cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New-generation screening assays for the detection of anti-influenza compounds targeting viral and host functions

Current options for influenza antiviral therapy are limited to the neuraminidase inhibitors, and knowledge that high levels of oseltamivir resistance have been seen among previously circulating H1N1 viruses increases the urgency to find new influenza therapeutics. To feed this pipeline, assays that are appropriate for use in high-throughput screens are being developed and are discussed in this review. Particular emphasis is placed on cell-based assays that capture both inhibitors of viral functions as well as the host functions that facilitate optimal influenza virus replication. Success in this area has been fueled by a greater understanding of the genome structure of influenza viruses and the ability to generate replication-competent recombinant viruses that carry a reporter gene, allowing for easy monitoring of viral infection in a high-throughput setting. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "Treatment of influenza: targeting the virus or the host."
Thermalhydraulics of flowing particle-bed-type fusion reactor blankets

Abstract An experimental investigation has been conducted to determine the heat transfer characteristics of gravity-flowing particle beds using a special heat transfer loop. Glass microspheres were allowed to flow by gravity at controlled rates through an electrically heated stainless steel tubular test section. Values of the local and average convective heat transfer coefficient as a function of the average bed velocity, particle size and heat flux were determined. Such information is necessary for the design of gravity-flowing particle-bed type fusion reactor-blankets and associated tritium recovery systems.
Constructing a Distributed AUV Network for Underwater Plume-Tracking Operations

In recent years, there has been significant concern about the impacts of offshore oil spill plumes and harmful algal blooms on the coastal ocean environment and biology, as well as on the human populations adjacent to these coastal regions. Thus, it has become increasingly important to determine the 3D extent of these ocean features (&#8220;plumes&#8221;) and how they evolve over time. The ocean environment is largely inaccessible to sensing directly by humans, motivating the need for robots to intelligently sense the ocean for us. In this paper, we propose the use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) network to track and predict plume shape and motion, discussing solutions to the challenges of spatiotemporal data aliasing (coverage versus resolution), underwater communication, AUV autonomy, data fusion, and coordination of multiple AUVs. A plume simulation is also developed here as the first step toward implementing behaviors for autonomous, adaptive plume tracking with AUVs, modeling a plume as a sum of Fourier orders and examining the resulting errors. This is then extended to include plume forecasting based on time variations, and future improvements and implementation are discussed.
Generating IFC models from heterogeneous data using semantic web

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a framework to represent semantic web query results as Industry Foundation Class (IFC) building models. The subject of interoperability has received considerable attention in the construction literature in recent years. Given the distributed, semantically heterogeneous data sources, the problem is to retrieve information accurately and with minimal human intervention by considering their semantic descriptions. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a framework to translate semantic web query results into the XML representations of IFC schema and data. Using the concepts and relationships in an IFC schema, the authors first develop an ontology to specify an equivalent IFC entity in the query results. Then, a mapping structure is defined and used to translate and fill all query results into an ifcXML document. For query processing, the proposed framework implements a set of predefined query mappings between the source schema and a corresponding IFC output sche...
The effect of quinine on outer hair cell shape, compliance and force

Quinine intoxication causes a well-described syndrome that includes tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo. The pathophysiology of quinine's effects on hearing is unknown, but may include a peripheral component. The cochlear outer hair cell is known to be motile and to contribute force to amplify the vibration pattern of the organ of Corti. The outer hair cell is also a target of diseases involving tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss, including salicylate intoxication. These effects may be mediated through changes either in motile force or in mechanical properties. Quinine's effects on outer hair cell motility and mechanical properties have therefore been examined in vitro. Quinine at 5.0 mM substantially decreased active force generation in isolated guinea pig cochlear outer hair cells. Isolated cells also elongated and dilated in diameter when exposed to 5.0 mM quinine. No consistent changes in mechanical properties were observed. 1.0 mM quinine was ineffective in either force reduction or elongation. Trifluoperazine, a calmodulin inhibitor, and ML-9, a blocker of myosin light chain kinases, were ineffective in blocking quinine-induced force reduction or elongation. Deferoxamine, a hydroxyl free radical scavenger, also failed to block either the force decrease or the elongation.
Electron-density irregularities in the day-time equatorial ionosphere

Electron-density irregularities have been observed in the day-time equatorial ionosphere using probe experiments carried out in the payloads of two rockets launched near Lima, Peru during Project Condor, 1983. Simultaneous observations of the mesosphere and upper E-region were obtained using the radar at Jicamarca. A layer of mesospheric irregularities is identified as originating in neutral atmosphere turbulence. In the electrojet the rocket data show the regions of type 2 irregularities (between 90 and 105 km) and type 1 irregularities (between 103 and 108 km), differentiated by the slopes of their respective spectra. The irregularities of the upper E-region seen in the rocket data are reconciled with the radar data by postulating a strong aspect sensitivity.
Toxicity of cobalt-complexed cyanide to Oncorhynchus mykiss, Daphnia magna, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Potentiation by ultraviolet radiation and attenuation by dissolved organic carbon and adaptive UV tolerance.

Background Cobalt cyanide complexes often result when ore is treated with cyanide solutions to extract gold and other metals. These have recently been discovered in low but significant concentrations in effluents from gold leach operations. This study was conducted to determine the potential toxicity of cobalt-cyanide complexes to freshwater organisms and the extent to which ultraviolet radiation (UV) potentiates this toxicity. Tests were also conducted to determine if humic acids or if adaptation to UV influenced sensitivity to the cyanide complexes.
Collisional and thermal effects on liquid lithium sputtering

The lithium sputtering yield from lithium and tin-lithium surfaces in the liquid state under bombardment by low-energy, singly charged particles as a function of target temperature is measured by using the Ion-surface Interaction Experiment facility. Total erosion exceeds that expected from conventional collisional sputtering after accounting for lithium evaporation for temperatures between 200 and $400\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$. Lithium surfaces treated with high-fluence D atoms are bombarded by ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{D}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ at energies between 200 and $1000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ and 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} incidence. Erosion measurements account for temperature-dependent evaporation. For example, $700\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ particles bombarding the D-treated liquid Li surface at room temperature result in a sputter yield of 0.12 Li/ion and at temperatures $\ensuremath{\sim}2.0{T}_{m}$ (where ${T}_{m}$ is the melting temperature of the sample), a yield near and above unity. The enhancement of lithium sputtering is observed to be a strong function of temperature and moderately on particle energy. Bombardment of a low-vapor-pressure lithium alloy (0.8 Sn-Li), used for comparison, also results in nonlinear rise of lithium erosion as a function of temperature. Measurements on both pure liquid Li and the alloy indicate a weak dependence with surface temperature of the secondary ion-induced secondary ion emission. Treatment of liquid Li surfaces with D, yields reduced sputtering under ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ impact by a factor of 5--6 when measured at room temperature due to preferential sputtering effects.
Ocular drug bioavailability from topically applied liposomes

During the past decade liposomes have been investigated extensively for their ability to improve drug utilization by the body, first in the area of chemotherapeutics and most recently in the area of ophthalmology. Liposomes are vesicle-like structures with a concentric series of alternating compartments of aqueous spaces and phospholipid bilayers. To date, liposomes have been found to both promote and reduce ocular drug absorption, indicating that a definite need exists for further studies to evaluate the interplay of drug, liposomes, and the corneal surface in determining the effectiveness of liposomes as vehicles for topically applied ophthalmic drugs. The purpose of this review is to place in perspective the role of liposomes in topical ocular drug delivery. As background material, the factors influencing ocular drug bioavailability and the features of liposomes pertinent to their effectiveness as drug carriers are reviewed.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Nanoparticle Beacons Based on Bioconjugated Gold Nanocrystals and Long Range Plasmonic Coupling

We have developed a new class of surface-enhanced Raman scattering beacons (SERS beacons) that can be turned on and off by long-range plasmonic coupling, induced by biomolecular recognition and binding events. The beacons are based on colloidal gold nanocrystals in two sizes (40 and 60 nm) and are prepared by spectral encoding with a Raman reporter molecule, functionalized with thiolated DNA probes, and stabilized and protected by low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs). The results show the SERS signal intensities increase by 40−200-fold when the nanoparticle beacons are activated by plasmonic coupling, much higher than the bright-to-dark intensity ratios reported for traditional molecular beacons. Multivalent gold nanoparticles also have exquisite specificity and are able to recognize single-base mismatches or mutations. This class of SERS nanoparticle beacons has novel mechanisms for molecular detection and signal amplification, and its long-range coupling nature raises new opportunities in ...
L-glutamate suppresses HVA calcium current in catfish horizontal cells by raising intracellular proton concentration.

Abstract Catfish horizontal cells exhibit a high voltage-activated, slowly inactivating calcium (HVA) current. In isolated cells, this current underlies a sustained action potential that can be evoked by depolarization. l-Glutamate at concentrations as low as 1 μM suppressed HVA current and shortened the duration of action potentials. pH indicator dye measurements revealed that l-glutamate acidified cells by up to 0.3 pH units. pH/HVA current dose-response curves indicated that the EC 50 for pH inhibition of HVA current was 7.1 and the Hill coefficient was 1.98. l-Glutamate's suppression of HVA current was eliminated when the patch pipette solution contained a high concentration of proton buffer, but was not affected when pipettes contained GTPγS. These results support the hypothesis that l-glutamate can modulate HVA current by changing intracellular pH.
Effects of isotherm non-linearity on the determination of the binding constant in affinity chromatography

Abstract A systematic study was made of non-linear effects on the determination of the binding constant in affinity chromatography. The criteria for the applicable range of linear theory are derived for both frontal and zonal analysis. The difference in the criteria between zonal and frontal analysis indicates that the latter may not be preferred in some instances. Investigation of experimental data from the literature showed that the effect of isotherm non-linearity on elution volume is not small in affinity chromatography, where the binding constant is very large and the experimental design does not permit work in the linear region. A universal function Φ(a) for zonal analysis has been derived. The strong correlation of experimental and calculated Φ(a) demonstrates that the equations derived in this work are valuable. In applying these equations, one can determine both the binding constant and the maximum binding capacity from experiments by evaluating the capacity factor at various sample concentrations with or without an inhibitor in the mobile phase.
Precise UPb zircon ages of Neoproterozoic plutons in the southern Appalachian Blue Ridge and their implications for the initial rifting of Laurentia

Late Precambrian plutonic rocks of the Crossnore Complex in the North Carolina Blue Ridge are considered to have formed in response to rifting of the Laurentian continent. Previously published ages are equivocal, suggesting only that these rocks crystallized 690–820 Ma. New UPb data indicate that the Crossnore Complex formed at 741 ± 3 Ma. This age is 10–40 Ma older than has been obtained by other investigators for similar plutonic rocks in the central Appalachian Blue Ridge of Virginia; our age for the Crossnore Complex is 5–20 Ma younger than the UPb zircon age reported for the Mount Rogers volcanics in Virginia. Thus, our new data, plus published data, suggest that Laurentian intra-continental rifting in the southern and central Appalachians was initiated at different times in different places. Available high-precision UPb analyses of zircon indicate that this rift-related magmatism occurred over a span of at least 30–40 Ma. Core-bearing zircon from the Beech metagranite of the Crossnore Complex has a UPb concordia upper-intercept age of 1424 ± 29 Ma, which is interpreted as the age of at least some of the source rocks for the Crossnore Complex. The existence of Mesoproterozoic crust in this region increases the known extent of rocks of this age. Other Crossnore-type plutons exhibit less inheritance of old zircon, possibly the result of enhanced dissolution of old zircon due to magma temperature differences, or due to a more reactive chemical environment.
Body, Abdominal Fat, and Testes Weights, and Line by Sex Interactions in Japanese Quail Divergently Selected for Plasma Cholesterol Response to Adrenocorticotropin,

Line by sex interactions of BW, abdominal fat, testes weight, and plasma cholesterol were investigated in two Japanese quail lines. High (H-PCHOL) and low (L-PCHOL) quail lines had been developed by 18 generations of divergent selection for plasma cholesterol response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). Quail were from Generation 28 breeders maintained under a normal environment with no exposure to exogenous ACTH after Generation 18. Quail from growth-selected lines were also used to examine relationships between BW and plasma cholesterol. Body weights of H-PCHOL quail were significantly (P less than or equal to .05) heavier than BW of L-PCHOL quail at 2 and 4 wk of age. However, at 8, 16, and 28 wk BW were similar. Quail from long-term, growth-selected lines were observed to have plasma cholesterol levels similar to those of control lines. Therefore, early BW changes in H-PCHOL and L-PCHOL lines may not be related to plasma cholesterol changes. At 2 and 4 wk, male and female plasma cholesterol values were similar in the H-PCHOL and L-PCHOL lines, however, at 8 and 16 wk males had higher values than females in the H-PCHOL line, and females had higher values than males in the L-PCHOL line. Because interactions were present only after sexual maturity was reached, sex hormones may be involved in the expression of these interactions. Quail in the L-PCHOL line were observed to have significantly (P less than or equal to .05) more abdominal fat and significantly (P less than or equal to .05) smaller testes than quail in the H-PCHOL line.
Hemorrhagic rheumatoid pericarditis

Abstract A case of hemorrhagic pericarditis as a systemic manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis is described which is apparently the second reported. Pericarditis is a frequent autopsy finding in rheumatoid arthritis. It represents a rare cause of death which developed in both instances following the withdrawal of steroids.
Solar mesosphere explorer launched

The Solar Mesosphere Explorer (SME) spacecraft was launched into orbit from Vandenburg Air Force Base on October 6, 1981, at 11:27 UT. The spacecraft is in a near-circular orbit at 540-km altitude and has the proper inclination of 97.4° to assure a 3 A.M.–3 P.M. sun-synchronous orbit. All orbit parameters appear nominal. The SME spacecraft is designed to study the influence of changing solar ultraviolet radiation on the density of ozone in the earth's upper stratosphere and mesosphere. The satellite carries five scientific instruments, three to measure the distribution of ozone: an ultraviolet spectrometer measuring the back-scattered radiation between 255 and 310 nm, an infrared radiometer measuring thermal emission from ozone at 9.6 μm, and an infrared spectrometer measuring the 1.27 μm airglow emission resulting from ozone photolysis. In addition, the infrared radiometer measures the temperature of the atmosphere as a function of pressure and altitude by measuring the thermal emission in two portions of the 15-μm CO2 band and the water vapor density by measuring the emission in the 6.3-μm band. A visible light spectrometer measures the density of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere by measuring the differential absorption of scattered sunlight at two wavelengths near 443 nm. The four atmospheric instruments will view the earth's limb once every 12 s in the plane of the orbit as the spacecraft spins at a rate of 5 rpm.
Frequency Regulation and Oscillation Damping Contributions of Variable-Speed Wind Generators in the U.S. Eastern Interconnection (EI)

The U.S. Eastern Interconnection (EI) is one of the largest electric power grids in the world and is expected to have difficulties in dealing with frequency regulation and oscillation damping issues caused by the increasing wind power. On the other side, variable-speed wind generators can actively engage in frequency regulation or oscillation damping with supplementary control loops. This paper creates a 5% wind power penetration simulation scenario based on the 16 000-bus EI system dynamic model and developed the user-defined wind electrical control model in PSSE that incorporates additional frequency regulation and oscillation damping control loops. The potential contributions of variable-speed wind generations to the EI system frequency regulation and oscillation damping are evaluated and simulation results demonstrate that current and future penetrations of wind power are promising in the EI system frequency regulation and oscillation damping.
Cochlear implantation in organ transplantation.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Compared to immunocompetent patients, organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant medications may experience higher rates of postoperative complications. This study was designed to retrospectively review the outcomes of cochlear implantation among organ transplant patients. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Five organ transplant patients received seven cochlear implantations at the University of Miami Ear Institute from January 1, 1992, until August 31, 2005. Inpatient and outpatient records were analyzed to identify healing problems, wound infections, and speech recognition after implantation. Results: There were no healing problems, wound infections, or other complications noted among cochlear implant recipients who had also received organ transplantation. Open-set sentence discrimination as measured by the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), City University of New York (CUNY) test, and/or Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) tests ranged from 46% to 89%. Open-set word recognition as measured by the Consonant Nucleus Consonant (CNC) or the Northwestern University number 6 (NU-6) test ranged from 26% to 64%. Conclusions: This series suggests that cochlear implantation can be safe and effective for solid organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressants, with discrimination performance within the expected ranges for cochlear implant patients.
Nonlinear Regression with Variance Components: Modeling Effects of Ozone on Crop Yield

Split-plot experimental designs are common in studies of the effects of air pollutants on crop yields. Nonlinear functions such as the Weibull function have been used extensively to model the effect of ozone (O 3 ) exposure on yield of several crop species. The usual nonlinear regression model, which assumes independent errors, is not appropriate for data from nested or split-plot designs in which there is more than one source of random variation. The nonlinear model with variance components combines a nonlinear model for the mean with additive random effects to describe the covariance structure(.)
Floating megalitter in the eastern Mediterranean

Concentrations of floating megalitter—floating debris that is large enough for sighting by eye or with binoculars—were measured from a ship in a small area (8.3 km2) of the eastern Mediterranean Sea over a 22 day period. Suggested concentrations are on the order of 0.012 g m−2, based upon a limited data base, but are close to values determined elsewhere in the Mediterranean. If these values are representative of regional concentrations, then as many as 3.6×106 objects may be afloat per day as megalitter in the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the observed megalitter was plastic debris; all of the litter was man-made.
The challenges and successes of implementing an enterprise patch management solution

With the proliferation of security threats we are required today, more than ever before, to effectively manage computer systems. Computers that we are responsible for in labs, classrooms, and faculty and staff offices require constant attention as manufacturer-supplied program patches and updates become available. Missing a critical update or patch in your networked environment can spell disaster or cost countless hours of "cleaning up" after an errant worm wreaks havoc on unpatched machines. Microsoft has done a good job of publishing operating system patches and critical updates; however, actually updating all of the machines in the academic environment can be a daunting task. While we can adequately use Windows Automatic Update in the homogeneous lab and classroom environment, the procedure can be circumvented by users in their offices. And while user education seems to be effective at first, system updates soon take a back seat to users' regular work and research tasks. This paper discusses an enterprise update strategy that was adopted by Tulane University's Freeman School of Business. We will discuss the challenges associated with updating hundreds of workstations in labs, classrooms, and faculty and staff offices. We will look at several patch management software products that we reviewed and discuss their relative merits. We will then discuss the selected product and its implementation in the current production environment, including the user education involved and the political issues surrounding "touching" desktops. Finally, we will discuss the successes that we realized and the administrative challenges of ongoing patch management in a complex, enterprise environment.
Evidence for direct roles of calcium in photosynthesis

Calcium may function directly in several aspects of photosynthesis. It appears to modulate activity of the phosphatase enzymes in the carbon reduction cycle and also to regulate chloroplast NAD+ kinase activity through a calmodulin-like protein. Some evidence supports a calcium function in the water-splitting complex, and other evidence indicates a reaction center function in photosystem II. Calcium in reaction center II may be tightly bound in chloroplasts and weakly bound in blue-green algal thylakoids. Free calcium concentration in stroma is probably less than 10(-6) M, although the absolute concentration is not yet known. Intrathylakoid calcium content is likely very high. Stromal calcium may regulate several enzyme activities, while intrathylakoid calcium may promote photosystem II constitutively. Results to date demonstrate the need for more attention to cation composition in studies of both light and dark reactions of photosynthesis, and the need to identify free calcium levels in chloroplasts.
Narcissism and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Rejection Imagery

This study examined the interactive effects of imagined rejection and narcissism on cardiovascular reactivity (CVR). Participants completed measures of overt narcissism (Narcissistic Personality Inventory, NPI; Raskin & Hall, 1979), overt–covert narcissism (Margolis & Thomas, 1980), and trait self-esteem. They then imagined 2 scenarios culminating in either interpersonal acceptance or rejection. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were assessed before, during, and after the imagery. Overt–covert narcissism was positively associated with task increases in SBP and DBP and recovery elevation of HR following rejection, but not acceptance. Similar effects on SBP were found for the Entitlement/Exploitativeness dimension of the NPI. Lower self-esteem predicted greater task increases in SBP, DBP, and HR across conditions. Implications for health are discussed.
Internet Privacy Database

Internet privacy has become an overlooked yet essential part our everyday lives. At any given moment, while browsing a web page, your identity could be stolen leaving you in thousands of dollars in debt. The purpose of this paper is to aid the general public to become more aware of these issues and the laws pertaining to them. We propose the creation of a database using machine learning and data mining techniques with the specific purpose of educating and informing the general public on these laws. In effect, we hope this will raise awareness on the subject as well as aiding any legal counsel needing quick but informative answers regarding internet invasion of privacy.
A spectrum of application of autogenous costochondral grafts.

Summary Autogenous costochondral grafts have found application in 26 variegated cases of congenital dysplasia, ankylosis, neoplastic disease, osteoarthritis, and posttraumatic dysfunction. The authors' experience with the grafting procedure has been generally favourable, but various difficulties have also arisen. There is a cursory discussion of the physiological superiority of rib cartilage grafts over those of other autogenous joints in reconstruction of the temporomandibular articulation.
Silicon optical fiber diameter dependent grain size

Abstract In the fabrication of silicon optical fibers, there is a need to understand the dependency of the grain size of the silicon core and the processing parameters during the fabrication process. This study was undertaken to determine how the grain size in the core structure varied with changes in the fabrication parameters during drawing of the silicon optical fibers. The primary fabrication variables' changes were preform dimension and drawing speed, resulting in fibers of varying diameters in both the core and cladding regions. Grain size and orientation of the silicon core of the resultant fiber was determined using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Grain size was normalized to the core diameter and it was found that the grain size or the length of the grain within the core increased as the diameter of the core increased. No preferential grain orientation was observed in any of the fibers. Grain length increases as the diameter increases and the rate of cooling decreases as the diameter increases. This decrease in cooling rate reduces the nucleation rate of grains during solidification process as the fibers are being drawn.
Does residential segregation in cities predict African-American suicide rates?

In 38 American cities, an index of residential segregation in 1960 did not predict the 1970 African-American suicide rates.
ATM controls c-Myc and DNA synthesis during postnatal thymocyte development through regulation of redox state

The oncoprotein c-Myc is essential for thymocyte development, and its dysregulation causes lymphoid malignancies. We have demonstrated previously that spontaneous DNA synthesis in Atm(-/-) thymocytes is markedly increased over that of Atm(+/+) thymocytes and that glucocorticoid dexamethasone suppresses thymocyte DNA synthesis and prevents the ultimate development of thymic lymphoma in Atm(-/-) mice. Recently, we reported that in Atm(-/-) thymic lymphoma cells c-Myc is overexpressed compared with the levels of c-Myc in primary thymocytes from wild-type or Atm(-/-) mice. In this study, we show that c-Myc expression progressively increases with age in primary thymocytes from Atm(-/-) mice and that the upregulation of c-Myc parallels the elevated DNA synthesis in the cells, suggesting that deregulation of c-Myc may drive the uncontrolled proliferation of thymocytes in Atm(-/-) mice. Here we also demonstrate that Atm(-/-) thymocytes exhibit increased levels of hydrogen peroxide, NF-E2-related factor (Nrf-2), peroxiredoxin-1, and intracellular glutathione relative to thymocytes from Atm(+/+) mice. Importantly, reduction of hydrogen peroxide by administration of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine to Atm(-/-) mice attenuates the elevation of Nrf-2, c-Myc, and DNA synthesis in their thymocytes, suggesting that ATM may control c-Myc and DNA synthesis during postnatal thymocyte development by preventing accumulation of reactive oxygen species.
Theoretical investigation into time and dimension scaling for crevice corrosion

Abstract Geometry scaling for crevice corrosion has been broadly studied, and past studies focus on steady-state analysis for a crevice of uniform gap. The scaling factor has been reported to be L2/δ0 (or L / δ 0 ) or L/δ0, where L is crevice length and δ0 is crevice gap. Time scaling for unsteady-state crevice corrosion has not been reported. The geometry scaling factor, L / δ 0 , may be derived more generally from dimension scaling using scaling variable x / δ 0 , where x is the crevice longitudinal distance from the mouth. This paper is aimed at discussing the theory behind dimension and time scaling for a crevice of uniform gap, verifying the scaling theory with model simulation results, and understanding how biased the scaling is when applied to a crevice of variable gap. The scaling theory suggests that geometry scaling for a crevice of uniform gap should follow L 2 / δ 0 or L / δ 0 and time scaling follows t/δ0, where t is time.
The ultrastructure of fossil gymnosperm pollen

SummaryThe ultrastructure of fossil gymnosperm pollen is reviewed based on studies of in situ grains. The following groups contain taxa that have been investigated at the ultrastructural level: Lyginopteridales, Medullosales, Callistophytales, Corystospermales, Caytoniales, Cordaitales, Voltziales, Coniferales, Cycadeoidales, Pentoxylales and problematic taxa that cannot clearly be classified (incertae sedis). Details of pollen wall ultrastructure in these groups are discussed, as well as information on the progymnosperm groups Aneurophytales and Archaeopteridales. Since many groups are known from a study of only one taxon, it is not currently possible to homologize wall layers in pollen from different taxonomic categories. However, within major clades there is some uniformity in the infrastructure of the pollen wall. The implications of developmental information from fossil pollen, as well as data on saccus evolution are discussed.
Religion and Eighteenth-Century Literature

A chronological overview of the questions, assumptions, and methods characteristic of how twentieth- and twenty-first-century scholarship has treated religion in eighteenth-century British literature, centered on how ideas concerning the relationship between secularization and modernity have impacted this scholarship. It draws primarily on representative book-length studies and monographs on eighteenth-century British poetry and fiction published over the past sixty years.
Optimization of codon composition and regulatory elements for expression of human insulin like growth factor-1 in transgenic chloroplasts and evaluation of structural identity and function

Transgenic chloroplasts are potential bioreactors for recombinant protein production, especially for achievement of high levels of protein expression and proper folding. Production of therapeutic proteins in leaves provides transgene containment by elimination of reproductive structures. Therefore, in this study, human Insulin like Growth Factor-1 is expressed in transgenic chloroplasts for evaluation of structural identity and function. Expression of the synthetic Insulin like Growth Factor 1 gene (IGF-1s, 60% AT) was observed in transformed E. coli. However, no native IGF-1 gene (IGF-1n, 41% AT) product was detected in the western blots in E. coli. Site-specific integration of the transgenes into the tobacco chloroplast genome was confirmed after transformation using PCR. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the transgenic lines were homoplasmic. The transgenic plant lines had IGF-1s expression levels of 11.3% of total soluble protein (TSP). The IGF-1n plants contained 9.5% TSP as IGF-1n, suggesting that the chloroplast translation machinery is more flexible than E. coli in codon preference and usage. The expression of IGF-1 was increased up to 32% TSP under continuous illumination by the chloroplast light regulatory elements. IgG-Sepharose affinity column chromatographic separation of Z domain containing chloroplast derived IGF-1 protein, single and two dimensional electrophoresis methods and mass spectrometer analysis confirmed the identity of human IGF-1 in transgenic chloroplasts. Two spots analyzed from 2-D focusing/phoresis acrylamide gel showed the correct amino acid sequence of human IGF-1 and the S. aureus Z-tag. Cell proliferation assays in human HU-3 cells demonstrated the biological activity of chloroplast derived IGF-1 even in the presence of the S. aureus Z tag. This study demonstrates that the human Insulin like Growth Factor-1 expressed in transgenic chloroplasts is identical to the native protein and is fully functional. The ability to use plant chloroplasts as bioreactors to generate proteins of great economic value that retain their biological activity is an exciting and achievable goal that appears to be within our grasp.
Rotational distortion constants for axially symmetric ZX3Y (Z = Si or Ge; X, Y = H, D, or T) molecules; Sign of the constants in some molecules

Abstract The rotational distortion constants D J and D JK have been evaluated for the partially deuteriated and tritiated silane and germane of the axially symmetric ZX 3 Y type. The procedure used is that of Dowling et al. which is based on Kivelson and Wilson's method and which makes use of the potential energy constants ( F 's) obtained for the symmetry coordinates. It has been found that the sign of D JK is positive when m Y (mass of the Y atom) > m X (mass of the X atom) and negative when m Y m X . For the pyramidal XYZ 2 ( Y and Z are isotopes) molecules, the distortion constants R 5 and δ J are positive and R 6 is negative when m Y > m Z ; but R 5 and δ J are negative and R 6 is positive when m Y m Z .
Assessing reproductive status in wild felids by noninvasive faecal steroid monitoring

This paper reviews the current status of faecal hormone metabolite monitoring for assessing the reproductive status of felid species. Monitoring the excreted hormonal metabolites in faeces, which can be collected during routine cleaning of enclosures, permits long-term assessment of reproductive activity. The non-invasive nature of faecal hormone monitoring, the ease of collecting biomaterial and the discovery that excretion patterns clearly reflect physiological (gonadal/adrenal) function give this technique enormous potential. After determining the routes of steroid excretion (radio-label studies), faecal extraction and radioimmunoassay procedures were developed for assessing oestrous cyclicity, seasonality and pregnancy. The primary goal is to obtain clearly defined normative data for all Felidae species, ranging from the onset of puberty through the normal course of prime breeding activity to reproductive senescence. Identifying the type of ovulation (induced versus spontaneous) and the impact of season on reproductive function for each species are high priorities because these two characteristics influence both natural and assisted breeding efforts. The immediate goal is to develop a comprehensive database on the reproductive cycle, seasonality, type of ovulation, duration of the follicular/luteal phase, the feasibility of diagnosing pregnancy/parturition and the influence of stress on reproductive fitness of all extant felid species.
“Maximal” drug therapy is not necessarily optimal in chronic angina pectoris

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, nitrates and calcium channel antagonists are effective in treating angina pectoris, but much remains unknown about how they act in combination. Consequently, treadmill exercise was used to assess the relative efficacy of nifedipine or isosorbide dinitrate, or both, in 19 patients with stable angina receiving propranolol. Propranolol therapy was continued and either placebo, nifedipine (20 mg), isosorbide dinitrate (20 mg) or both drugs were given randomly 1 1/2 hours before exercise in a double-blind trial. In 16 patients who completed the protocol, heart rate at rest during propranolol therapy was 53.7 +/- 1.9 beats/min (mean +/- standard error of the mean); it increased 4.6 +/- 1.2 beats/min with the addition of nifedipine (p less than 0.01), but was unchanged with isosorbide dinitrate or both combined. Compared with values during treatment with propranolol alone, systolic blood pressure at rest decreased with each vasodilator individually and when combined. Rate-pressure product at maximal exercise was the same with all combinations. Exercise duration was 467 +/- 50 seconds with propranolol, increased to 556 +/- 47 seconds with isosorbide dinitrate (p less than 0.05) and to 636 +/- 50 seconds with nifedipine (p less than 0.001). Exercise duration with all three drugs was 597 +/- 47 seconds (p less than 0.01 compared with propranolol alone). The improvement with nifedipine was greater than with isosorbide dinitrate (p less than 0.05) but exercise duration was not significantly different with the combination of these drugs than when either drug was used alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Finding better B0 and B1 parameters for the IRI F2-profile function

Deficiencies in the IRI profile specifications for the bottomside F2 layer required a review of the IRI profile parameters B0 and B1. Using the available database of measured electron density profiles from several Digisonde stations, the IRI profile model is assessed. The paper describes a new technique to calculate the B0 and B1 parameters that “best” reproduce the measured profiles. The use of the Digisonde's Chebyshev polynomial presentation of the profiles offers a unique advantage for calculating the best B0 and B1.
Sexual Function in Young Adults with Spina Bifida

Advances in medicine have allowed children born with spina bifida to survive into adulthood. However, few studies have examined the unique issues that individuals with spina bifida face. Even fewer have looked at adolescence, specifically with regard to sexual function, in individuals with spina bifida. Most of the data in the literature are retrospective case studies and survey studies. The purpose of this article is to review previously published reports on sexual function and the issues faced by adolescents with spina bifida with regard to sex, reproduction, and incontinence.
Strong, Neutral, or Weak: Exploring the Impostor Score Distribution

The strong, neutral, or weak (SNoW) face impostor pairs problem is intended to explore the causes and impact of impostor face pairs that are inherently strong (easily recognized as nonmatches) or weak (possible false matches). The SNoW technique develops three partitions within the impostor score distribution of a given data set. Results provide evidence that varying degrees of impostor scores impact the overall performance of a face recognition system. This paper extends our earlier work to incorporate improvements regarding outlier detection for partitioning, explores the SNoW concept for the additional modalities of fingerprint and iris, and presents methods for how to begin to reveal the causes of weak impostor pairs. We also show a clear operational difference between strong and weak comparisons as well as identify partition stability across multiple algorithms.
Suicidality and depression disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth: a meta-analytic review.

Abstract Purpose To examine disparities between sexual minority youth (SMY) and heterosexual youth in rates of suicidality and depression symptoms. Methods Separate meta-analyses were conducted to examine suicidality and depression disparities. Studies were included if the average age of the participants was Results SMY reported significantly higher rates of suicidality (odds ratio [OR] = 2.92) and depression symptoms (standardized mean difference, d = .33) as compared with the heterosexual youth. Disparities increased with the increase in the severity of suicidality (ideation [OR = 1.96], intent/plans [OR = 2.20], suicide attempts [OR = 3.18], suicide attempts requiring medical attention [OR = 4.17]). Effects did not vary across gender, recruitment source, and sexual orientation definition. Conclusions Disparities in suicidality and depression may be influenced by negative experiences including discrimination and victimization. Clinicians should assess sexual orientation, analyze psychosocial histories to identify associated risk factors, and promote prevention and intervention opportunities for SMY and their families.
Teacher Engagement with Students with Disabilities: Differences between Paraprofessional Service Delivery Models.

The level of engagement that general education teachers have with students with disabilities in their classrooms has been identified in the literature as a key factor effecting the success of inclusive educational experiences. This study describes differences in teacher engagement identified within two approaches to providing paraprofessional supports in general education classrooms; program-based and one-on-one. Findings were based on the observed and reported experiences of 103 school personnel (e.g., teachers, special educators, paraprofessionals, administrators) from four schools (Grades K-12). The study describes characteristics of teacher engagement and disengagement, the involvement of special educators, and phenomena associated with teacher disengagement when one-on-one paraprofessional service delivery was used. The discussion presents implications of these data for school improvement.
A Teaching of Psychology Database: 1974-1990

This article describes a database that contains citations for articles published in Teaching of Psychology between 1974 and 1990. The structure and operation of the database are presented with suggestions for using the database in teaching and research activities.
The first learning track of the international planning competition

The International Planning Competition is a biennial event organized in the context of the International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling. The 2008 competition included, for the first time, a learning track for comparing approaches for improving automated planners via learning. In this paper, we describe the structure of the learning track, the planning domains used for evaluation, the participating systems, the results, and our observations. Towards supporting the goal of domain-independent learning, one of the key features of the competition was to disallow any code changes or parameter tweaks after the training domains were revealed to the participants. The competition results show that at this stage no learning for planning system outperforms state-of-the-art planners in a domain independent manner across a wide range of domains. However, they appear to be close to providing such performance. Evaluating learning for planning systems in a blind competition raises important questions concerning criteria that should be taken into account in future competitions.
Phylogeny of halictine bees supports a shared origin of eusociality for Halictus and Lasioglossum (Apoidea: Anthophila: Halictidae)

The halictid bees are excellent models for the study of social evolution because greater social diversity and plasticity are observed in the tribe Halictini than in any other comparable taxonomic group. We examine the evolutionary relationships within the subfamily Halictinae (‘‘sweat bees’’) to investigate the origins of social behaviour within the tribe Halictini. We present a new phylogeny of the subfamily Halictinae based on three nuclear genes (elongation factor-1 alpha, wingless, and long-wavelength rhodopsin) and one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome c oxidase 1) sequenced for 206 halictine bees. We use model-based character reconstruction to infer the probability of a shared eusocial ancestor for the genera Halictus and Lasioglossum, the two genera of Halictini which display eusociality. Our results suggest a high probability for a single origin of eusociality for these two genera, contradicting earlier views of separate origins within each taxon. Fossil-calibrated divergence estimates place this ancestor at approximately 35 million years ago, about 14 million years earlier than previous estimates of eusocial origins in the halictid bees.
Control performance monitoring of LP-MPC cascade systems

Traditional minimum variance control (MVC) based performance monitoring methods treats all controlled variables (CVs) the same (or with some preselected weights). However, due to the nature of soft CV constraint, CVs have priority in cascade systems of linear programming - model predictive control (LP-MPC). It is desired to reduce violations of constraints for CVs at their upper or lower bounds and to keep CVs under control. In this paper, we introduce block lower triangular interactor matrix, based on which conditional MVC and corresponding performance benchmark is developed. We state that conditional MVC first consider CVs with multiple level priority and a subset of CVs in each level of priority. A simulation example is given to compare proposed method with traditional MVC methods.
Photocurrent saturation in cadmium selenide films

Abstract Saturation is caused at high fields by hole depletion in a region near the anode, the anode not being a hole injector. The phenomena when observed under pulsed conditions gives a method of studying the time to empty hole-traps near the valence band.
40 Gb/s buffered 2×2 optical packet switching using photonic integrated circuits

Contention resolution and forwarding of labeled optical packets at 40 Gb/s is demonstrated utilizing multiple InP based optical buffers and monolithic wavelength converters. Layer-2 packet recovery measurements are presented.