cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mackerels in the Moonlight: A Duopoly Model of Political Agency

I study political competition between two candidates who could differ in their ability, popularity, and ethics. In elections, each candidate proposes a flat (income) tax rate and a public good level. A high(er)-ability candidate can produce the public good using less funds. Collected taxes that are not used in public goods production are stolen by the elected politician. The voting decision is probabilistic; it depends on a candidate's fiscal policy and his popularity. I prove that the pure strategy Nash Equilibrium exists and that there are at most two separate equilibria. I also provide a fully solved example.
Static strategies and inference for the game of Phantom Go

Playing the game with partially observable information is a very challenging issue in AI field as its high complexity. Phantom game is a kind of such games, which is usually with large state space. One of them, Phantom Go, is the variant game of computer Go with imperfect information. It is a great challenge and attractive topic in AI for its uncertainty of the hidden information and the complexity from computer Go. In the recent years, the research of IS-MCTS (Information Set Monte-Carlo Search) has boosted the development of Phantom games. Determinization is the very crucial processing in IS-MCTS, which reveals the imperfect information and provides perfect board configuration to the Monte-Carlo tree. As a result, advanced methods that make use of the knowledge by rational players to predict the opponent's information is highly required. This paper proposes two static strategies and an inference model to demonstrate how to use professional knowledge to improve the search quality. These methods are universal and will greatly improve the playing strength of the Phantom Go program.
Ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in laparoscopic resection of colon cancer.

Aim The study examined the feasibility and potential benefit of ex vivo sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping, including multilevel sectioning (MLS) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in colon cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. The secondary goals were (i) to identify patient and tumour characteristics that might influence the success of the SLN technique, (ii) to investigate the extent of lymphadenectomy required to encompass tumour-positive nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) and (iii) to ascertain the association of SLN status with oncological outcomes. Method SLN mapping was performed after specimen extraction using 1% Isosulfan blue. The SLNs were analysed with H&E staining after MLS, and if negative, IHC was performed. NSLNs were grouped by distance either greater than or less than 4 cm from the tumour. Results Seventy-one patients completed the study between 2003 and 2007. Using H&E with MLS, the accuracy of SLN mapping was 76%, sensitivity was 52% and the false-negative rate was 48%. Excluding patients with clinically positive lymph nodes resulted in a significant improvement in accuracy to 81% and decreased the false-negative rate to 30%. Furthermore, as the only positive NSLN > 4 cm from the tumour was grossly positive, SLN mapping with a 4-cm mesenteric cuff would have given 100% sensitivity in patients without macroscopically involved nodes. Conclusions SLN mapping may be of value in selected patients. It may be possible to accurately stage patients with a 4-cm cuff of mesentery, although further validation of this proposal is required.
On-Demand Services Composition and Infrastructure Management

This paper presents several engineering applications that involve distributed software services. Due to the complexity of these applications, an efficient and flexible service composition framework is needed. A reference service composition framework is introduced to address two issues prevailing in current service composition: interface incompatibility and performance. The reference framework applies active mediation to enhance efficient execution of applications employing composed services. As the number of services becomes large, the composed application imposes challenge on the service infrastructure management. A reliability model is introduced for building an automatic infra-structure management paradigm.
Robert A. Good May 21, 1922–June 13, 2003

Robert Alan Good, Past President of the AAI, died on June 13, 2003, after a long struggle with esophageal cancer. One of the most influential immunologists of the 20th century, Robert Good’s many contributions to understanding the cellular basis of immunity and immunodeficiency diseases made him
Designing stable mechanisms for economic environments

We study the design of mechanisms that implement Lindahl or Walrasian allocations and whose Nash equilibria are dynamically stable for a wide class of adaptive dynamics. We argue that supermodularity is not a desirable stability criterion in this mechanism design context, focusing instead on contractive mechanisms. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a mechanism to Nash-implement Lindahl or Walrasian allocations, show that these conditions are inconsistent with the contraction property when message spaces are one-dimensional, and then show how to use additional dimensions to achieve dynamic stability while gaining budget balance out of equilibrium.
Postprandial lipid, glucose, insulin, and cholecystokinin responses in men fed barley pasta enriched with β-glucan

Background Fiber regulates the rate and site of lipid and carbohydrate digestion and absorption and thus can modify the alimentary responses to a meal. When fiber sources containing viscous polysaccharides are included in a meal, a slower rate of carbohydrate and lipid absorption will modify the alimentary hormone and lipid responses. Objective We investigated in 11 healthy men the response of insulin, glucose, cholecystokinin, and lipid to 2 test meals containing beta-glucan. Design One of the meals was high in fiber (15.7 g) and the other meal was low in fiber (5.0 g). The low-fiber meal contained pasta made with wheat flour. The high-fiber meals contained pasta prepared by replacing 40% of the wheat with 2 types of barley flour: barley naturally high in beta-glucan and the other a flour enriched in beta-glucan during processing. Results Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations increased significantly after all meals but the insulin response was more blunted after the barley-containing meals. The test meals were low in fat (25% of energy) but elicited an increase in plasma triacylglycerol and cholecystokinin. Cholecystokinin remained elevated for a longer time after the barley-containing meals. After the low-fiber meal, plasma cholesterol concentrations did not change significantly; however, 4 h after the barley-containing meals, the cholesterol concentration dropped below the fasting concentration and was significantly lower than that after the low-fiber meal. Conclusions Carbohydrate was more slowly absorbed from the 2 high-fiber meals. Consumption of the barley-containing meals appeared to stimulate reverse cholesterol transport, which may contribute to the cholesterol-lowering ability of barley.
Evaluation of first-draw whole blood, point-of-care cardiac markers in the context of the universal definition of myocardial infarction: a comparison of a multimarker panel to troponin alone and to testing in the central laboratory.

Abstract Context.—Previous studies evaluating point-of-care testing (POCT) for cardiac biomarkers did not use current recommendations for troponin cutoff values or recognize the recent universal de...
Case study on effect of household task participation on home, community, and work opportunities for a youth with multiple disabilities

Objective This case study explored how household task engagement influenced participation in the home, community and work for a youth with multiple disabilities. Participants Participants were the first author's single father and her brother, who has spina bifida and intellectual disability. Methods Researchers used a case study design with mixed methods. Quantitative repeated measures included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations, and Supports (CHORES), and the Arc's Self-determination Scale (SDS). Qualitative data was collected from interviews and observations and was analyzed using a constant comparison method. Results Visual analysis revealed gains in self-determination and in performance and satisfaction on the COPM. At follow-up, the father reported his son did more self-care household tasks and was more independent with these tasks. Family-care household task performance declined and father reported relatively no change in assistance. Qualitative findings illuminated the strategies and the processes that evolved through collaboration amongst the youth, the therapist, and the father. Conclusions The son's competence with a daily household task increased positive perceptions of his capabilities that led to increased participation and independence in home, community, and work activities. Interventions addressing adaptations, development of self-determination skills, and parental education promoted these changes.
Day-Definite Full Container Load Service for Time-Sensitive Shippers: On the Perspective of Total Distribution Cost

The authors quantify the benefits of a newly introduced logistics product, day-definite Full Container-load FCL, in terms of its cost reduction relative to other existing products-regular FCL and airfreight, from the perspective of a logistic manager in an intercontinental supply chain facing lead-time uncertainties. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis are provided to illustrate the comparison across the above-mentioned three logistics products and the impact of other factors on the performance of these logistics products.
Reply to Dr. Joob et al.'s letter.

Dear Sir, We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Dr. Joob's letter with respect to our case report published in JCC.1 While writing the case report our intention was not to mention the side effects of treatment with …
Determination of Resistance Spectra of the Pi-ta and Pi-k Genes to U.S. Races of Magnaporthe oryzae Causing Rice Blast in a Recombinant Inbred Line Population

Molecular tagged resistance (R) genes are useful for developing improved cultivar resistance using marker-assisted breeding. In the present study, R genes to common races of Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of blast disease of rice (Oryza sativa), were mapped using an F10 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross of tropical japonica cv. Katy with breeding line RU9101001. Katy was resistant to 10 common U.S. races: IA-45, IB-1, IB-45, IB-49, IB-54, IC-17, ID-1, IE-1, IG-1, and IH-1 of M. oryzae. RU9101001 was resistant to races IA-45, IB-45, IB-54, IG-1, and IH-1. Katy and RU9101001 were susceptible to race IE-1k. Twenty-three polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to map R genes. Segregation ratios of 1:1 (resistant/susceptible) to races IB-1, IB-49, IC-17, ID-1, and IE-1 indicated the presence of a single dominant R gene in Katy. Ratios of 3:1 (resistant/susceptible) to races IA-45, IB-45, IG-1, and IH-1 indicated that a single R gene was present in Katy and a different R gene was present in RU9101001. Resistance to the abovementioned races was correlated with the presences of the Pi-ta gene and 11 Katy SSR alleles, suggesting that Pi-ta confers resistance to IA-45, IB-1, IB-45, IB-49, IC-17, IG-1, ID-1, IE-1, and IH-1. Katy, RU9101001, and all RILs were resistant to race IB-54, which was consistent with the presence of Pi-ks in Katy and Pi-kh in RU9101001. Resistance to IA-45, IB-45, IG-1, and IH-1 correlated with the presence of Pi-kh, suggesting that Pi-kh confers resistance to IA-45, IB-45, IG-1, and IH-1. These data suggest that Pi-ta and Pi-kh are effective R genes with overlapped resistance to the 10 common races of M. oryzae.
A fluidic system for photometric dissolved oxygen measurements with enhanced sensitivity

ABSTRACT A new method of color pixel intensity analysis to obtain an oxygen concentration is presented in this research. Until recently, color charge coupled devices (CCD s) have rarely been used for oxygen imaging in spite of its usefulness for analyzing the spectral content of images. The proposed new method involves extracting the red color element to enhance oxygen-related information and eliminate distorted green color information from the color images of the sensors. A commercial RedEye TM oxygen sensor patch was used to verify this method. The linearity and sensitivity of oxygen detection based on the red intensity analysis was improved to those of spectrometric measurement and total color intensity analysis. This method also has potential applications in other luminescence sensor s and simultaneous structural and functional imaging of biological systems. Keywords: Charge coupled devices, luminescence, imaging 1. INTRODUCTION Optical oxygen sensors are gradually substituting electrochemical counterparts in respects that they do not consume oxygen during the measurement and not interfere with other electrical devices. Additionally, optical oxygen sensors are very common in the area of biological oxygen monitoring because of their compatibility for noninvasive detection and miniaturization. Most of the optical oxygen sensors are based on the principle that oxygen quenches the luminescence emitted from the luminescent dyes which are immobilized in an oxygen permeable membrane. Ruthenium has been widely used for the luminescence-based oxygen sensor because of its good photo-stability, high quantum yield, large strokes shift, and wide dynamic range
Role of CBP/p300 and SRC-1 in Transcriptional Regulation of the Pulmonary Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) Gene by Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) *

Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) gene expression is developmentally regulated in fetal lung type II cells and is enhanced by cAMP. cAMP stimulation of SP-A gene expression is mediated by protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1), expressed selectively in developing lung epithelium. In this study, we analyzed roles of CREB-binding protein (CBP) and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) in TTF-1 regulation of SP-A expression. Upon differentiation of human fetal lung in culture, nuclear localization of CBP, SRC-1, and TTF-1 increased in ductular epithelium in association with type II cell differentiation and induction of SP-A expression. In transient transfections, CBP and SRC-1 acted synergistically with TTF-1 to increase SP-A promoter activity. Overexpression of PKA catalytic subunit enhanced hSP-A promoter activation by SRC-1 plus TTF-1. Adenoviral E1A overexpression reduced TTF-1 +/- SRC-1 induction of SP-A promoter activity, suggesting a role of endogenous CBP/p300. TTF-1 interacted with SRC-1 and CBP in vitro. SRC-1 immunodepletion from type II cell nuclear extracts reduced binding to the TTF-1 binding element upstream of SP-A gene. In cultured type II cells, cAMP increased TTF-1 acetylation. This suggests that cAMP-mediated TTF-1 phosphorylation facilitates interaction with CBP and SRC-1, resulting in its hyperacetylation, further enhancing TTF-1 DNA-binding and transcriptional activity.
EQUIP: implementing chronic care principles and applying formative evaluation methods to improve care for schizophrenia: QUERI Series.

This paper presents a case study that demonstrates the evolution of a project entitled "Enhancing QUality-of-care In Psychosis" (EQUIP) that began approximately when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), and implementation science were emerging. EQUIP developed methods and tools to implement chronic illness care principles in the treatment of schizophrenia, and evaluated this implementation using a small-scale controlled trial. The next iteration of the project, EQUIP-2, was further informed by implementation science and the use of QUERI tools. This paper reports the background, development, results and implications of EQUIP, and also describes ongoing work in the second phase of the project (EQUIP-2). The EQUIP intervention uses implementation strategies and tools to increase the adoption and implementation of chronic illness care principles. In EQUIP-2, these strategies and tools are conceptually grounded in a stages-of-change model, and include clinical and delivery system interventions and adoption/implementation tools. Formative evaluation occurs in conjunction with the intervention, and includes developmental, progress-focused, implementation-focused, and interpretive evaluation. Evaluation of EQUIP provided an understanding of quality gaps and how to address related problems in schizophrenia. EQUIP showed that solutions to quality problems in schizophrenia differ by treatment domain and are exacerbated by a lack of awareness of evidence-based practices. EQUIP also showed that improving care requires creating resources for physicians to help them easily implement practice changes, plus intensive education as well as product champions who help physicians use these resources. Organizational changes, such as the addition of care managers and informatics systems, were shown to help physicians with identifying problems, making referrals, and monitoring follow-up. In EQUIP-2, which is currently in progress, these initial findings were used to develop a more comprehensive approach to implementing and evaluating the chronic illness care model. In QUERI, small-scale projects contribute to the development and enhancement of hands-on, action-oriented service-directed projects that are grounded in current implementation science. This project supports the concept that QUERI tools can be useful in implementing complex care models oriented toward evidence-based improvement of clinical care.
Diurnal and developmental changes in levels of nucleotide compounds in developing maize endosperms

Maize endosperm is dependent on source tissues to supply the energy and carbon required for development. This supply varies during the course of each day and also throughout development. The impact of these variations on the metabolism of developing endosperm was examined by determining the energy status of the endosperm throughout the course of a day. The adenylate energy charge decreased as the tissue matured, and exhibited a distinct diurnal pattern, reaching a minimum in the afternoon, when the flux of photosynthate is the highest. The minimum value observed was similar to the adenylate energy charge in tissues under mild stress. As the endosperm matured, the adenylate energy charge decreased steadily. The levels of the polysaccharide precursors ADP-glucose and UDP-glucose did not reflect the daily fluctuations in adenylate energy charge, but did exhibit similar long-term behaviour in the latter half of development, decreasing steadily after 21 d after pollination. Similarities in the metabolic patterns of adenylate and uridylate nucleotide levels are discussed in terms of the analogous roles of these compounds in starch and cellulose biosynthesis, respectively. These data provide insight into the metabolic rhythms occurring during endosperm development, and provide a framework for efforts directed toward metabolic engineering.
Ordered polyelectrolyte complex formation from amorphous polyions

Abstract The preparations of three types of polyelectrolyte complexes formed between poly(vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride) and poly(methacrylic acid) are reported in this work. These types include unusual needle-like structures, radially extended ‘fuzzy spheres’, and an amorphous powder; each type being produced under different conditions.
Atomic electron binding energies in fermium

Calculations of the binding energies of electrons in fermium by using a relativistic local-density functional theory are reported. It is found that relaxation effects are nonnegligible for inner core orbitals. Calculated orbital binding energies are compared with those due to nonlocal Dirac-Fock calculations and also with those determined experimentally from conversion electron spectroscopy. Finally the usefulness of the local-density approximation for the study of heavy atomic and condensed systems is discussed.
Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and treatment

OBJECTIVES: Kleptomania, a disabling impulse control disorder, is characterized by the repetitive and uncontrollable theft of items that are of little use to the afflicted person. Despite its relatively long history, kleptomania remains poorly understood to the general public, clinicians, and sufferers. METHOD: This article reviews the literature for what is known about the clinical characteristics, family history, neurobiology, and treatment options for individuals with kleptomania. RESULTS: Kleptomania generally has its onset in late adolescence or early adulthood and appears to be more common among women. Lifetime psychiatric comorbidity is frequent, mainly with other impulse control (20-46%), substance use (23-50%) and mood disorders (45-100%). Individuals with kleptomania suffer significant impairment in their ability to function socially and occupationally. Kleptomania may respond to cognitive behavioral therapy and various pharmacotherapies (lithium, anti-epileptics, and opioid antagonists). CONCLUSIONS: Kleptomania is a disabling disorder that results in intense shame, as well as legal, social, family, and occupational problems. Large scale treatment studies are needed.
Verifying general safety properties of Ada tasking programs

The isolation approach to symbolic execution of Ada tasking programs provides a basis for automating partial correctness proofs. The strength of this approach lies in its isolation nature; tasks are symbolically executed and verified independently, and then checked for cooperation where interference can occur. This keeps the verification task computationally feasible and enhances its compositionality. Safety, however, is a more appropriate notion of correctness for concurrent programs than partial correctness. The author shows how the isolation approach to symbolic execution of Ada tasking program supports the verification of general safety properties. Specific safety properties that are considered include mutual exclusion, freedom from deadlock, and absence of communication failure. The techniques are illustrated using a solution to the readers and writers problem. >
Derivatives of Computable Functions

As is well known the derivative of a computable and C1 function may not be computable. For a computable and C∞ function f, the sequence {f(n)} of its derivatives may fail to be computable as a sequence, even though its derivative of any order is computable. In this paper we present a necessary and sufficient condition for the sequence {f(n)} of derivatives of a computable and C∞ function f to be computable. We also give a sharp regularity condition on an initial computable function f which insures the computability of its derivative f′.
The number and distribution of sympathetic neurons that innervate the rat pineal gland.

Abstract The sympathetic innervation of the rat pineal gland was examined using a variety of anatomical techniques. Following the injection of horseradish peroxidase into the pineal gland, approximately 250 labeled neurons were found in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion. No labeled neurons were found in the middle or inferior cervical ganglia. In animals whose left internal carotid nerve was lesioned prior to the injection of peroxidase, an average of only three labeled neurons was found in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion. These data suggest that most, if not all, of the sympathetic neurons innervating the pineal gland exit from the superior cervical ganglia via the internal carotid nerves. The distribution of sympathetic neurons innervating the pineal gland was similar, though slightly more rostrally placed, than the distribution of the entire population of superior cervical ganglion neurons which project into the internal carotid nerve. Both the small number of neurons innervating the pineal gland and their wide distribution in the rostral part of the superior cervical ganglion indicate that their study at the level of the ganglion would be difficult. Sympathetic axons reach the pineal gland via the nervi conarii. Electron microscopic studies indicate that in each nervus conarii there are about 440 axons which make contact with the surface of the pineal gland. In certain cases, bundles of axons from the left and right nervi conarii were found to fuse. Additional evidence for the intermingling of axons from the two nervi conarii was seen in orthograde transport studies with horseradish peroxidase.
The Relation between Electrocardiographic Evidence of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Pulmonary Arterial Pressure in Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease

Detection of right ventricular hypertrophy during life has often been exceedingly difficult. In a group of 40 patients with pulmonary artery hypertension either at rest or during exercise, in whom right ventricular hypertrophy of varying degree could therefore be anticipated, an attempt is made to correlate the pulmonary hypertension and the electrocardiographic evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy.
Asymmetric synthesis by acid catalyzed substitution of dithioacetals and monothioacetals

Abstract A single ethylthio group of diethyl dithioacetals is substituted by acetoxy when dissolved in solutions of acetic acid and acetic anhydride which contain a mercuric salt or a catalytic amount of a strong acid. The substitution is stereoselective as dithioacetals with an asymmetric carbon adjacent to the site of substitution give unequal amounts of diastereomers. Substitution under conditions (with mercuric acetate) under which the diastereomers are stable yields products with a larger percentage of one diastereomer than under conditions (with strong acids) which catalyse epimerization of the monothioacetal products. The same isomer of each pair is the major product when prepared by different synthetic methods.
Mesenteric artery complications during angioplasty and stent placement for atherosclerotic chronic mesenteric ischemia

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence, management, and outcomes of mesenteric artery complications (MACs) during angioplasty and stent placement (MAS) for chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 156 patients treated with 173 MAS for CMI (1998-2010). MACs were defined as procedure-related mesenteric artery dissection, stent dislodgement, embolization, thrombosis, or perforation. End points were procedure-related morbidity and death. Results There were 113 women and 43 men (mean age, 73 ± 14 years). Eleven patients (7%) developed 14 MACs, including distal mesenteric embolization in six, branch perforation in three, dissection in two, stent dislodgement in two, and stent thrombosis in one. Five patients required adjunctive endovascular procedures, including in two patients each, catheter-directed thrombolysis or aspiration, retrieval of dislodged stents, and placement of additional stents for dissection. Five patients (45%) required conversion to open repair: two required evacuation of mesenteric hematoma, two required mesenteric revascularization, and one required bowel resection. There were four early deaths (2.5%) due to mesenteric embolization or myocardial infarction in two patients each. Patients with MACs had higher rates of mortality (18% vs 1.5%) and morbidity (64% vs 19%; P Conclusions MACs occurred in 7% of patients who underwent MAS for CMI and resulted in higher mortality, morbidity, and longer hospital length of stay. Use of antiplatelet therapy reduced the risk of distal embolization or vessel thrombosis. There was a trend toward more MACs in patients who underwent interventions performed with a large-profile system.
Fuzzy gold electrodes for lowering impedance and improving adhesion with electrodeposited conducting polymer films

Abstract For sensor and actuator devices where conducting polymers are electrochemically deposited on the surface of electrodes, the adhesion between the deposited polymer film and substrate metal electrode is crucial for maintaining the long-term performance. Electroplating gold on sputtered gold microelectrode sites was studied as a means to provide a fuzzy, roughened surface for electrodeposited conducting polymers to adhere. It was found that concentration of Au(CN) 2 − solution and current density played important roles in controlling the morphology of the deposits. Impedance spectroscopy was used to quantitatively compare the surface area of sputtered gold and electrodeposited gold obtained by different current densities. By examining the impedance response in the limit of low frequencies, we found that the electroplated gold layer deposited at 125 nA out of a 4.5 mM Au(CN) 2 − solution for 8 min (deposition charge density of 4.8 C/cm 2 ) gives an electrodeposited gold layer having eight times larger effective surface area compared to a sputtered gold layer. This increase in surface area leads to improved adhesion of the subsequently deposited electropolymerized conducting polymers. Conducting polymer PPy/PSS deposited on the electrodes that were pre-processed with a fuzzy electroplated gold layer showed electrochemical properties and morphologies similar to those deposited on smooth sputtered gold electrodes. A significant improvement on adhesion of these polymer films on the fuzzy gold substrate was demonstrated.
An examination of the heats of formation for CH3CO and CF3CO radicals

Abstract The heats of formation for CH3CO and CF3CO molecules have been determined using ab initio molecular orbital calculations from isodesmic schemes. The heat of formation for CH3CO has been calculated as −4.2±2 kcal mol−1, which is in good agreement with experiment and that for CF3CO as −139.9±2 kcal mol−1 at 298 K.
Anion-π interactions as controlling elements in self-assembly reactions of Ag(I) complexes with π-acidic aromatic rings

Reactions of 3,6-bis(2‘-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) and 3,6-bis(2‘-pyridyl)-1,2-pyridazine (bppn) with the AgX salts (X = [PF6]-, [AsF6]-, [SbF6]-, and [BF4]-) afford complexes of different structural motifs depending on the π-acidity of the ligand central ring and the outer-sphere anion. The bptz reactions lead to the polymeric {[Ag(bptz)][PF6]}∞ (1) and the dinuclear compounds [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][PF6]2 (2) and [Ag2(bptz)2(CH3CN)2][AsF6]2 (3), as well as the propeller-type species [Ag2(bptz)3][AsF6]2 (4) and [Ag2(bptz)3][SbF6]2 (5a and 5b). Reactions of bppn with AgX produce the grid-type structures [Ag4(bppn)4][X]4 (6−9), regardless of the anion present. In 6−9, π−π stacking interactions are maximized, whereas multiple and shorter (therefore stronger) anion−π interactions between the anions and the tetrazine rings are established in 1−5b. These differences reflect the more electron-rich character of the bppn pyridazine ring as compared to the bptz tetrazine ring. The evidence gleaned from the sol...
The NLRP3 Inflammasome Mediates in vivo Innate Immunity to Influenza A Virus through Recognition of Viral RNA

The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich-repeat-containing (NLR) family of pattern-recognition molecules mediate host immunity to various pathogenic stimuli. However, in vivo evidence for the involvement of NLR proteins in viral sensing has not been widely investigated and remains controversial. As a test of the physiologic role of the NLR molecule NLRP3 during RNA viral infection, we explored the in vivo role of NLRP3 inflammasome components during influenza virus infection. Mice lacking Nlrp3, Pycard, or caspase-1, but not Nlrc4, exhibited dramatically increased mortality and a reduced immune response after exposure to the influenza virus. Utilizing analogs of dsRNA (poly(I:C)) and ssRNA (ssRNA40), we demonstrated that an NLRP3-mediated response could be activated by RNA species. Mechanistically, NLRP3 inflammasome activation by the influenza virus was dependent on lysosomal maturation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inhibition of ROS induction eliminated IL-1beta production in animals during influenza infection. Together, these data place the NLRP3 inflammasome as an essential component in host defense against influenza infection through the sensing of viral RNA.
SU‐E‐I‐35: Investigation of Commercially Available Image Uniformity Filters in MRI Imaging

Purpose: To investigate and compare the performance of two types of imaging filters that are used in commercial MRI scanners to improve the image uniformity for phased array coil imaging. Methods: ACR QC phantom and manufacturer supplied sphere phantom were used and the axial images were acquired using the ACR standard T1 protocol and a standard clinical axial T1 protocol. The scanner platform used in the measurement is an open-bore 3T system (GE MRI 750w). An 8 Channel HD phased array head coil was used. The image acquisition was done with no imaging filter, a calibration based filter (PURE), and an image based filter (SCIC). The Percentage Image Uniformity (PIU) was calculated according to the ACR guideline. Profile plot of the images were obtained to assess detailed performance of the filters. The ROI at the center of the sphere phantom across different slices were also recorded. Results: The PIU values are 74.5% (no filter), 81.6% (PURE), and 92.1 (SCIC). Only the result from the SCIC filter would pass the ACR accreditation criteria. The profile plot also shows that the PURE leaves a valley like shape towards the center of the phantom. However, due to the factor that PURE filter utilizes the information from a volumetric calibration; it yields more uniform intensity across slices. Conclusion: This work indicates that the SCIC filter yields the highest in-plane uniformity value, but the PURE filter yields better cross slice uniformity. The choice of filter for clinical imaging may depend on specific applications. The result needs to be verified for consistency on multiple systems using both phantoms and patients to fully understand the impact on image quality.
A Qualitative Investigation of the Urban African-American and Latino Adolescent Experience with Wildlife

Few studies have investigated the wildlife-related experience of urban African-American and Latino adolescents. Using a grounded theory research approach, we identified four general conditions (i.e., demographic characteristics, socialization, place of residence, wildlife encounters) that were important in shaping four general processes (i.e., connecting with wildlife, selective engagement with wildlife, tolerating wildlife, wildlife disconnect) that describe the differing wildlife experiences of these adolescents. Our findings suggested that urban African-American and Latino adolescents will demonstrate differing levels of interest and appreciation for wildlife, ranging from active interest and engagement to a complete disinterest in wildlife. To foster an appreciation for wildlife in urban African-American and Latino adolescents, three general conditions should be present: (a) childhood access to wild places, (b) supportive mentoring from adults, and (c) positive encounters with a variety of wildlife sp...
Recursive kernel trick for network segmentation

SUMMARY Kernel K-means has been a powerful unsupervised machine learning tool for cluster discovery. This paper explores its application towards network segmentation, a type of cluster discovery. Very commonly we encounter networks of extremely large size, making computational complexity a major issue in the algorithmic development. In this regard, the sparse structure of kernel matrices can be an invaluable asset. For partitioning nonvectorial data such as network graphs, we need to use a vector-free clustering criterion for K-means. The kernel matrix constructed from nonvectorial data usually needs to be preprocessed to assure Mercer's condition, which is required to guarantee monotonic convergence of the kernel K-means algorithm. This paper describes a centroid-free criterion for K-means so that it can be applied to nonvectorial data such as network segmentation. Such a criterion leads to our introduction of pattern-centroid similarity which ultimately leads to a kernel trick algorithm based on updating of the pattern-centroid similarity. Furthermore, by adopting a recursive updating scheme, the recursive kernel-trick allows a computational saving from O(N2/K) to O(N). For networks with high sparsity structure, the amount of computation required can be further reduced from O(N) to O(Ns), where Ns is the average number of nonzero elements per column in the kernel matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bifunctional Lewis Acid-Nucleophile-Based Asymmetric Catalysis: Mechanistic Evidence for Imine Activation Working in Tandem with Chiral Enolate Formation in the Synthesis of β-Lactams

We report a mechanistically based study of bifunctional catalyst systems in which chiral nucleophiles work in conjunction with Lewis acids to produce β-lactams in high chemical yield, diastereoselectivity, and enantioselectivity. Chiral cinchona alkaloid derivatives work best when paired with Lewis acids based on Al(III), Zn(II), Sc(III), and, most notably, In(III). Homogeneous bifunctional catalysts, in which the catalyst contains both Lewis acidic and Lewis basic sites, were also studied in detail. Mechanistic evidence allows us to conclude that the chiral nucleophiles form zwitterionic enolates that react with metal-coordinated imines. Alternative scenarios, which postulated metal-bound enolates, were disfavored on the basis of our observations.
Using Saccadic Intrusions to Quantify Mental Workload

This study proposes a new method to quantify mental workload (MWL) automatically, without interfering with the operator's primary task performance. An unobtrusive Tobii eye tracker recorded eye movements while participants were engaged in a cognitively demanding N-back task. Original algorithms automatically analyzed the eye data, detected specific eye deviation movements called saccadic intrusions (SIs), and automatically quantified the eye deviation accounted for SIs. This SI measure was strongly correlated with the task difficulty levels in the N-back tasks and with pupil diameter. This indicates that the SI measure appeared to reflect MWL and may be used as a measure of MWL.
Subcutaneous implants for long-acting drug therapy in laboratory animals may generate unintended drug reservoirs.

Background: Long-acting therapy in laboratory animals offers advantages over the current practice of 2-3 daily drug injections. Yet little is known about the disintegration of biodegradable drug implants in rodents. Objective: Compare bioavailability of buprenorphine with the biodegradation of lipid-encapsulated subcutaneous drug pellets. Methods: Pharmacokinetic and histopathology studies were conducted in BALB/c female mice implanted with cholesterol-buprenorphine drug pellets. Results: Drug levels are below the level of detection (0.5 ng/mL plasma) within 4-5 days of implant. However, necroscopy revealed that interstitial tissues begin to seal implants within a week. Visual inspection of the implant site revealed no evidence of inflammation or edema associated with the cholesterol-drug residue. Chemical analyses demonstrated that the residues contained 10-13% of the initial opiate dose for at least two weeks post implant. Discussion: The results demonstrate that biodegradable scaffolds can become sequestered in the subcutaneous space. Conclusion: Drug implants can retain significant and unintended reservoirs of drugs.
Inequality of Inspired and Expired Gaseous Nitrogen in Man

IN studies of animal respiration, it is conventional to assume that the amounts of nitrogen inspired and expired are equal, and this assumption has passed from one textbook to another1–12. The argument is that there is no known metabolic reaction of the human body involving molecular nitrogen, and that in ordinary circumstances nitrogen is merely a diluent of the oxygen in the air breathed13. Three recent studies14–16 cast doubt on this assumption and have prompted us to use a direct system to detect changes in the amounts of inspired and expired nitrogen gas.
Simple One-Step Synthesis of Uniform Disperse Copper Nanoparticles

In this paper, we describe a simple and rapid solution-phase chemical reduction method with no inert gas protection, for preparing stable copper nanoparticle colloid with average particle size of 3.4 nm and narrow size distribution. In our synthesis route, ascorbic acid, natural vitamin C (VC), serves as both a reducing agent and an antioxidant to reduce copper salt precursor and effectively prevent the general oxidation process occurring to the newborn nanoparticles. XRD and UV/vis confirm the formation of pure face-centered cubic (fcc) copper nanoparticles and the excellent antioxidant ability of ascorbic acid.
Biological characterization of F-18-labeled rhodamine B, a potential positron emission tomography perfusion tracer

Abstract Introduction Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in western countries, and positron emission tomography (PET) plays an increasing role in the diagnosis and treatment planning for this disease. However, the absence of an 18 F-labeled PET myocardial perfusion tracer hampers the widespread use of PET in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We recently reported a potential MPI agent based on 18 F-labeled rhodamine B. The goal of this study was to more completely define the biological properties of 18 F-labeled rhodamine B with respect to uptake and localization in an animal model of myocardial infarction and to evaluate the uptake 18 F-labeled rhodamine B by cardiomyocytes. Methods A total of 12 female Sprague Dawley rats with a permanent ligation of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were studied with small-animal PET. The animals were injected with 100–150μCi of 18 F-labeled rhodamine B diethylene glycol ester ([ 18 F]RhoBDEGF) and imaged two days before ligation. The animals were imaged again two to ten days post-ligation. After the post-surgery scans, the animals were euthanized and the hearts were sectioned into 1mm slices and myocardial infarct size was determined by phosphorimaging and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (TTC). In addition, the uptake of [ 18 F]RhoBDEGF in isolated rat neonatal cardiomyocytes was determined by fluorescence microscopy. Results Small-animal PET showed intense and uniform uptake of [ 18 F]RhoBDEGF throughout the myocardium in healthy rats. After LAD ligation, well defined perfusion defects were observed in the PET images. The defect size was highly correlated with the infarct size as determined ex vivo by phosphorimaging and TTC staining. In vitro, [ 18 F]RhoBDEGF was rapidly internalized into rat cardiomyocytes with ~40 % of the initial activity internalized within the 60min incubation time. Fluorescence microscopy clearly demonstrated localization of [ 18 F]RhoBDEGF in the mitochondria of rat cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Fluorine-18-labeled rhodamine B diethylene glycol ester ([ 18 F]RhoBDEGF) provides excellent image quality and clear delineation of myocardial infarcts in a rat infarct model. In vitro studies demonstrate localization of the tracer in the mitochondria of cardiac myocytes. In combination, these results support the continued evaluation of this tracer for the PET assessment of myocardial perfusion.
Influence of magnetic fields on luminescence involving triplet excitons

Several processes involving triplet excitons lead to magnetic-field sensitive luminescence in organic crystals such as anthracene and related compounds. Small magnetic fields (Zeeman energies ≪ thermal energies) at room temperature give rise to observable effects. The first class of phenomena is subject to fine structure modulation (FSM) and requires fields of 100s to 1000s of oersteds. This class includes triplet–triplet fusion leading to higher energy singlets which emit delayed fluorescence and singlet exciton fission (or inverse of triplet–triplet fusion) leading to a decrease in prompt fluorescence yield. The second class of phenomena is subject to hyperfine modulation (HFM) and fields of only 10s of oersteds are required. The key example is dye-sensitized delayed fluorescence involving an intermediate charge-transfer state. All the above phenomena involve non-equilibrium processes subject to spin restrictions. The fine structure interaction in FSM and the hyperfine interaction in HFM lead to spin ‘precessional’ motions which circumvent these restrictions. The external field competes with the internal magnetic interactions in affecting these spin motions.
Some Practical Aspects of Depth Profiling Gases in Metals by Proton Backscattering: Application to Helium and Hydrogen Isotopes

Reports of the application of the proton backscattering technique to determine the depth distributions of helium and hydrogen in metals have appeared in the published literature for almost two years, but a detailed discussion devoted to the practical considerations in its use has not yet been presented. Maximum detection sensitivity for hydrogen isotopes and helium is achieved by employing thin foil samples backed by a “beam trap” to prevent any portion of the incident beam which is not backscattered in the foil sample from reaching the detector. Measurements have been made to determine the magnitude and origin of “tail” or “background” counts which appear in parts of the spectra which ideally should contain no counts and which, by their presence, reduce the detection sensitivity that should theoretically be achievable for light elements. For copper foil targets, the ratio of the counts per channel of the Cu peak to the counts per channel for the background is ∿ 5 × 103. The energy distribution of the background has been measured and leads one to the conclusion that for the apparatus used, these counts arise principally from decollimated incident beam protons which strike the sample holder instead of the foil sample. The enhancement in elastic scattering cross section for protons incident on 4He is discussed and the enhancement factor for a number of other low Z elements is tabulated both for E o=2.5 MeV and for energies at which sharp resonances exist. Example spectra will be drawn from fusion reactor first wall studies presently being conducted which illustrate the effect of applying the principles discussed.
A chemostat model of resource competition and allelopathy

Presented is a chemostat model in which one microbial population excretes a poison that increases the mortality of another, with toxin production increasing as the growth rate of the toxic species decreases. The model is intended to explore the role of allelopathy in blooms of harmful algae, such as red tide (Karenia brevis) and golden algae (Prymnesium parvum). This study introduces the model and its biological basis, and proceeds to the analysis of its asymptotic states. All theoretical results are supported by a set of numerical simulations. A discussion of biological conclusions and similarities to other mathematical models is also presented.
Menin/PRMT5/hedgehog signaling: a potential target for the treatment of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 tumors.

Xianxin Hua Author for correspondence: Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Boulevard, BRB II/III, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Tel.: +1 215 746 5567 Fax: +1 215 745 5525 huax@mail.med.upenn.edu Menin/PRMT5/hedgehog signaling: a potential target for the treatment of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 tumors