cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
566. Delaying the Onset of Diabetes in the NOD Mouse Using Exosomes Derived from Dendritic Cells Transfected with Adenoviral Vectors

Exosomes are nanovesicles produced in the late endosome and secreted by various cell types, including dendritic cells (DC) and other antigen presenting cells. Studies of tumor-derived exosomes have demonstrated that they are capable of suppressing host anti- tumor immune response and placental-derived exosomes play an important role in establishing maternal immune tolerance toward the fetus. We have demonstrated previously that exosomes derived from DC transfected with adenoviral vectors containing anti- inflammatory molecules such as IL-10, IL-4 and FasL are capable of suppressing antigen-specific immune responses in multiple disease models, such as delayed type hypersensitivity and collagen-induced arthritis. In this study, we examine the ability of DC and DC-derived exosomes to halt the progression of diabetes in the NOD model of autoimmune diabetes. Exosomes were isolated by differential centrifugation from the enriched culture medium of bone marrow derived DC from NOD/LTJ mice transduced with either an adenoviral vector encoding IL-4 or a control empty vector. NOD/LTJ mice were treated via tail vein injection with either the transduced DC or the exosome preparation. The DC transduced with IL-4 were able to prevent the onset of diabetes with a single treatment to either 5- or 10-week old NOD mice, similar to our previous results. Interesting, treatment of NOD/LTJ with DC-derived exosomes also prevented the onset of hyperglycemia. These results suggest that exosomes from immunosuppressive DC are able to block progression of diabetes in NOD mice and thus could be used clinically to treat type I diabetes.
Oxidation of 4-thiouridine in intact Escherichia coli tRNAs

Abstract Treatment of intact tRNAs from Escherichia coli B with mild oxidizing agents, such as KI-I2, appears to quantitatively oxidize the 4-thiouridine present in these molecules to the disulfide form as judged by the loss of absorbance near 330 nm. Chromatography of these oxidized tRNAs on Sephadex G-75 did not reveal tRNA dimers or larger aggregates, suggesting intra- rather than intermolecular disulfide-bond formation. Enzymatic hydrolyses of both unlabeled and 35S-labeled oxidized tRNAs followed by chromatography on columns of Sephadex G-25 indicated that 4-thiouridine did form covalent linkages with some component(s) in the tRNA that were reversible upon reduction. It was not clear whether 4-thiouridine formed disulfides only with itself, other sulfurcontaining nucleosides, or some non-sulfur-containing component. Data presented suggest that an earlier report on the isolation of 4-thiouridylate disulfide from oxidized tRNAs of E. coli was an artifact, resulting from oxidation of the thionucleotide during chromatography on Bio-Gel.
Redefining the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Institute of Medicine recently convened an expert committee to examine the evidence base for the chronic fatigue syndrome, develop evidence-based clinical diagnostic criteria, and recommend whe...
Prosthenystera oonastica n. sp. (Digenea: Callodistomidae) from ictalurid catfishes in southeastern United States and molecular evidence differentiating species in the genus across Americas

Prosthenhystera oonastica n. sp. is described as a cryptic species from the gall bladder of three ictalurid catfishes, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), Ictalurus furcatus (Valenciennes), and Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque), in rivers in the southeastern United States. The species was originally named by Wilmer A. Rogers in 1979 but never formally described. Material used for the description consists of two specimens of Roger’s original material and ten new specimens. We found no significant morphological features that are useful for discriminating between the new species and its closest relative Prosthenhysteraobesa (Diesing, 1850) Travassos, 1922 that occurs in the gall bladders of freshwater characiform, perciform and siluriform fishes, ranging from South America to southern Mexico. However, we found substantial differences in the large subunit ribosomal DNA (partial 28S rRNA gene) between the two species justifying the naming of the new species. Prosthenhystera oonastica n. sp. is readily differentiated from Prosthenhystera caballeroi Jimenez-Guzman, 1973 that occurs in the gall bladders of characid fishes in Central America and Mexico, by having a relatively straight or bent rather than highly convoluted oesophagus, a relatively smaller ovary, smaller and less coalesced vitelline follicles, narrower caeca and smaller eggs. Comparison of ribosomal DNA (partial ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and partial 28S gene) between P. oonastica n. sp. and P. caballeroi revealed large differences between the two species. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial 28S rRNA gene sequences from the three studied species of Prosthenhystera Travassos, 1922 and related digenean taxa revealed a closer relationship between P. oonastica n. sp. and P. obesa than either has had with P. caballeroi.
Mathematical model for optimizing a laser-induced photopolymerization process

Laser induced photo-polymerization is rapid prototyping technique for the manufacturing of high aspect ratio micro- mechanical parts. The process consists of UV laser-induced polymerization of multifunctional monomers. This photo- forming method has advantages of speed and economy over other methods used in the manufacturing of high aspect ratio microstructures. However, current photo-forming systems do not yet have the accuracy and resolution required for micro- mechanical fabrication. To achieve a system with high resolution, it is desirable to develop a predictive mathematical model that can be used in process optimization. In this study, we develop a mathematical model that predicts the laser beam pixel dwell time (or the scanning scheme) on the monomer layer for attaining uniform monomer conversion or solidification by which one can achieve dimensional accuracy and smooth surfaces of the microstructure.
Reliability Studies for Package-on-Package Components in Drop and Shock Environments

The consumer electronics industry stands at a critical juncture where manufacturers strive to incorporate more functionality in smaller packages. In the highly competitive consumer electronics market, a continued demand for products with smallest possible form-factor yet high functionality has led to the proliferation of 3D packaging technologies. Package-on-Package (PoP) architectures, in particular have attracted a lot of interest, especially in portable electronics industry. The advantages of these stacked 3D architectures include simplified and compact design, savings of board space allowing for more package landings, reduced pin counts and optimized production costs. While a lot of recent research, in the field of PoP architectures has been focused on development of optimum process flows and warpage control during reflow, the effects of reflow parameters on the quality of PoP build and the associated reflow defects including warpage have not been extensively researched. Additionally, studies on reliability issues associated with PoP assemblies in drop and shock environments are scarce. Since PoP architectures find their applications mainly in portable electronics, which are susceptible to frequent drops and careless handling at the hand of the consumer, the reliability of PoP architectures in environments representative of the real world is critical to their success in the industry. In this study, Single component PoP test vehicles have been fabricated as per JEDEC standards for quantifying the reliability of PoP packages in drop and shock. Daisy chained double-stack PoP components have been used to identify failure for subsequent drop/shock performance analysis. Experimental strain data acquired using Digital Image Correlation and high speed continuity data- for identifying failure has been used in conjunction with validated FE simulations of drop test events; for development of life prediction models for PoP architectures. Validated node based global-local FE simulations are used to predict strains in critical solder balls in both layers of the PoP stack. The drop/shock reliability studies and life prediction models presented in this work, present an insight into PoP failures and eliminate the need for exhaustive testing procedures.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Perforated esophageal ulcer.

The possibilty of esophagitis or esophageal ulcer should be considered in patients with burning substernal or epigastric pain occuring during or shortly after meals, especially if upper gastro-intestinal series is negative or a hiatus hernia or obstructing duodenal ulcer is found.
A Purine Auxotroph Deficient in Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Amidotransferase and Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Aminotransferase Activities with Normal Activity of Ribose-5-phosphate Aminotransferase

Abstract Three enzyme reactions have been reported to catalyze the synthesis of phosphoribosylamine in eukaryotic cells. These activities are glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (P-Rib-P-P) amidotransferase [amidophosphoribosyl-transferase; 5-phosphoribosylamine: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (glutamate-amidating) EC 2.4.2.14], ammonia P-Rib-P-P aminotransferase, and ammonia ribose-5-phosphate aminotransferase. A purine auxotroph derived from a cell line of Chinese hamster fibroblasts was shown to be deficient in catalytic activities of glutamine P-Rib-P-P amidotransferase and ammonia P-Rib-P-P aminotransferase. Extracts from this cell line had normal ammonia ribose-5-phosphate aminotransferase activity. The defect in purine biosynthesis in the mutant cell line was localized to the synthesis of phosphoribosylamine. These results indicate that glutamine P-Rib-P-P amidotransferase or ammonia P-Rib-P-P aminotransferase or both are important for phosphoribosylamine synthesis, but that ammonia ribose-5-phosphate aminotransferase activity probably does not play a significant role in this eukaryotic cell line. The simultaneous disappearance of both P-Rib-P-P-dependent activities suggests these two enzyme activities are closely related structurally or genetically.
A method for the quantitative study of the surface precipitation reaction.

FOR almost as long as protoplasm has been recognized, some of its basic properties have been studied. Among these is the ‘self-sealing’ property or surface precipitation reaction. When a cell is broken, its contents do not diffuse into the surrounding medium but instead form discrete droplets. This reaction has been observed in many types of cells, but there has been little attempt to study it quantitatively. It would be highly desirable to know the amount of force required to break a cell; for if too much force is applied, the surface precipitation reaction may not be observed, since the cell is broken too quickly (for a discussion of the reaction, see refs. 1, 3).
Distance‐preserving rigidity penalty on deformable image registration of multiple skeletal components in the neck

Purpose: This study aims at developing and testing a novel rigidity penalty suitable for the deformable registration of tightly located skeletal components in the head and neck from planning computed tomography (CT) and daily cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans of patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: The proposed rigidity penalty is designed to preserve intervoxel distances within each bony structure. This penalty was tested in the intensity-based B-spline deformable registration of five cervical vertebral bodies (C1–C5). The displacement vector fields (DVFs) from the registrations were compared to the DVFs generated by using rigid body motions of the cervical vertebrae, measured by the surface registration of vertebrae delineated on CT and CBCT images. Twenty five pairs of planning CT (reference) and treatment CBCTs (target) from five patients were aligned without and with the penalty. An existing penalty based on the orthonormality of the deformation gradient tensor was also tested and the effects of the penalties compared. Results: The mean magnitude of the maximum registration error with the proposed distance-preserving penalty was (0.86, 1.12, 1.33) mm compared to (2.11, 2.49, 2.46) without penalty and (1.53, 1.64, 1.64) with the existing orthonormality-based penalty. The improvement in the accuracy of the deformable image registration was also verifiedmore » by comparing the Procrustes distance between the DVFs. With the proposed penalty, the average distance was 0.11 (σ 0.03 mm) which is smaller than 0.53 (0.1 mm) without penalty and 0.28 (0.04 mm) with the orthonormality-based penalty. Conclusions: The accuracy of aligning multiple bony elements was improved by using the proposed distance-preserving rigidity penalty. The voxel-based statistical analysis of the registration error shows that the proposed penalty improved the integrity of the DVFs within the vertebral bodies.« less
Total pancreatectomy and islet cell autotransplantation as a means of treating patients with genetically linked pancreatitis.

Background For patients with severe chronic pancreatitis, total or completion pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation (IAT) can alleviate pain and avoid the complications of diabetes. Several genetic mutations, specifically, PRSS1, CFTR, and SPINK1, are associated with chronic pancreatitis. Few reports have focused on the benefit of this operation for this subset of patients. Methods Between February 2000 and July 2009, 118 patients were treated with total pancreatectomy and IAT for chronic pancreatitis. Patients with known genetic mutations were then selected for further analysis. Results Of the 188 patients, 16 (13.6%) patients were identified as having genetic mutations, including CFTR (n = 10), PRSS1 (n = 4), and SPINK1 (n = 2) mutations. Mean patient age was 31.4 years (range, 15–59) with an equal male-to-female ratio (50:50). Preoperatively, patients required an average of 185 ± 60 morphine equivalents (MEQ) (median, 123 MEQ) for preoperative pain control. No patients were taking insulin before operation. After resection with IAT, patients were discharged from the hospital with a daily average of 22 ± 4 units of insulin with 6 (38%) patients requiring fewer than 15 units of insulin at the time of discharge. At a mean follow-up of 22 months, mean insulin requirements decreased to 15 U/d (P = .0172). A total of 7 (44%) patients required 15 or fewer units daily, and 4 (25%) patients were completely insulin-independent. Average daily narcotic usage at most recent follow-up decreased to 70 MEQ (median, 0) with 10 (63%) patients currently narcotic-independent. Analyses of the 36-item short-form health survey and the McGill Pain Questionnaire demonstrated a significant improvement in quality-of-life parameters and pain assessment. Conclusion In patients who suffer from genetically linked chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic resection with IAT should be considered as an early therapeutic option to decrease chronic abdominal pain while preserving endogenous endocrine function.
Accelerated molecular dynamics simulation with the parallel fast multipole algorithm

Abstract We have implemented the fast multipole algorithm (FMA) of Greengard and Rokhlin and incorporated it into the molecular dynamics program MD of Windemuth and Schulten, allowing rapid computation of the non-bonded forces acting in dynamical protein systems without truncation or other corruption of the Coulomb force. The resulting program speeds up simulations of protein systems with approximately 24000 atoms by up to an order of magnitude on a single workstation. Additionally, we have implemented a parallel version of the three-dimensional FMA code on a loosely coupled network of workstations, further reducing simulation times. Large (in both size of system and length of simulated time) protein molecular dynamics simulations are now possible on workstations rather than supercomputers, and very large protein computations are possible on clusters of workstations and parallel machines.
Alteration of polished sections of free lime containing cement clinker by short-term atmospheric exposure

Abstract It was observed that clusters of free lime particles exposed on the surface of clinker grains embedded in epoxy, polished, and palladium coated in preparation for scanning electron microscopy underwent severe alteration following a few hours of exposure to laboratory air (60% RH). The visible signs of alteration included extensive swelling, cross-banding, and crack formation. The popcorn-like morphology of the altered grains resembled that previously described for “epezite”, an unusual form of calcium hydroxide reported to be formed by air slaking hydration of free lime in clinker. Epezite is said to have optical properties different from those of portlandite, and thus may constitute more than a morphological variant. Alteration does not take place for specimens kept in evacuated desiccators, but takes place very reproducibly on exposure to laboratory air. The easily recognizable alteration phenomenon might be deliberately induced to serve as a rapid check for the existence and extent of free lime in a given clinker.
SURFACE EFFECTS AND INITIAL STRESS IN CONTINUUM AND LATTICE MODELS OF ELASTIC CRYSTALS

Abstract In the classical theory of elasticity, the elastic energy density is a function of certain strain measures. It is possible to develop a rational generalization of the classical theory consistent with the general principles of mechanics by considering the possibility that the energy density might also depend on the gradient of the strain. If the elastic energy depends on the gradient of the strain, it is necessary to introduce couple-stress as well as ordinary stress. Each material in the generalized theory possesses a characteristic length l, the square root of the ratio of a couple-stress modulus to the shear modulus, say. The theory of elastic materials with couple-stresses predicts unusual boundary layer or surface effects which do not appear in classical elasticity theory. In particular, according to the theory, a free surface of a crystal of suitable symmetry will draw in or push out in a small boundary layer of thickness l. It has been possible to correlate the continuum theory of elasticity with couple-stresses with the lattice model of a crystal with nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions and to exhibit a corresponding solution of the lattice equations illustrating the deformation of the boundary layer at a free surface. Thus, couple-stresses appear to be related to long-range interactions in lattices.
Sealed teeth get less restorative treatment

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Natural history of treatment outcomes of permanent first molars: a study of sealant effectiveness. Bhuridej P, Damiano PC, et al. J Am Dent Assoc 2005;136(9):1265-72. Level of Evidence 2b cohort study Purpose/Question Do sealed permanent first molars need less restorative treatment than unsealed permanent first molars? Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Cohort study—children in Iowa continuously enrolled in Medicaid, 1996-2000, for whom there exist claims data
Cardiotoxic manifestations of mesoridazine overdose

We present a case of malignant arrhythmias associated with hypocalcemia and subsequent cardiac arrest in a 20-year-old woman due to ingestion of 3.1 g mesoridazine in a suicide attempt. There were unexplained alterations in serum electrolytes preceding the cardiac arrest. The patient subsequently recovered and was transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Despite the paucity of data on the potential cardiotoxicity associated with mesoridazine overdose, this case demonstrates that malignant arrhythmias and cardiac arrest occur; consequently, these patients probably require constant ECG monitoring.
Johann Georg von Soldner and the gravitational bending of light, with an English translation of his essay on it published in 1801

Following Einstein's prediction of the gravitational bending of light, and in the course of experimental work aimed at its verification, only sporadic and at times misleading references have been made to Johann Georg von Soldner. In a paper published in 1804, Soldner derived the gravitational bending of light on the classical Newtonian basis and calculated its value around the sun with remarkable accuracy. Soldner's paper, inaccessible even in German, is now presented in English translation and put in the perspective of Soldner's life and the science of his day and ours.
Inverted papilloma associated with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma: Case report and review of the literature

Nasal papillomas were first described by Ward1 in 1854. Subsequently, several classifications of nasal papillomas have been proposed.2 Hyams3 divided these lesions into inverted papillomas, fungiform papillomas, and cylindrical cell papillomas. This categorization was based on different histological appearances, anatomic sites, and clinical behavior. Fungiform papillomas, which primarily arise on the septum, have also been referred to as septal papillomas. Cylindrical cell papillomas are also classified as oncocytic papillomas. Some institutions suggest that the histological differences are not significant enough to warrant separate classifications and describe all nasal papillomas as inverted papillomas.2 CASE REPORT
Mutation spectrum of the gene encoding the beta subunit of rod phosphodiesterase among patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

Mutations in the gene encoding the beta subunit of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase are known causes of photoreceptor degeneration in two animal models of retinitis pigmentosa, the rd (retinal degeneration) mouse and the Irish setter dog with rod/cone dysplasia. Here we report a screen of 92 unrelated patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa for defects in the human homologue of this gene. We identified seven different mutations that cosegregate with the disease. They were found among four patients with each patient heterozygously carrying two mutations. All of these mutations are predicted to affect the putative catalytic domain, probably leading to a decrease in phosphodiesterase activity and an increase in cGMP levels within rod photoreceptors. Mutations in the gene encoding the beta subunit of rod phosphodiesterase are the most common identified cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, accounting for approximately 4% of cases in North America.
The distribution of Si, Al, and Fe compounds in two mollisols differing in landscape position

Abstract Anaerobic environments are responsible for increased solubilities of many substances composed of elements including Si, Al, and Fe. Such elements become more soluble under reducing conditions and tend to precipitate as the system becomes aerated or oxidized. Redox reactions which cause dissolution and deposition of compounds composed of Si, Al, and Fe may enhance the formation of plow‐pans. This study was done to detect the presence and to characterize the nature of potential cementing compounds found in Mollisols of northern Idaho. Soils used in this study were collected from Palouse (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic, Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls) and Latahco (fine‐silty, mixed, frigid, Argiaquic Xeric Argiabolls) silt loam soils. Samples were allowed to equilibrate with deionized water for 48 h before extraction by immiscible displacement. Extractants were passed through an exclusion chromotography column to size‐separate compounds composed of Si, Al, and Fe. The presence of large molecular weight (range ...
Effect of specific membrane perturbations on alpha1-adrenergic and muscarinic-cholinergic signal transduction in rat parotid cell aggregates

Abstract Alpha 1 -adrenergic and muscarinic-cholinergic stimulated IP 3 production and calcium mobilization are inhibited by treatment of parotid cell aggregates with methanol, hydrogen peroxide and saponin. Only methanol exerts an effect on binding to receptors. In most cases a close correspondence exists between inhibition of alpha 1 -adrenergic and muscarini-cholinergic responses as well as inhibition of IP 3 production and calcium mobilization. G-protein dependent signal transduction, therefore appears to be quite sensitive to plasma membrane perturbation and membrane active agents may provide useful tools for elucidation of transduction mechanisms and their regulation.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Research Chefs Association Core Competencies for the Practicing Culinologist

ABSTRACT: Professional organizations have linked core competency to professional success and competitive strategy. The Research Chefs Assn. (RCA) recently released 43 core competencies for practicing culinologists. Culinology® is a profession that links skills of culinary arts and food science and technology in the development of food products. An online survey was created asking RCA members from all 6 membership categories (Associate, Affiliate, Chef, Culinology, Food Science and Technology (FST however, the factors are important to job success. FS&T members have a lower level of knowledge in “Nutrition” yet identified the factor important to job success. An opportunity exists to improve educational efforts for specific membership categories.
Image processing in nondestructive testing

With increased emphasis on product reliability and with a generally renewed emphasis on cost control, it is natural that the users of nondestructive testing should turn to image processing as a potential method of improving their radiographic techniques. The questions being asked usually concern the applicability of image processing for more certain detection of defects, sometimes in the context of increasing the sampled population of an entire fabrication process at little increase in cost, sometimes in the context of making it possible for less experienced personnel to make satisfactory examinations, sometimes simply in the context of obtaining better radiographic resolution. In those applications where the principal desire is for higher throughput, the problem often becomes one of automatic feature extraction and mensuration. Classically these problems can be approached by means of either an optical image processor or an analysis in the digital computer. Optical methods have the advantage of low cost and very high speed, but are often inflexible and are sometimes very difficult to implement due to practical problems. Computerized methods can be very flexible, they can use very powerful mathematical techniques, but usually are difficult to implement for very high throughput. Recent technological developments in microprocessors and in electronic analog image analyzers may furnish the key to resolving the shortcomings of the two classical methods of image analysis.
Volume Effect for Magnetic Transition Temperatures of Rare-Earth-Scandium Alloys

The alloys of the heavy rare earths with scandium have appreciably lower magnetic ordering temperatures than the metals themselves and their alloys with yttrium. The difference between these systems appears to be associated with the effect on the magnetic coupling of the smaller atomic volume of scandium. The Curie temperatures ${T}_{C}$ of the Gd-Sc and the Gd-Y alloys are compared over the composition range for which they are ferromagnetic. The coupling energy per gadolinium atom $\frac{{T}_{C}}{x}$ in the Gd-Y system is found to be essentially independent of composition whereas there is a linear decrease in this quantity for the Gd-Sc system. The rate of decrease of $\frac{{T}_{C}}{x}$ with volume for the alloy system is compared with the corresponding decrease of ${T}_{C}$ for pure gadolinium as determined in measurements at high pressures, and the results are found to be in good accord. The N\'eel-temperature data for the Tb-Sc system are also discussed.
Sodium/calcium exchange regulates cytoplasmic calcium in smooth muscle

The sodium/calcium (Na+/Ca2+) exchanger is often considered to be a key regulator of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) in smooth muscle but neither its precise role in Ca2+ homeostasis nor even its existence in smooth muscle are generally agreed upon. Here we directly assessed the role Na+/Ca2+ exchange plays in regulating [Ca2+] in single voltage-clamped smooth muscle cells. Following an elevation of [Ca2+], its decline was found to have both voltage-dependent and voltage-independent components. The voltage-dependent component was abolished when Na+ was removed from the external bathing solution. During the fall of [Ca2+] a small and declining Na+-dependent inward current was observed of a magnitude predicted by 3∶1 Na+/Ca2+ exchange stoichiometry. At [Ca2+] above 400 nM the principal efflux of Ca2+ above rest was attributed to this Na+-dependent removal mechanism. These results establish that a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger exists in smooth muscle and argue that it can regulate [Ca2+] at physiological Ca2+ concentrations.
Central Collisions Between Heavy Nuclei at Extremely High-Energies: The Fragmentation Region

We discuss central collisions between heavy nuclei of equal baryon number at extremely high energies. We make a crude estimation of the energy deposited in the fragmentation regions of the nuclei. We argue that the fragmentation-region fragments thermalize, and two hot fireballs are formed. These fireballs would have rapidities close to the rapidities of the original nuclei. We discuss the possible formation of hot, dense quark plasmas in the fireballs.
GAAP 2001—Benchmarking national accounting standards against IAS: summary of results ☆

Abstract This paper provides an overview of GAAP 2001 and discusses the implications of the publication’s findings in regard to convergence of national standards and IAS. Two years of GAAP comparison studies conducted by the global accounting firms indicate that, while progress has been made in many countries, much work remains to be done. The global accounting firms argue that convergence “will require a joint effort of governments, stock market regulators, standard setters, preparers, users and the accounting profession.” Based on the country surveys provided in GAAP 2001, 62 countries are ranked based on the number of differences between their national GAAP and IAS on 80 accounting measures and disclosures. Additionally, the major areas of divergence between national GAAP and IAS are discussed. Based on information provided in GAAP 2001, 62 countries are grouped as follows: no differences with IAS, minimal differences with IAS, no differences with IAS following implementation of an EU regulation that proposes to require all listed companies to use IAS for consolidated statements from 2005, responding to differences with an active agenda, and major differences with IAS and little if any commitment to convergence. A discussion of these groups focuses on issues including convergence strategy, recent progress, and remaining challenges.
Tap: A Novel Cellular Protein That Interacts with Tip of Herpesvirus Saimiri and Induces Lymphocyte Aggregation

Tip of herpesvirus saimiri associates with Lck and down-regulates Lck-mediated activation. We identified a novel cellular Tip-associated protein (Tap) by a yeast two-hybrid screen. Tap associated with Tip following transient expression in COS-1 cells and stable expression in human Jurkat-T cells. Expression of Tip and Tap in Jurkat-T cells induced dramatic cell aggregation. Aggregation was likely caused by the up-regulated surface expression of adhesion molecules including integrin alpha, L-selectin, ICAM-3, and H-CAM. Furthermore, NF-kappaB transcriptional factor of aggregated cells had approximately 40-fold higher activity than that of parental cells. Thus, Tap is likely to be an important cellular mediator of Tip function in T cell transformation by herpesvirus saimiri.
Effect of light intensity and thickness of culture solution on oxygen production by algae.

Data from a small cylindrical culture unit with variable annular culture chambers indicate that (i) the rate of oxygen evolution by an algal culture in the linear phase of growth is a logarithmic function of light intensity, and (ii) the rate of oxygen evolution per unit volume of suspension is linearly related to the reciprocal of culture thickness. These two relationships have been combined in an empirical equation which gives the expected variation of the oxygen production rate with light intensity, culture thickness, and suspension volume. The applicability of this equation has been tested on a larger, multilight culture unit in this laboratory. The agreement between the experimental and calculated oxygen production rates was very satisfactory, suggesting that the equation is not limited to a particular culture unit but may have wide applicability. The efficiency of the culture unit from the standpoint of oxygen output (chemical energy) relative to electrical energy to supply the light source has been calculated, and the maximum value of 0.51% was obtained. The energy to run auxiliary equipment was not a factor in these calculations. The maximum efficiency in converting light energy to chemical energy was approximately 12%. An extrapolation of the experimental results suggests that approximately 2 ft3 and 30 kw would be required to provide the oxygen needs of one man.
Nest area exploration and recognition in leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes)

Abstract Workers of Atta cephalotes deposit “nest exit pheromones” in the vicinity of their nest entrances. Lasting for a period of at least 24 h, these substances orient the workers to the nest openings and increase the rate of trail laying, leaf cutting, and leaf retrieval. Their perception by the workers forms part of a cognitive map by which the ants adjust the form and level of their activity during foraging. The structure and behavioural roles of the known abdominal exocrine glands have been evaluated. An arrestant is produced by the hind gut. The pygidial gland is vestigial, and a cylindrical epithelium on the 7th abdominal sternite might function as a sternal gland. Both the Dufour's gland and valves gland are well developed and produce alarm pheromones. The valves gland is not the source of a territorial pheromone, as reported by previous authors, and in fact we could find no evidence of the existence of a special substance of this nature from any source. However, colony-specific substances, possibly one or more of the nest-exit pheromones, are deposited around the nest openings. When workers encounter deposits by alien colonies at this site, they increase the rate of abdominal dipping, thus seemingly adding colony-specific chemicals of their own.
Characterization of Asphalt Fractions by NMR Spectroscopy

Petroleum asphalt was separated into saturates, naphthalene aromatics, polar aromatics, and asphaltenes using the Corbett method. These asphalt fractions were characterized by H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The spectra of saturates illustrate only traceable quantities of aromatic hydrogen and aromatic carbon. Naphthalene aromatics, polar aromatics, and asphaltenes all have broad bands in the aromatic regions of both H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra. These broad bands demonstrate the presence of polycondensed aromatic rings present in the structure of naphthalene aromatics, polar aromatics, and asphaltenes. Based on available literature, numerous NMR resonance bands are identified. The quantitative estimations for various kinds of protons and carbons in the asphalt fractions are compared.
Resolution of a Peri-Implantitis Defect Using Sterile Saline for Implant Surface Detoxification: A Case Report With Clinical Re-Entry

Introduction: Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease involving the soft and hard tissues surrounding a dental implant. Its prevalence is increasing, and, if left untreated, it can lead to the loss of the implant. Decontamination of the implant surface is a primary prerequisite to successfully treat this disease. The best way to accomplish this is still a source of controversy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a clinical re-entry in a human showing almost complete osseous fill of a deep circumferential infrabony peri-implantitis lesion after mechanical debridement with a curet and chemotherapeutic detoxification with only sterile saline.Case Presentation: A patient presenting with an infrabony peri-implantitis lesion was treated with mechanical debridement with a curet and chemotherapeutic detoxification of the implant surface with sterile saline, followed by osseous grafting and guided bone regeneration in an effort to eliminate the defect. At the completion of treat...
The promise of service learning in a pediatric audiology course on clinical training with the pediatric population.

Purpose This study investigated the effectiveness of service learning (SL) and its impact on students’ clinical competency, interest in pediatric audiology as a career, and levels of community engagement, as well as its impact on the community. Method Forty-eight students enrolled in an SL pediatric audiology course providing hearing and middle ear testing to 292 children, ages 6 months to 5 years. Another 10 non-SL students served as a control group. SL surveys were administered to students before and after the SL experience and post hoc to the non-SL group to assess their perceived readiness for evaluating children and their interest in pediatric audiology. Parents and community partner staff members completed another survey to provide feedback about their experience with the SL activity. Results The students’ ratings were higher post-SL than pre-SL, and their learning gain was positively ranked post-SL compared with the non-SL group. Also, 71% of the SL students expressed positive interest in pediatric...
Desperately seeking...something.

Abstract Published online this week in Structure, Wisely et al. present a high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure of the ligand binding domain of human hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 γ (HNF4γ). They find fatty acids filling the ligand binding pocket of this receptor long considered an orphan, but these "ligands" appear to be locked into the protein and not readily amenable to exchange. Not only does this present a new paradigm for nuclear receptors but it also provides new insights into their evolutionary origins.
SNS target tests at the LANSCE-WNR in 2001 – Part I ☆

Testing of mercury filled targets in an 800 MeV proton beam was conducted at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center-Weapons Neutron Research (LANSCE-WNR) facility on two occasions in 2001. The objective for the first test campaign was to investigate if target vessel cavitation damage could occur under transient pressure conditions much like the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) target. Such an investigation was inspired after mechanical tests conducted by a Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI/KEK) team revealed cavitation pitting in a mercury container having comparable pressure wave intensity. The first WNR test confirmed cavitation damage with 200 proton pulses on each of two test targets. As a result, concerns arose that the lifetime of the SNS target could be seriously limited. A second test campaign was then prepared and conducted to investigate if alternate target materials or geometries could reduce or eliminate the damage. Tested materials included Stellite, Nitronic-60 as well as 316LN stainless steel (the baseline SNS target material) that was cold worked and surface hardened. Theories that the original test target geometry caused the damage were checked with tests using thick beam windows and a target with a non-axisymmetric shape. This paper describes the test program and covers target preparation, irradiation conditions, post-test decontamination and an overview of the examinations performed. J.D. Hunn covers the detailed description of the metallurgical examinations in another paper here at IWSMT-5.
A Weak Dodd-Jensen Lemma

We show that every sufficiently iterable countable mouse has a unique iteration strategy whose associated iteration maps are lexicographically minimal. This enables us to extend the results of [3] on the good behavior of the standard parameter from tame mice to arbitrary mice. ?
Climate Forecast Verifications, United States Mainland, 1974 83

Abstract A nine year record (December 1973 to February 1983) of seasonal temperature and precipitation anomaly forecasts is examined. The four independent forecasters were J. Namias, the National Weather Service (D. Gilman and colleagues), the Analoger (T. Barnett and R. Preisendorfer), and A. Douglas. The skills of these human forecasters are compared to three benchmark forecasters, climatology, persistence and random chance, and to several simple objective forecasters. It was found that the human forecasters are all of comparable skill, and that they are generally better than climatology or random chance. However, the humans are often no better than persistence or some of the objective forecasters. In general, temperature was predicted better than precipitation. For both temperature and precipitation, winters were most-well predicted and falls were least-well predicted. Temperature was best predicted in the Southwest Desert, Pacific Coast and Northern Plains, and worst predicted on the Gulf Coast, Atlan...
Uptake and release of lead and cadmium in skin and mucus of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Abstract 1. Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were exposed to either water-borne lead or cadmium (150 ppb). 2. Lead concentrations in the scales of the lead-exposed fish increased more rapidly than cadmium concentrations in the cadmium-exposed fish: the ratio of Pb:Cd was 37 after 14 days and increased to 50 after 37 days of depuration. 3. When 2 groups of fish were injected with 32 μg of either lead or cadmium, this ratio was 0.4 at 3 hr and 2.2 at 48 hr. 4. The results indicate that a preferential uptake of lead as well as a relatively rapid discharge of accumulated cadmium are responsible for the observed increase in Pb: Cd with time. 5. Both water-borne lead and cadmium induced a substantial increase in mucus production. Moreover, significant amounts of both metals were released in the mucus in the injection study. 6. Thus, mucus turnover is identified as an important process for lead and cadmium excretion in fish.
Splenic determination of immunocompetence: influence on other lymphoid organs.

Abstract Bone Marrow (BM) and thymic cells from B6.CBA hereditarily spleenless (Dh/+) mice when transferred to X-irradiated littermates possessing spleens (+/+) were found to be incapable of producing the cooperative effect. Corresponding cells from B6.CBA mice with intact spleens achieved synergism. By conducting reconstitution experiments using Dh/+ cells mixed with +/+ cells, both the BM and the thymic cells of Dh/+ mice were found to be defective in their capacity for the cooperative effect. Splenectomizing +/+ mice at birth caused deletion from their BM and thymic cells of the synergistic ability. An attempt to influence Dh/+ bone marrow and thymus cells to induce the cooperative effect by intraperitoneally injecting month-old Dh/+ mice with +/+ spleen cells was only slightly successful, if at all. The hypothesis is suggested that the spleen exerts a pronounced effect upon thymic and bone marrow cells that allows them to take part in the immunological response resulting in IgM synthesis.
What will it take for our society to value childhood oral health

Three articles published in this issue of Pediatrics address aspects of the complexity and the multiple stakeholders involved in attainment of childhood oral health: parental personal oral health beliefs,1 early adopters of oral health interventions within pediatric practices,2 and training of pediatric residents, who are our nation's future pediatricians.3 Multiple advances in oral health have been made during the past century. Our nation has progressed from a society in the early 1900s in which most people lost their teeth by middle age, to one that now benefits from the incorporation of community water fluoridation (one of the greatest public health achievements of the century), application of fluoride varnish, and the discovery that dental caries is a preventable infectious disease with potential for vaccine development.4 Within the past decade multiple national priorities have been proposed by the Surgeon General,5 Healthy People 2010,6 the American Academy of Pediatrics,7,8 and Bright Futures. 9 … Address correspondence to Janet Serwint, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Park CMSC 2-116, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21287. E-mail: jserwint{at}jhmi.edu
Identities over set partitions

Abstract Certain types of partition identities, interpreted as moments of stochastic processes in the exponential case, are extended to larger classes by way of Faa DiBruno's formula. Several special cases are then examined. A probabilistic interpretation is given to the formula associated to the geometric series by way of the gambler's ruin problem.
Performance of Key Features of EBR-II and the Implications for Next Generation Systems

The Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 2 (EBR-II) began operation in August 1964 as an engineering test of the operation of a sodium-cooled fast reactor power plant system. Its primary mission was to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of a sodium-cooled reactor system using recycled fuel from an integral fuel cycle facility, and as an electrical power generator tied to the utility grid. It accomplished this mission in the early years of operation. Following the early successes, the mission evolved to include more extensive testing of fuels, materials, components, and safety features of a sodium-cooled fast reactor. The use of sodium as the coolant, use of metal fuel, and a piped-pool primary system configuration, were key contributors to its notable long-term performance. Extensive evaluation and examination of these features have provided a solid basis for and understanding of the technology. Recent interest in future designs for nuclear generating stations has generated renewed interest in liquid-metal-cooled fast reactors in the United States and elsewhere. The successful operation of EBR-II for thirty years and the demonstration of characteristics significant to the development of next-generation reactors, has prompted a re-examination of key features of EBR-II and a review of its performance record. This papermore » discusses selected key features and their contribution to the performance of EBR-II, evaluates the overall performance of the reactor, and discusses the implications for the development of next generation reactor concepts. (authors)« less