations singular with respect to a parameter e in the origin and was first stated by Wasow.
IBM RISC System/6000 processor architecture

This paper describes the hardware architecture of the IBM RISC System/6000 processor, which combines basic RISC principles with a partitioning of registers by function into multiple ALUs. This allows a high degree of parallelism in execution and permits a compiler to generate highly optimized code to manage the interaction among parallel functions. Floating-point arithmetic is integrated into the architecture, and floating-point performance is comparable to that of many vector processors.
Vibrational and conformational analysis of 1-bromo-3,3-dimethylbutane and 1-chloro-3,3-dimethylbutane

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for 1-bromo-3,3-dimethylbutane and 1-chloro-3,3-dimethylbutane. Each compound exists as two stable conformations. Vibrational assignments were made for both conformers of each compound with the aid of normal coordinate calculations. Molecular mechanics calculations were made for both conformers of each compound, and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations were made for the chloro compound. Calculated geometrical parameters are given in this paper.
Studies on the rapidly labeled RNA of rabbit bone marrow cells.

RNA fractions base composition and labelling kinetics in presence and absence of actinomycin for rapidly labelled RNA in rabbit bone marrow rich in erythroid cells
Physical map and genetic early region of the T7-related coliphage, BA14.

Abstract The chromosome of the bacterial virus, BA14, a member of the T7 lytic coliphage group, was characterized by direct measurement of its length and construction of a restriction map. The chromosome (39.6 kb) is essentially the same size as T7 (39.9 kb), is devoid of a large number of restriction sites expected for a DNA of this size, and moreover, lacks modification sites for the Escherichia coli Dam and Dcm methyltransferases. The B A14 early region was assigned by testing the ability of specific chromosomal restriction fragments to direct RNA synthesis by E. coli RNA polymerase, and analysis of in vitro RNase III cleavage products of the transcripts. The data support and extend the previous assertion that BA14 is a representative of a distinct T7 subgroup, and limited nucleotide sequence analysis of the BA14 DNA ligase-encoding gene suggests a closer relationship of BA14 to T7 than to T3 phage, another member of the T7 group.
Characterization of transition carbides in quench and partitioned steel microstructures by Mössbauer spectroscopy and complementary techniques

Abstract Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) produces steel microstructures with martensite and austenite that exhibit promising property combinations for third generation advanced high strength steels. Understanding the kinetics of reactions that compete for available carbon, such as carbide formation, is critical for alloying and processing design and achieving austenite enrichment and retention during Q&P. Mossbauer effect spectroscopy (MES) was used to characterize Q&P microstructures in a 0.38C–1.54Mn–1.48Si wt.% steel after quenching to 225 °C and partitioning at 400 °C for 10 or 300 s, with an emphasis on transition carbides. The recoilless fraction for η-carbide was calculated and a correction for saturation of the MES absorption spectrum was applied, making quantitative measurements of small amounts of η-carbide, including non-stoichiometric η-carbide, possible in Q&P microstructures. Complementary transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of η-carbides, and MES and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the austenite. The amount of η-carbide formed during Q&P ranged from 1.4 to 2.4 at.%, accounting for a substantial portion (∼24% to 41%) of the bulk carbon content of the steel. The amount (5.0 at.%) of η-carbide that formed after quenching and tempering (Q&T) at 400 °C for 300 s was significantly greater than after partitioning at 400 °C for 300 s (2.4 at.%), suggesting that carbon partitioning from martensite to austenite occurs in conjunction with η-carbide formation during Q&P in these specimens.
Aggregation of Inputs Under Risk

The implications of primal separability on choice are examined. Separability under risk imposes strong restrictions on input demands. These restrictions can be used to test for separability of production. Alternatively, one can test directly separability of production and infer what separability implies about behavior. This latter approach is taken since an application is analyzed.
Butter Versus Oleomargarine in Ricket Control in Pigs

The following report covers one year's experimental work in a co(Sperative experimental project between the Dairy Department • and the Animal Husbandry of the West Virginia University and Experiment Station. This project is the more recent development of an earlier project started by these two departments in 1923 to study the vitn.min A deficiency in white corn and to secure a comparative economic measurement of this deficiency by supplementing a white corn basal ration with butter, which was rich in vitamin A, and also oleomargarine commonly considered to contain lesser amounts of vitamin A. In the progress of this earlier project it was noted that when oats were fed in the basal white corn ration that the pigs did not develop rachitic symptoms at about 90 days as was commonly experienced in white corn feeding. Oats have not been previously classed by investigators as having either vitamin A, the growth promoting vitamin, or vitamin D, the anti-rachitie vitamin, in noticeable amounts. The same oat fed lots of pigs when fed butter and oleo failed in the ordinary feeding period of 90 to 100 days to show any rachitic symptoms. This led to the development of a supplementary project in 1926, in which the basal ration used in 1923-1924-1925 was changed to a new basal ration, containing white corn, buckwheat middlings and tankage and the same mineral mixture as the original basal rations, but without oats being used. Butter and oleo were used as in the earlier project with both basal rations, 2 ounces being fed daily throughout the feeding period for each 100 pounds live weight. Table 1 shows the results of this trial. This trial shows rather strikingly the fact that when oats were
The role of the radiation oncologist in the management of gynecologic cancer

Optimal management of patients with gynecologic malignancies requires a multidisciplinary approach with close cooperation between the primary care physician, the gynecologic oncologist and the radiation therapist. In order to obtain maximum survival rates with minimal morbidity, treatment should be based on a detailed knowledge of tumor localization, potential sites of occult spread, and tumor-host interactions. A careful delineation of patterns of recurrence will permit the identification of patients at increased risk for treatment failure and will aid in the design of alternative treatment protocols tailor-made to control potential site(s) of tumor spread. The technological advances in radiation oncology and their influence on survival rates are presented, with illustrations taken from the literature and from the recent results of the Patterns of Care Study for treatment of carcinoma of the cervix. The role of radiation therapy in the treatment of carcinomas of the cervix, uterus, and the epithelial tumors of the ovary are reviewed, emphasizing treatment protocols based on consideration of technical, tumor, and host factors. Ongoing clinical research trials and potential areas for further improvement in the management of gynecologic malignancies are discussed.
Ten-nanometer filaments of hamster BHK-21 cells and epidermal keratin filaments have similar structures.

Abstract The 10-nm filaments of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells, when examined either in the form of native filament caps or polymerized in vitro, are long tubes of protein 8--10 nm in diameter. They contain about 42% alpha-helix, which, on the basis of x-ray diffraction data, is arranged in a coiled-coil conformation characteristic of proteins of the alpha type. The known structural properties such as morphology, dimensions, subunit composition, and ultrastructure of this fibrous protein are very similar to those of the mammalian epidermal keratin filament, to which it may therefore be related.
Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Stress Fractures

Diaphyseal stress fractures of the tibia usually can be managed by nonoperative means. Internal fixation is appropriate in a small minority of cases when other treatments have failed. Intramedullary nailing is effective and appropriate for complete and posteromedial stress fractures. Other fixation techniques may be considered for fractures on the anterior, tension side of the tibia, but intramedullary nailing can be used in this situation as well. The risk of postoperative knee pain continues to be a significant limitation to the technique and must be considered in the athlete, including the possibility of pain that proves refractory to nail removal. Standard surgical techniques for intramedullary nailing are appropriate, but venting the distal tibia before reaming is appropriately considered as when reaming the length of any intact long bone. The location and character of the stress reaction are critical determinants of whether or not intramedullary nailing is the most appropriate treatment. The distinction between a stress fracture and a posteromedial stress reaction is vital to determining the appropriate operative intervention.
Effect of middle-ear dysfunction and disease on hearing and language in high-risks infants.

Abstract The effect of middle-ear dysfunction and disease on hearing and language development at one year of age was evaluated for 143 high-risk infants. These infants were categorized as normal or abnormal based on otologic history, otoscopic examinations, and on tympanometric examinations. Language was significantly related to gestational age, being delayed by approximately the amount of prematurity. Language scores were therefore adjusted for gestational age. Speech-detection threshold was not related to gestational age, and was used as the measure of hearing. Hearing levels were negatively correlated with adjusted language quotients. Infants with abnormal otologic histories reported were not different from infants with normal histories in either hearing or language development. Infants with bilateral otoscopic abnormalities had significantly higher speech-detection thresholds, but did not differ in language development from those with bilaterally normal otoscopy. Infants who were abnormal bilaterally by tympanometric examination had significantly higher speech-detection thresholds as well as significantly delayed language development. A significant effect on both hearing and language was found among those infants bilaterally abnormal by tympanometry for whom evidence of middleear disease was not visualized by otoscopic examination. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Structure and mutational analysis of Rab GDP-dissociation inhibitor

The crystal structure of the bovine α-isoform of Rab GDP-dissociation inhibitor (GDI), which functions in vesicle-membrane transport to recycle and regulate Rab GTPases, has been determined to a resolution of 1.81 A. GDI is constructed of two main structural units, a large complex multisheet domain I and a smaller α-helical domain II. The structural organization of domain I is surprisingly closely related to FAD-containing monooxygenases and oxidases. Sequence-conserved regions common to GDI and the choroideraemia gene product, which delivers Rab to catalytic subunits of Rab geranylgeranyltransferase II, are clustered on one face of the molecule. The two most sequence-conserved regions, which form a compact structure at the apex of GDI, are shown by site-directed mutagenesis to play a critical role in the binding of Rab proteins.
Is this any way to be a realist

Abstract Andy Clark argues that the reality and causal efficacy of the folk psychological attitudes do not require in‐the‐head correlates of the that‐clauses by which they are attributed. The facts for which Fodor invokes a language of thought as empirical explanation—systemati‐city, for example—are, Clark argues, an a priori conceptual demand upon propositional attitude ascription, and hence not in need of empirical explanation. However, no such strategy can work. A priori demands imposed by our practices do not eliminate the need for empirical explanation of how these demands are satisfied by particular beings. And given the vast number of potential beliefs, and the interrelationships they exhibit, no one has the slightest idea how they might be explained except by in‐the‐head syntax.
Structural studies of nickel complexes of the unsymmetrical tridentate ligand N-phenyl-N-(2-pyridyl)formamidinate

Abstract We describe the preparation and structural characterization of six nickel complexes with the unsymmetrical formamidine HPhPyF ( N , N ′-phenylpyridylformamidine). These six compounds include one dinuclear species Ni 2 (PhPyF) 4 ( 1 ), two mononuclear complexes: cis -[Ni(HPhPyF) 2 (MeCN) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 ( 3 ) and Ni(HPhPyF)Br 2 ( 6 ), and three trinuclear compounds: Ni 3 (PhPyF) 4 (MeCN) 2 (BF 4 ) 2 ( 2 ), [Ni 3 (PhPyF) 4 Cl]Cl ( 4 ), and Ni 3 (PhPyF) 4 Cl 2 ( 5 ). In the dinuclear species 1 , the two nickel atoms are surrounded by four formamidinate ligands. Each is pseudo-octahedral and there is long separation (≈3.41 A) between them. One mononuclear compound, cis -[Ni(HPhPyF) 2 (MeCN) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 ( 3 ) has a distorted octahedral geometry, the other Ni(HPhPyF)Br 2 ( 6 ) contains a Ni atom in a pseudo-tetrahedral environment. All three trinuclear compounds contain a linear chain of three Ni II atoms wrapped by four PhPyF anions, but each has a different axial environment. There are two axially coordinated MeCN in 2 , only one axial Cl anion for 4 and two axial Cl anions for 5 . In 2 , 4 , and 5 , the Ni 3 6+ chains are symmetrical with relatively long Ni⋯Ni separations in the range 2.44–2.51 A.
A new symmetry related to SU(n) for classical basic hypergeometric series

Abstract A direct proof is given of an elegant new contiguous relation for classical, well-poised basic hypergeometric series which preserves the well-poised condition. The proof involves elementary series manipulations and does not depend upon the “transposition symmetry” of the general bisymmetric polynomials mμG(n)q(γ1,…,γn; δ1,…,δm) which was used to establish the ordinary or “q = 1” case of the identity. The new continguous relation can be considered a generalization of the 6Φ5 summation theorem.
High-power acoustic insult to living cultured cells as studied by high-frequency scanning acoustic microscopy

A plurality of articles discussing combined effects of acoustic high-pressure (mechanical factor) and heat (thermal factor) caused by acoustic vibration on biological tissues and cells has been published. Herein, we contribute the preliminary results describing the behavior of living human skin cells when separately applying shock waves and thermal insult to them. First, we gradually increased temperature of a culturing medium from 37.5 to 52 degree(s)C using the heat plate with temperature controller, and carried out in-situ observation of the cells grown on a substrate via the medium using a scanning acoustic microscope. Second, we provided the pressure using high power ultrasonic pulses generated by a laser induced ultrasonic shock wave system to the cells, wherein the pressure caused by the pulses was measured by a hydrophone, and wherein temperature was monitored by thermocouples. The cells were observed just after giving the impact. The difference between phenomena indicating cellular insult and injury (e.g., shrinkage or lift-off) were clearly visualized by the scanning acoustic microscope with frequency at 1.0 GHz.
The role of Toll: How therapies targeting Toll-like receptors treat skin diseases

Because upregulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression has been observed in some skin diseases, the modulation of TLR function is an elegant therapeutic strategy. The TLR agonist imiquimod has already established utility in treating cutaneous viral pathogens and skin cancers, and all-trans retinoic acid has been shown to downregulate TLR expression. Perhaps the future development of drugs that block TLR activation might provide new treatment options for inflammatory skin diseases.
Stability of the homology of the moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces with spin structure

Recently, due largely to its importance in fermionic string theory, there has been much interest in the moduli spaces ~/gl-e] of Riemann surfaces of genus g with spin structure of Arf invariant e e Z/2Z. Algebraic geometers have long studied these spaces in their alternate guise as moduli spaces of pairs (algebraic curve, square root of the canonical bundle). For topologists these spaces are rational classifying spaces for spin mapping class groups. However, despite the fact that ~r162 is a finite cover of the ordinary moduli space J/4g, little is known about the topology of these spaces. In this paper we begin a study of the homology of ~'g[e] by proving that its homology groups are independent of g and e when g is adequately large (Theorem3.1). In a second paper [H4] we will compute nl(v//g[e]) and H2(./r thereby calculating the Picard group of Jlg[e]. Putting this all together we know approximately the same amount about the homology of Jt'g[e] as we do about that of d/g itself. The techniques used here are an extension of those of [H 2] which are in turn strongly related to those of [C; Q; V; W] and others. We begin by constructing several simplicial complexes from configurations of simple closed curves and properly imbedded arcs in a surface of genus g. The homology of the spin moduli space is identified with that of the spin mapping class group G, which acts on these complexes in a natural way. The Borel construction is then applied to obtain a spectral sequence which describes the homology of G in terms the homology of the stabilizers of the cells of these complexes. These turn out to be spin mapping class groups (in an extended sense) of smaller genus and the result is established inductively. The complexes are exactly the same as those of [H 2]; however, the spectral sequence arguments are more difficult because there are more orbits of cells under the action of G. Furthermore, in Sect. 4 we apply an entirely different and much simpler version of the argument of [H 2] to obtain stability in the case of a closed surface.
Assembly of the base excision repair complex on abasic DNA and role of adenomatous polyposis coli on its functional activity

The assembly and stability of base excision repair (BER) proteins in vivo with abasic DNA and the role of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein in this process are currently unclear. We have studied the assembly of a multiprotein BER complex onto abasic DNA (F-DNA) and characterized the physical and functional activity of the associated proteins. We found that the BER complex contained all the essential components of the long-patch BER system, such as APE1, Pol-β, Fen1, and DNA ligase I. Interestingly, wild-type APC was also present in the BER complex. Kinetics of the assembly of BER proteins onto the F-DNA were rapid and appeared in sequential order depending upon their requirement in the repair process. The presence of wild-type APC in the BER complex caused a decrease in the level of assembly of BER proteins and negatively affected long-patch BER. These results suggest that major BER proteins in the complex are assembled onto F-DNA and are competent in performing DNA repair. Wild-type APC in the BER complex reduces the repair activity, probably because of interaction with multiple components of the system.
On a coefficient conjecture of Brannan

Soit (1+xz)α/(1−z)=1+Σ n=1 ∞ A n (x)z n , ou |x|=1 et 0<α<1. Alors |A 5 (x)|≤A 5 (1) et l'egalite n'est vraie que si et seulement si x=1
Bioinorganic chemistry: Model offers intermediate insight

Chemical models of enzymes' active sites aid our understanding of biological reactions. Such a model of a reaction intermediate promises to advance our knowledge of the biochemistry of iron-containing haem enzymes.
Immunodetection of an arrestin-like protein in human retinal pigment epithelium

The goal of this study was to determine if an arrestin/S-antigenlike protein is produced by human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells maintained in tissue culture. Arrestin immunoreactivity was examined in fixed, monolayer cultures of HRPE and on immunoblots of SDS-PAGE separations of whole cell lysates of HRPE using five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs A2G5, A9C6, 3C4.2, 3D1.2 and 5c6.47) that bind to different epitopes in bovine retinal S-antigen. Monolayers of HRPE cells showed immunoreactivity with four of the mAbs though the relative staining intensity varied among mAbs and donors. For example, mAb A2G5 which historically shows very limited crossreactivity among species, reacted strongly with cells from one donor, moderately with cells from a second donor and only weakly with other donor cultures examined. mAb 3D1.2 showed no reactivity with HRPE cells. Immunoblots of SDS-PAGE separations of whole cell lysates of HRPE established from ten different donors confirmed the presence of an arrestin-related...
A field born in conservation’s cold war

Thanks to Andrew Dizon, Frank Cipriano, Naoko Funahashi, Gina Lento, Scott Baker, Randall Reeves, Robert Brownell, Vasilli Papastavrou, Joseph Roman, Stephen Karl and Ruthellen Klinger for valuable discussion, consultation or review. Their generous assistance does not imply their acquiescence.
Elongation factor Tu and E1 β subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex act as fibronectin binding proteins in Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Summary The interactions between pathogenic bacteria and extracellular matrix (ECM) components markedly influence the initiation and establishment of infection. We have identified two surface proteins of virulent Mycoplasma pneumoniae with molecular masses of 45 and 30 kDa that bind to the ECM constituent, fibronectin (Fn). These Fn-binding proteins (FnBPs) were purified to near homogeneity using Fn-coupled Sepharose 4B-affinity column chromatography, and amino acid sequence analysis of the 45 and the 30 kDa proteins identified them as elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 β subunit (PDH-B) respectively. The genes for EF-Tu and PDH-B were cloned, and the entire EF-Tu gene and NH2-terminus of PDH-B (NPDH (pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 β subunit from amino acid 1–244)-B) gene were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins, rEF-Tu and rNPDH-B, were purified to homogeneity by His-tag affinity column chromatography and used to immunize rabbits. Purified rEF-Tu and rNPDH-B bound to Fn using a ligand immunoblot assay and ELISA. Immunogold electron microscopy with polyclonal antibodies reactive against rEF-Tu (antirEF-Tu) and rNPDH-B (antirNPDH-B) and whole cell radioimmunoprecipitation (WCRIP) revealed the surface location of these proteins. Adherence of viable M. pneumoniae to immobilized Fn was inhibited by antirEF-Tu and antirNPDH-B antisera in a dose-dependent and cumulative manner. These results demonstrate that M. pneumoniae EF-Tu and PDH-B, in addition to their major cytoplasmic biosynthetic and metabolic roles, can be surface translocated, which confers additional important biological functions.
Activation of Endothelium by Borrelia burgdorferi In Vitro Enhances Transmigration of Specific Subsets of T Lymphocytes

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is characterized by the accumulation of lymphocytes and monocytes in the affected tissue. Endothelial cells line the blood vessel walls and control the trafficking of inflammatory leukocytes from the blood into the surrounding tissues. A model of the blood vessel wall, consisting of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown on amniotic connective tissue, was utilized to examine the effects of B. burgdorferi on the transendothelial migration of T lymphocytes. Maximal migration occurred when the HUVEC-amnion cultures were preincubated with B. burgdorferi for 24 h and T lymphocytes were added for an additional 4 h, yielding a two- to fourfold increase compared to migration across unstimulated cultures. The number of T lymphocytes that migrated was proportional to the number added. The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10), added during activation of the HUVEC, significantly diminished (by an average of 70% ± 21%) the migration of T lymphocytes across endothelium stimulated for 8 or 24 h with B. burgdorferi, but not IL-1. Compared to the initially added population of T lymphocytes, the population that migrated across untreated endothelium or HUVEC activated with B. burgdorferi or IL-1 contained a significantly smaller percentage of CD45RA+RO− (naive) cells and a greater proportion of CD45RA+RO+ cells. The migratory population was also enriched for CD8+ T lymphocytes when the endothelium was incubated with either control medium or B. burgdorferi, but not IL-1. B. burgdorferi thus activates endothelium in a manner that promotes the transmigration of T lymphocytes, and IL-10 inhibits this activation. These data further suggest that endothelium plays an active role in promoting the recruitment of specific subpopulations of T lymphocytes.
Antiviral defense: interferons and beyond

Mice lacking the adaptor protein that initiates an antiviral response downstream of the RNA helicases retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) have recently been described. These studies highlight the essential and nonredundant role of nucleic acid recognition in the induction of type I interferon production and raise important questions regarding the nature of cell-autonomous virus detection in coordinating the antiviral response.
MEMS, microsystems and nanosystems

This paper reviews recent microfabrication techniques with applications to MEMS, and microsystems. Examples of MEMS devices are presented and their applications to RF-communications are discussed, along with new emerging technologies and their impact on future devices and future architectures.
High-Yield Hydrogen Production from Starch and Water by a Synthetic Enzymatic Pathway

BackgroundThe future hydrogen economy offers a compelling energy vision, but there are four main obstacles: hydrogen production, storage, and distribution, as well as fuel cells. Hydrogen production from inexpensive abundant renewable biomass can produce cheaper hydrogen, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions, but current chemical and biological means suffer from low hydrogen yields and/or severe reaction conditions.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we demonstrate a synthetic enzymatic pathway consisting of 13 enzymes for producing hydrogen from starch and water. The stoichiometric reaction is C6H10O5 (l)+7 H2O (l)→12 H2 (g)+6 CO2 (g). The overall process is spontaneous and unidirectional because of a negative Gibbs free energy and separation of the gaseous products with the aqueous reactants.ConclusionsEnzymatic hydrogen production from starch and water mediated by 13 enzymes occurred at 30°C as expected, and the hydrogen yields were much higher than the theoretical limit (4 H2/glucose) of anaerobic fermentations.SignificanceThe unique features, such as mild reaction conditions (30°C and atmospheric pressure), high hydrogen yields, likely low production costs ($∼2/kg H2), and a high energy-density carrier starch (14.8 H2-based mass%), provide great potential for mobile applications. With technology improvements and integration with fuel cells, this technology also solves the challenges associated with hydrogen storage, distribution, and infrastructure in the hydrogen economy.
Key clinical predictors in the early diagnosis of adnexal torsion in children.

Abstract Objective Adnexal torsion (AT) accounts for 2.7% of cases of acute abdominal pain in children. When AT is undiagnosed, ovarian blood supply is compromised, eventually leading to tissue necrosis. Because the clinical presentation of AT is nonspecific, preoperative diagnosis is challenging. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors that differentiate AT from other sources of acute abdominal pain. Methods This study was an IRB-approved retrospective chart review of girls age 4-18 y/o with acute abdominal pain who then underwent surgical evaluation. Data collected included age, menarchal status, symptoms, physical exam findings, laboratory tests, imaging studies, operative procedures and postoperative diagnosis. Factors associated with AT were included in a logistic regression model. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve based on this model was then constructed in order to determine its ability to predict AT. Results 94 patients presented with acute abdominal pain; 45 were diagnosed with AT and 49 with other causes of abdominal pain. Presence of intermittent pain (P Conclusion Key clinical and imaging findings can aid in the early diagnosis of AT in children. Future prospective studies will focus on development of a clinical predictive model for the diagnosis of AT in the pediatric population.
The effects of ultraviolet light on the biological and physical chemical properties of deoxyribonucleic acids.

When DNA is irradiated in solution with UV light at 254 m mu , loss of transforming activity and changes in the physical chemical properties of the DNA can be detected. The loss of biological activity, studied with DNA isolated from D. pneumoniae and B. subtilis, depends on the genetic marker under investigation as well as on its size and on the molecular weight of the DNA being irradiated. When exposed to higher dose levels, native DNA is both partially degraded and weakened in structure. Cross-linking of the complementary strands has been detected. The UV induced physical chemical alterations have been detected by the lowering of the denaturation temperature, a drop in sedimentation coefficient after denaturation, a decrease in viscosity, an increase in buoyant density in a CsCl gradient, a cross-linking of DNA strands and an increase in the pH at which the molecules denature. Most of the physical chemical changes are accentuated by a higher adenine plus thymine content of the DNA and by the substitution of 5bromouracil for thymine. Denatured and native DNA behave differently when exposed to the same dose at the same wavelength. As in the biological experiments, for the same dose levels, the smaller themore » molecular weight of the DNA, the less the physical chemical damage. Both the biological and the viscosity changes induced by UV show no oxygen effect. The photoreactivating enzyme from bakers' yeast reactivates UV-treated transforming DNA in the presence of visible light; the reactivation might be due in part to the disruption of the cross-links induced by UV.« less
Mechanical failure in thin-film nonlinear optical polymers: Structure and processing issues

Stress developed during the spin-coating process often initiates cracks leading to failure in nonlinear optical devices. The primary intrinsic reasons for this were shown to be a lack of a secondary relaxation process below the glass transition as well as an insufficiently large molecular weight to enhance toughness by chain entanglement, as detected by dielectric measurements and viscoelastic shear moduli, respectively. A detailed systematic synthetic effort was undertaken to increase the chain length through improved free-radical methods. Results showed that as the molecular weight was raised chain entanglements were observed and film toughness was improved as evidenced by the thicker, crack-free film attained. As well as thermal stresses, solvent stress cracking was identified as a major source of fabrication defects in the multilayer spin-coating process. A plasma polymer layer deposited on the film surface was successful as a barrier layer preventing solvent penetration and crack formation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Application of Improved PSO for CSI in Customization System Oriented Network Manufacturing

A mathematical model of Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) in individualized product customization system is put forward in this paper, which bases on networked manufacturing platform. The problem of customer satisfaction index in terms of this model can be solved by particle swarm optimization (PSO) improved according to Bayes method and a good convergence effect has been obtained. The customization system offers a kind of new way to meet customers' requirement that the customers are eager for consumption of varieties, low-volume production, short cycle and high-quality.
An unbiased autoregressive conditional intraday seasonal variance filtering process

We develop a new autoregressive conditional seasonal variance (ARCSV) process that captures both the changes in and the persistency of the intraday seasonal (U-shape) pattern of volatility. Unlike other procedures for seasonality, this approach allows for the intraday volatility pattern to change over time, resulting in an increase in the filtering performance over the extant deterministic filtering models. We quantify the gains in the filtering performance by comparing our model with the flexible Fourier form (FFF) model of Andersen and Bollerslev [J. Empir. Finance, 1997a, 4, 115–158]. Moreover, the ARCSV model does not create any statistical distortion in the filtered series, as occurs with other de-seasoning processes. We prove that the ARCSV model satisfies the spectral criteria required to be judged as a good filtering process. Monte Carlo simulation results show that the performance of the ARCSV model is superior to the FFF model. In particular, the seasonal adjustment performance of the ARCSV mode...
Connected dominating set and its induced position-less sparse spanner for mobile ad hoc networks

A set S is a dominating set (DS) if each node in the graph is either in S or a neighbor to at least one of the nodes in S. A connected dominating set (CDS) is a DS that induces a connected subgraph. A t-spanner of a graph G = (V,E) is a spanning subgraph G' = (V,E'), such that the shortest hop path between any two nodes in G', is at most t times their shortest path in G. A sparse spanner (spanner with linear edges) is of fundamental importance to distributed networking operations. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for constructing and maintaining a CDS-based sparse spanner for mobile ad hoc networks without using geographic positions. This CDS has a constant approximation factor. Consequently, the number of nodes responsible for routing is also within a constant factor of the minimum. Our distributed algorithm runs in linear time and uses linear messages. Furthermore, the spanner has a constant topological and geometric dilation.
The Osmotic Effect of Glycerol on the Stria Vascularis and Endolymph

In the chinchilla, quantitative changes in strial thickness, area of the endolymphatic space, serum osmolality, and serum levels of glycerol, glucose, total protein sodium, potassium and chloride were determined at 1, 2, 3 and 5 h after the intraperitoneal administration of 6 g/kg glycerol. The serum osmolality, glycerol, glucose and potassium levels increased, while serum sodium and chloride decreased. Quantitative changes in cochlear structure included an increase in strial thickness and a decrease in area of the endolymphatic space. In all the animals (n=50), the increase in strial thickness was closely correlated (correlation coefficient r=0.57) to an increase in serum osmolality. This correlation with strial thickness improved (R=0.71) when the interval between injection and animal sacrifice was used in combination with serum osmolality. The increase in stria thickness was also closely correlated to an increase in serum glycerol and to a decrease in serum chloride. A decrease in endolymphatic volume was found most consistently at 3 h after the i.p. administration of glycerol.
Cellular Response of Shewanella oneidensis to Strontium Stress

The physiology and transcriptome dynamics of the metal ion-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 in response to nonradioactive strontium (Sr) exposure were investigated. Studies indicated that MR-1 was able to grow aerobically in complex medium in the presence of 180 mM SrCl2 but showed severe growth inhibition at levels above that concentration. Temporal gene expression profiles were generated from aerobically grown, mid-exponential-phase MR-1 cells shocked with 180 mM SrCl2 and analyzed for significant differences in mRNA abundance with reference to data for nonstressed MR-1 cells. Genes with annotated functions in siderophore biosynthesis and iron transport were among the most highly induced (>100-fold [P < 0.05]) open reading frames in response to acute Sr stress, and a mutant (SO3032::pKNOCK) defective in siderophore production was found to be hypersensitive to SrCl2 exposure, compared to parental and wild-type strains. Transcripts encoding multidrug and heavy metal efflux pumps, proteins involved in osmotic adaptation, sulfate ABC transporters, and assimilative sulfur metabolism enzymes also were differentially expressed following Sr exposure but at levels that were several orders of magnitude lower than those for iron transport genes. Precipitate formation was observed during aerobic growth of MR-1 in broth cultures amended with 50, 100, or 150 mM SrCl2 but not in cultures of the SO3032::pKNOCK mutant or in the abiotic control. Chemical analysis of this precipitate using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and static secondary ion mass spectrometry indicated extracellular solid-phase sequestration of Sr, with at least a portion of the heavy metal associated with carbonate phases.
A new order of red algae based on the Peyssonneliaceae, with an evaluation of the ordinal classification of the Florideophyceae (Rhodophyta)

Abstract The Peyssonneliaceae Denizot comprises a worldwide group of non-calcified or calcified, crust-forming red algae found in diverse, intertidal to deep subtidal marine habitats. Eight genera have been recognized in the family, with Peyssonnelia Decaisne having the largest number of species. Both comparative morphology and rbcL and nuclear LSU rDNA sequence data support the monophyly of the family and show that it cannot be maintained in the order Gigartinales Schmitz. A new order, Peyssonneliales, is herein proposed to accommodate the Peysonneliaceae, with only two of the genera (i.e., Peyssonnelia and Sonderopelta), and its relationship to the other red algal orders is discussed. We also propose the transfer of one species, Peyssonnelia capensis Montagne to Sonderopelta Womersley & Sinkora.
Removal of N-Linked Glycosylation Sites in the V1 Region of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus gp120 Results in Redirection of B-Cell Responses to V3

One mechanism of immune evasion utilized by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope glycoproteins is the presence of a dense carbohydrate shield. Accumulating evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments suggests that alterations in N-linked glycosylation of SIV gp120 can enhance host humoral immune responses that may be involved in immune control. The present study was designed to determine the ability of glycosylation mutant viruses to redirect antibody responses to shielded envelope epitopes. The influence of glycosylation on the maturation and specificity of antibody responses elicited by glycosylation mutant viruses containing mutations of specific N-linked sites in and near the V1 and V2 regions of SIVmac239 gp120 was determined. Results from these studies demonstrated a remarkably similar maturation of antibody responses to native, fully glycosylated envelope proteins. However, analyses of antibodies to defined envelope domains revealed that mutation of glycosylation sites in V1 resulted in increased antibody recognition to epitopes in V1. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time that mutation of glycosylation sites in V1 resulted in a redirection of antibody responses to the V3 loop. Taken together, these results demonstrate that N-linked glycosylation is a determinant of SIV envelope B-cell immunogenicity in addition to in vitro antigenicity. In addition, our results demonstrate that the absence of N-linked carbohydrates at specific sites can influence the exposure of epitopes quite distant in the linear sequence.
Cloud-Base-Height Estimation from Paired Ground-Based Hemispherical Observations

Abstract Total-sky imager (TSI) and hemispheric-sky imager (HSI) each have a hemispherical field of view, and many TSIs are now deployed. These instruments have been used routinely to provide a time series of the fractional sky cover only. In this study, the possible retrieval of cloud-base height (CBH) from TSI surface observations is examined. This paper presents a validation analysis of a new retrieval using both a model-output inverse problem and independent, ground-based micropulse lidar data. The obtained results suggest that, at least for single-layer cloud fields, moderately accurate (within ∼0.35 km) CBH retrieval is possible.
A New Document of the Last Pagan Revival in the West, 393–394 A.D.

During the summer of 1938 an important discovery was made in Ostia. In the area at the west of the magnificent Horrea Epagathiana was excavated a temple dedicated to Hercules Invictus according to an altar set in its pronaos. Although inscriptions and works of art referring to Hercules had come to light in Ostia before, these findings in themselves were not sufficient evidence to indicate the existence of an important cult of Hercules in Ostia. So the discovery of a large temple of Hercules came as a complete surprise.