cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular and immunological characterization of ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases.

Mono-ADP-ribosylation of arginine residues appears to be a reversible modification of proteins in animal and bacterial cells (Williamson and Moss, 1990). NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases catalyze the forward reaction, whereas ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases release ADP-ribose, regenerating the (arginine)protein acceptor (Williamson and Moss, 1990). ADP-ribosyltransferases have been examined in animal species and appear to be a family of ~28-39 kDa proteins, that differ in intracellular localization, and in kinetic, physical and regulatory properties (Moss et al., 1980; Yost and Moss, 1983; Tanigawa et al., 1984; Soman et al., 1984; West and Moss, 1986; Peterson et al., 1990). The reaction is stereospecific; the transferase catalyzes the formation of α-ADP-ribosylarginine from β-NAD (Moss et al., 1979). In agreement with the hypothesis that the ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolases catalyze the reversal of the transferase-catalyzed reaction is the observation that the enzyme prefers α-ADP-ribosylarginine as substrate (Moss et al., 1986).
False-negative rate of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for pancreatic solid and cystic lesions with matched surgical resections as the gold standard: one institution's experience.

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of pancreatic tumors is often complicated because of sampling and interpretive challenges. The current study was performed to determine the rates, types, and causes of diagnostic discrepancies. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed cytology cases from 2004 to 2010 using matched surgical resection cases as the gold standard. RESULTS A total of 733 cases were divided into 3 categories: 1) positive or suspicious (290 cases); 2) negative or atypical (403 cases); and 3) unsatisfactory (40 cases). Of these cases, 101 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases had matched surgical resections including 58 positive diagnoses, 39 negative diagnoses, and 4 unsatisfactory diagnoses. All 19 discrepant cases represented false-negative diagnoses without any false-positive cases noted, which included 2 cases with interpretive errors (10%) and 17 cases with sampling errors (90%). All matched cytology cases were divided into 5 subgroups based on the type of lesion or type of error and were analyzed for sensitivity and specificity. The sampling error rate in cystic lesions (8 of 24; 33%) was significantly higher than that in solid lesions (9 of 73; 12%). The false-negative rate in the interpretive error group (3%) was significantly lower than that in the sampling error group (23%). CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study confirm that pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA diagnosis has a very low false-positive rate but a relatively high false-negative rate using matched surgical resections as the gold standard. The major cause of a false-negative cytology diagnosis is sampling error and the rate of sampling error in cystic lesions is significantly higher than that in solid lesions. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013;121:449-58. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Impulse waveform effects on negative point breakdown phenomena in SF/sub 6/

The authors investigate the impulse waveform effects on the initiation, propagation, and stabilization of gas discharges over a wide range of pressures in SF/sub 6/. Impulses are generated by a Fletcher type generator. By changing the internal pulse forming components, 0.0075/80- and 0.6/80- mu s surges can be generated and applied to a 0.25-mm-radius stainless steel point forming a 5-mm point/plane SF/sub 6/ gap. Discharge development is recorded by a collimated photomultiplier with quartz optics forward focused to view the whole gap. Extensive studies of the patterns of light emission have indicated that three distinct modes of discharge development exist. Although all of the modes identified are present at 0.4 MPa under a lightning surge application, the mode incidence is very different, the preponderance depending both on pressure and on risetime. Mode A is always present and results in breakdown in the majority of cases for both fast and slow pulse application. However, the stabilized mode (Mode B) is highly dependent on pressure and only present for the slow rising impulses. Mode C is present only at high pressure (above 0.3 MPa) and occurs independent of impulse risetime. >
Temporal and spatial evolution of an on‐land hurricane observed by seismic data

©2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. A dense seismic array can provide new perspectives for a decaying hurricane after its landfall. The case of Hurricane Isaac in 2012 is presented using a seismic array from EarthScope (USArray). The amplitude-distance plots from the center of the hurricane showed a sharp peak at a distance of 75 km at the time of landfall. This peak decayed and moved outward from the center over the next 1.5 days. The sharp peak can be explained by strong surface pressure fluctuations under the eyewall in which a focused ascending flow is known to exist. We reconstructed the time evolution of surface pressure that explains seismic data. Pressure solutions indicate that the eyewall stayed at 75 km in the first 10 h after the landfall, while the ascending flow weakened significantly. In the following 24 h, the eyewall diffused and moved to distances about 200-300 km, suggesting its collapse during this period. Key Points Hurricane eyewall can be studied from seismic amplitude versus distance plotsSeismically derived surface pressure shows the location and strength of eyewallTime evolution of this decaying process can be tracked
Nephrogenic adenoma: report of a case and review of morphologic mimics.

Abstract Nephrogenic adenoma, also referred to as nephrogenic metaplasia, is an uncommon benign lesion of the urothelial tract, characterized by a circumscribed proliferation of tubules, cysts, and papillae lined by cells with low cuboidal to columnar epithelium. The diagnostic features that are useful in the recognition of this benign entity are the characteristic mixture of various architectural patterns, associated stromal edema and inflammation, hyaline sheath around tubules, eosinophilic colloidlike secretion within tubules, and lack of mitotic activity. Nephrogenic adenoma can be a significant diagnostic pitfall as certain histologic features, such as the presence of enlarged nuclei with prominent nucleoli, degenerative nuclear atypia, tiny tubules with blue mucin simulating signet ring cells, and focal invasion into superficial muscle, when taken out of context, can mimic malignancy. Herein, I report a case of nephrogenic adenoma with some worrisome histologic features and review the diagnostic cri...
Array sensor for arterial pulse recording-reduction of motion artifact

A linear array of three high sensitivity piezoelectric crystals are spaced 0.75 cm apart and bonded to a plastic block. The crystals are used in the thickness compression mode to measure the pressure pulse. The signal from each crystal is amplified and processed for noise reduction. The array is aligned perpendicular to the artery, and information from the off-axis sensors is averaged and subtracted from the on-axis signal. In addition, the sensors are aligned on-axis for determination of blood velocity from the phase difference between sensors. Experimental results indicate that motion artifact is mostly common-mode and that the contact stress on the surface of the skin is therefore uniform. Preliminary cancellation techniques provided are simple yet effective in restoring disturbed pulse recordings. >
Endoscope disinfection by ortho-phthalaldehyde in a clinical setting: an evaluation of reprocessing time and costs compared with glutaraldehyde.

Ortho-phthalaldehyde provides high-level disinfection in 12 minutes at room temperature (20 degrees C). To determine whether the endoscopy unit at Massachusetts General Hospital could cost-effectively increase endoscope throughput and decrease delayed procedures while maintaining biocidal efficacy with heavy use, ortho-phthalaldehyde solution (0.55% w/v) was used for high-level disinfection in place of glutaraldehyde in the unit's five automatic endoscope reprocessors. During this 38-day study, 1,839 endoscopes were processed in 1,201 cycles. Each machine ran an average of 80 disinfection cycles in each of three consecutive periods. The shorter disinfection time of ortho-phthalaldehyde (12 minutes) resulted in an average savings of 53 hours in disinfection time per study period for the five processors when compared with glutaraldehyde's 20-minute disinfection time.Ortho-phthalaldehyde costs more per gallon than glutaraldehyde ($31.03 versus $13.20). This higher cost would be offset, however, by additional time savings resulting from the fact that compared with glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehyde is faster-acting and a mixing and activation step is not required. In addition, testing prior to each cycle verified that despite heavy use, ortho-phthalaldehyde solution remained efficacious, lasting through an average of 80 cycles, whereas glutaraldehyde only lasts for an average of 40 cycles. Test strips showed the concentration of ortho-phthalaldehyde in the reprocessors remained above the minimum effective concentration for the entire 14-day maximal reuse period. Additional microbiological efficacy testing of spent solution diluted to its minimum effective concentration demonstrated the solution remained tuberculocidal in tests with Mycobacterium bovis.
A comparison between Jerusalem Cross and Square Patch Frequency Selective Surfaces for low profile antenna applications

In this paper, a comparison between Jerusalem Cross (JC) and Square Patch (SP) based Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS) for low profile antenna applications is presented. The comparison is aimed at understanding the performance of low profile antennas backed by high impedance surfaces. In particular, an end loaded planar open sleeve dipole (ELPOSD) antenna is examined due to the various parameters within its configuration, offering significant design flexibility and a wide operating bandwidth. Measured data of the antennas demonstrate that increasing the number of unit cells improves the fractional bandwidth. The antenna bandwidth increased from 0.8% to 1.8% and from 0.8% to 2.7% for the JC and SP structures, respectively. The number of unit cells was increased from 48 to 80 for the JC-FSS and from 24 to 48 for the SP-FSS.
Arthritis augments breast cancer metastasis: role of mast cells and SCF/c-Kit signaling

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in the United States. Metastasis is regulated not only by intrinsic genetic changes in malignant cells, but also by the microenvironment, especially those associated with chronic inflammation. We recently reported that mice with autoimmune arthritis have significantly increased incidence of bone and lung metastasis and decreased survival associated with breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism underlying the increased metastasis. We used two mouse models; one that develops spontaneous autoimmune arthritis (SKG mice) injected with metastatic breast cancer cells (4T1), and another that develops spontaneous breast cancer (MMTV-PyV MT mice) injected with type II collagen to induce autoimmune arthritis. Mast cell levels and metastasis were monitored. First, we confirmed that breast tumor-bearing arthritic mice have a significantly higher incidence of bone and lung metastasis than do their nonarthritic counterparts. Next, we showed increased recruitment of mast cells within the primary tumor of arthritic mice, which facilitates metastasis. Next, we report that arthritic mice without any tumors have higher numbers of mast cells in the bones and lungs, which may be the underlying cause for the enhanced lung and bone metastases observed in the arthritic mice. Next, we showed that once the tumor cells populate the metastatic niches (bones and lungs), they further increase the mast cell population within the niche and assist in enhancing metastasis. This may primarily be due to the interaction of c-Kit receptor present on mast cells and stem cell factor (SCF, the ligand for ckit) expressed on tumor cells. Finally, we showed that targeting the SCF/cKit interaction with an anti-ckit antibody reduces the differentiation of mast cells and consequently reduces metastasis. This is the first report to show that mast cells may play a critical role in remodeling not only the tumor microenvironment but also the metastatic niche to facilitate efficient metastasis through SCF/cKit interaction in breast cancer with arthritis.
Validating heterogeneous and competing knowledge bases using a black-box approach

Abstract This paper provides a framework and case study for the validation of heterogeneous and competing knowledge bases. The framework is a black-box model, based on test data. The case study derives from the domain of financial planning. Section 1 presents an introduction to the paper and some definitions. Section 2 summarizes the application from the financial planning domain. Section 3 provides a framework for validating heterogeneous and competing knowledge bases using a black-box approach. Section 4 discusses the generation of test problems to facilitate the validation of the heterogeneous and competing systems. Section 5 summarizes the systems that are investigated. Section 6 analyzes the results. Section 7 briefly summarizes the paper and discusses the contributions.
Line shape of phonon-broadened spin-12 absorption spectra

Abstract A scheme for factorizing spin correlation functions in the time-domain is applied to the calculation of dynamic susceptibilities of a linearly coupled spin-lattice system.
Calculated ionization potentials for multiply charged ions

Ionization potentials have been calculated for all the elements up to Z = 103for all states of ionization. The calculations are based on a simple spherical shell solution for neutral atoms. The average deviation of the calculated ionization potentials from experimental values was found to be about5%. A simple method is also given for estimating the binding energies of electrons in all shells of a multiply charged ion from the calculated ionization potentials.
Performing Prison: Dress, Modernity, and the Radical Suffrage Body

AbstractIn 1917, members of the National Women's Party—the radical branch of the suffrage movement in the USA—were arrested and jailed during an ongoing picketing campaign in Washington, DC. While incarcerated, suffrage prisoners wore coarse prison uniforms that they believed unjustly clothed their bodies in criminality; in time, however, reproductions of these much-loathed uniforms became the costumes for the suffragists’ celebrated “Prison Special” speaking tour, and, indeed, a critical element in their rhetorical campaign for equal rights. This essay examines the NWP suffragists’ engagement with the workhouse uniform over time, tying the changes in the suffragists’ conception and wearing of prison dress directly to shifts in party tactics. I conceptualize the wearing of prison uniforms outside of the workhouse as a public performance of suffrage rights that was dependent on the suffragists’ claim to be political prisoners. Once suffragists could separate themselves from common criminality, their use of...
HIV Risk Reduction for Substance Using Seriously Mentally Ill Adults: Test of the Information-Motivation-Behavior Skills (IMB) Model

The information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model (Fisher & Fisher, 1992) was used as the theoretical framework for predicting unprotected sexual behavior among substance abusing men and women diagnosed with serious mental illnesses (n = 320; 150 men and 170 women, primarily of minority ethnicity). In a structural equation model, gender, HIV transmission knowledge, and motivational variables of pro-condom norms and attitudes, and perceived susceptibility predicted behavioral skills markers: condom use skills and condom use self-efficacy. Along with the other variables in the model, condom skills and condom self-efficacy were hypothesized to predict condom use over a six-month period. Results showed that greater condom skills were predicted by female gender, positive condom attitudes, and transmission knowledge. Engaging in lower rates of unprotected sex was predicted by pro-condom norms, less perceived susceptibility, and greater condom self-efficacy. Positive attitudes toward condoms had a significant indirect effect on rates of unprotected sex, exerting its influence through condom use self-efficacy. Results suggest that changing personal attitudes about condoms and reinforcing pro-condom attitudes among significant others will encourage condom use among seriously mentally ill (SMI) adults who are at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Localization of growth hormone messenger ribonucleic acid in the human immune system--a Clinical Research Center study.

GH is an immunomodulatory factor that can be synthesized and secreted by mononuclear leukocytes. To determine if GH can be produced by the human immune system, we assessed the presence of GH messenger RNA (mRNA) in both normal and abnormal human lymphoid tissues by RT-PCR and nonisotopic in situ mRNA hybridization. The predicted PCR product of 16lbp from human thymus, spleen, tonsil, lymph node, thymoma, and T and B cell lymphomas was similar to the product amplified from the human pituitary. Restriction enzyme digestion confirmed that complementary DNA generated using GH primers originated from GH mRNA. Furthermore, we performed in situ hybridization to localize the GH mRNA-positive cells. A hybridization signal for GH mRNA was found in all tissues examined. The distribution patterns of GH in normal lymphoid tissues suggested that GH can be produced by lymphocytes, as well as endothelial cells and other cell types. Also, GH mRNA-positive cells were distributed diffusely throughout T and B cell lymphomas ...
Explicit Solutions of M/G/C/ /N-type Queueing Loops with Generalizations

Using recently developed Matrix-Algebraic techniques, we find explicit steady-state solutions of M/G/C/ /N-type loops that depend on a set of recursively defined matrices. We show that such systems are special cases of arbitrary service centers that contain load dependent exponential servers in which no more than C customers can be active simultaneously. We also outline a recursive algorithm that can be used to evaluate the properties of small-to moderate-sized systems. The solution to the M/G/C open system is then found by letting the overall customer population N go to infinity. The solutions for closed systems in general are not of the matrix geometric type, and only in the limit does the solution become geometric in form.
3-Dimensional Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging for Quantitative Cardiac Mechanical Property Assessment: A Numerical Approach

Quantitative assessment of the cardiac tissue mechanical property or contractility is essential for the prognosis and treatment of various cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. Current evaluation methods are either invasive or limited, mainly due to complex 3-dimensional (3D) geometry and deformation of a heart. 2D imaging techniques assume erroneous planar geometry and deformations, while available 3D imaging techniques have limited functional assessment. Correlation-based 3D ultrasound (US) elasticity imaging (UEI) provides both anatomical and functional information such as mechanical property change of the cardiac walls, which is important for diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment. Using finite element (FE) techniques, one and two ellipsoid chamber cardiac mechanical models were developed, and combined with 3D US radio frequency (RF) data generation program. 3D UEI on the synthesized 3D US volume images were quantitatively analyzed and compared with 2D UEI.© 2010 ASME
Purity is danger: An argument for divisible identities

This article explores two very different, yet related, sets of reasons to help explain the absence of widespread identity‐based communal violence in the United States. First, Americans can afford to treat identity situationally, and only recently have they begun to bump up against the outer limits of who it can be agreed the state should protect. Secondly, the government has proved increasingly vigilant in its response to separatist groups that pledge their primary allegiance to themselves rather than to the state, and who by doing so invite the use of force.
Promoting a Healthy Workplace for Nursing Faculty and Staff

Promoting a healthy workplace in academic nursing settings is vital to recruit new faculty and enhance the work life of all faculty and staff for retention and happiness. When a healthy work environment is fostered, incivility becomes unacceptable, and individuals embrace a culture where all can flourish. This article addresses the imperative of a healthy workplace, with practical suggestions for making the academic setting in schools of nursing one of optimism and confidence where future generations of nurse leaders are developed.
Formative research in the development of a care transition intervention in breast cancer survivors.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate breast cancer survivors' (BCS) responses to a self-management survivorship care transition intervention in the formative development of such an intervention. The experience of BCS is marked by uncertainty and anxiety about subsequent care, and a desire for more information about future care needs and late effects of treatment. Self-management strategies have demonstrated improved outcomes in chronic illness, and may address the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors. Methods and Sample Five focus and discussion groups each were conducted at a single site in the Southeastern United States with a total of twenty breast cancer survivors. BCS were presented with a description of a survivorship transition intervention that encouraged self-management. Groups were led by a trained moderator using a semi-structured guide with 7 open-ended questions about their care transition experience and response to the proposed intervention. A theoretically-derived, concept-guided coding strategy was developed after review of transcripts. Iterative constant comparative methods were used to ensure that transcripts were reviewed exhaustively for emerging codes and relationships. Key results Three dominant themes emerged around readiness for self-management: 1) the breast cancer experience as a catalyst for self-management; 2) fear of recurrence as a catalyst for self-management; and 3) the impact of the meaning of breast cancer on individual readiness for self-management. Conclusions These findings contribute to further development of a conceptual model and interventions built on BCS self-management to improve the survivorship experience.
Polishing And Testing Of Aspheric Diamond-Turned Surfaces

Single-point diamond turning machines have made it possible to fabricate new optical components. However, new problems have arisen in the areas of polishing and testing. This paper presents an overview of past and present polishing and testing practices and offers suggestions for future research.
Identification, characterization and genetic mapping of TLR7, TLR8a1 and TLR8a2 genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Induction of the innate immune pathways is critical for early anti-viral defense but there is limited understanding of how teleost fish recognize viral molecules and activate these pathways. In mammals, Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8 bind single-stranded RNA of viral origin and are activated by synthetic anti-viral imidazoquinoline compounds. Herein, we identify and describe the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) TLR7 and TLR8 gene orthologs and their mRNA expression. Two TLR7/8 loci were identified from a rainbow trout bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library using DNA fingerprinting and genetic linkage analyses. Direct sequencing of two representative BACs revealed intact omTLR7 and omTLR8a1 open reading frames (ORFs) located on chromosome 3 and a second locus on chromosome 22 that contains an omTLR8a2 ORF and a putative TLR7 pseudogene. We used the omTLR8a1/2 nomenclature for the two trout TLR8 genes as phylogenetic analysis revealed that they and all the other teleost TLR8 genes sequenced to date are similar to the zebrafish TLR8a, but are distinct from the zebrafish TLR8b. The duplicated trout loci exhibit conserved synteny with other fish genomes extending beyond the tandem of TLR7/8 genes. The trout TLR7 and 8a1/2 genes are composed of a single large exon similar to all other described TLR7/8 genes. The omTLR7 ORF is predicted to encode a 1049 amino acid (aa) protein with 84% similarity to the Fugu TLR7 and a conserved pattern of predicted leucine-rich repeats (LRR). The omTLR8a1 and omTLR8a2 are predicted to encode 1035- and 1034-aa proteins, respectively, and have 86% similarity to each other. omTLR8a1 is likely the ortholog of the only Atlantic salmon TLR8 gene described to date as they have 95% aa sequence similarity. The tissue expression profiles of omTLR7, omTLR8a1 and omTLR8a2 in healthy trout were highest in spleen tissue followed by anterior and then posterior kidney tissues. Rainbow trout anterior kidney leukocytes produced elevated levels of pro-inflammatory and type I interferon cytokines mRNA in response to stimulation with the human TLR7/8 agonist R848 or the TLR3 agonist poly I:C. Only poly I:C-induced IFN2 transcription was significantly suppressed in the presence of chloroquine, a compound known to block endosomal acidification and inhibit endosomal maturation. The effect of chloroquine on R848-induced cytokine expression was equivocal and so it remains questionable whether rainbow trout recognition of R848 requires endosomal maturation. TLR7 and TLR8a1 expression levels in rainbow trout anterior kidney leukocytes were not affected by poly I:C or R848 treatments, but surprisingly, TLR8a2 expression was moderately down-regulated by R848. The down-regulation of omTLR8a2 may imply that this gene has evolved to a new or altered function in rainbow trout, as often occurs when the two duplicated genes remain active.
The value of specific MRI features in the evaluation of suspected placental invasion

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine imaging features that may help predict the presence of placenta accreta, placenta increta or placenta percreta on prenatal MRI scanning. Subjects and Methods A retrospective review of the prenatal MR scans of 10 patients with a diagnosis of placenta accreta, placenta increta or placenta percreta made by pathologic and clinical reports and of 10 patients without placental invasion was performed. Two expert MRI readers were blinded to the patients' true diagnosis and were asked to score a total of 17 MRI features of the placenta and adjacent structures. The interrater reliability was assessed using κ statistics. The features with a moderate κ statistic or better ( κ >.40) were then compared with the true diagnosis for each observer. Results Seven of the scored features had an interobserver reliability of κ >.40: placenta previa ( κ =.83); abnormal uterine bulging ( κ =.48); intraplacental hemorrhage ( κ =.51); heterogeneity of signal intensity on T 2 -weighted (T2W) imaging ( κ =.61); the presence of dark intraplacental bands on T2W imaging ( κ =.53); increased placental thickness ( κ =.69); and visualization of the myometrium beneath the placenta on T2W imaging ( κ =.44). Using Fisher's two-sided exact test, there was a statistically significant difference between the proportion of patients with placental invasion and those without placental invasion for three of the features: abnormal uterine bulging (Rater 1, P =.005; Rater 2, P =.011); heterogeneity of T2W imaging signal intensity (Rater 1, P =.006; Rater 2, P =.010); and presence of dark intraplacental bands on T2W imaging (Rater 1, P =.003; Rater 2, P =.033). Conclusions MRI can be a useful adjunct to ultrasound in diagnosing placenta accreta prenatally. Three features that are seen on MRI in patients with placental invasion appear to be useful for diagnosis: uterine bulging; heterogeneous signal intensity within the placenta; and the presence of dark intraplacental bands on T2W imaging.
Subphrenic abscess with special reference to intrathoracic complications

Abstract We will summarize briefly the outstanding points of our study. Subphrenic abscess is a complication that can occur after any abdominal operation or any inflammatory process in the abdomen. It too frequently is not recognized until serious thoracic complications have developed. Thoracic complications which are late complications of subphrenic abscess are responsible for the high mortality rate of subphrenic abscesses. Early recognition and treatment of subphrenic abscess will prevent thoracic complications. The extraserous approach to subphrenic abscesses is the safest and most effective means of treating subphrenic abscess.
Learning Sound Categories: A Neural Model and Supporting Experiments

Our ability to discriminate sounds such as vowels is not uniform throughout acoustic space. That is, our auditory perceptual spaces are warped representations of acoustic space. One example of auditory space warping, the perceptual magnet effect, arises from exposure to the phonemes of an infant’s native language. We have developed a neural model that accounts for this effect. The model is based on the idea that category learning during infancy changes the distribution of the firing preferences of neurons in auditory cortical maps and thus changes the discriminability of sounds from different parts of acoustic space. The model predicts that it should be possible to induce a perceptual magnet effect for non-speech stimuli. This prediction was verified by a psychophysical experiment in which subjects underwent categorization training involving non-speech auditory stimuli that were not “categorical” prior to training. The model further predicts that the magnet effect arises because prototypical vowels have smaller auditory cortical representations than non-prototypical vowels. This prediction was supported by a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment involving prototypical and non-prototypical examples of the vowel /i/. The model thus provides an account of phoneme category learning that unifies observations from auditory psychophysics, cortical neurophysiology, and neural modeling.
Oxygen isotopic determinations of sequentially erupted plagioclases in the 1974 magma of Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

Plagioclases in the 1974 high-Al basalt from Fuego Volcano have δO18 values of +6.0 to +8.5 per mil. Meteoric water cannot have played a significant role in Fuego’s magma. Large, weakly zone clear phenocrysts had δO18 values in the accepted mantle range, while patchyzoned and oscillatory-zoned plagioclases inferred to have formed later and shallower levels have slightly heavier oxygen isotopic ratios.
Normalizing variables with too-frequent values using a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test: A practical approach

Many quantitative applications in business operations, environmental engineering, and production assume sufficient normality of data, which is often, demonstrated using tests of normality, such as the Kolmogorov deemed Smirnov test. A practical problem arises when a high proportion of a too-frequent value exists in data, in which case transformation to normality that passes tests for normality may be impossible. Analysts and researchers are therefore often concerned with the question: should we bother transforming the variable to normality? Or should we revert to other approaches not requiring a normal distribution? In this study, we find the critical number of the frequency of a single value for which there is no feasible transformation to normality within a given @a of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The resultant decision table can guide the effort of analysts and researchers.
Rheumatoid factor interference in immunogenicity assays for human monoclonal antibody therapeutics.

Abstract Rheumatoid factors (RFs) are endogenous human antibodies that bind to human gamma globulins. RFs demonstrate preferential binding to aggregated gamma globulins and are involved in the clearing mechanism of immune complexes. Immunoassays designed to measure human anti-human antibodies (HAHA) after administration of monoclonal antibody therapeutics are thus vulnerable to interference from RFs. When using a sensitive electrochemiluminescent (ECL) bridging immunoassay, samples from subjects with rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated much higher baseline reactivity than healthy subjects. Interference was found to be dependent on the aggregation state of the therapeutic antibody that had been conjugated with the detection reagent (ruthenium). Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) demonstrated that of the total integrated peaks, as little as 0.55% high molecular weight aggregates (> 600 kDa) were sufficient to cause increased reactivity. Stability studies of the ruthenium and biotin conjugated therapeutic antibody indicated that storage time, temperature and buffer formulation were critical in maintaining the integrity of the reagents. Through careful SE-HPLC monitoring we were able to choose appropriate storage and buffer conditions which led to a reduction in the false reactivity rate in therapeutic-naive serum from a rheumatoid arthritis population.
Materialism and Economics

Chrisoula Andreou argues that even if our happiness is determined by our material standard of living, our standard of living could be lowered without lowering our happiness. In this response, I show how this claim can be challenged on both conceptual and empirical grounds. Conceptually, how justified we are in believing her claim depends on how we conceive of the ‘we’ it refers to. Empirically, there is economic evidence in tension with each of the several interpretations her position admits of. I conclude that Andreou has not provided an argument that can reasonably persuade committed materialists that reducing their standard of living will not reduce their happiness. And I suggest that the search for such an argument ought to include attempts to articulate and defend a theory of well-being that shows how tenuous the connection between material luxury and quality of life really is.
Outcomes of WHO Grade I Meningiomas Receiving Definitive or Postoperative Radiotherapy

Purpose We analyzed long-term local control and complications in patients with either pathologically confirmed or clinical World Health Organization Grade I meningiomas treated with definitive or postoperative radiotherapy (RT) at the University of Florida. Methods Between 1984 and 2006, 146 patients were treated with definitive ( n = 88) or postoperative RT after subtotal resection ( n = 57) or gross total resection ( n = 1). Patients were treated with conventional ( n = 41), stereotactic ( n = 103), or intensity-modulated RT ( n = 2) to a median dose of 52.7 Gy and followed for a median of 7.3 years (range, 0.6–22.0 years) Results The local control rates at 5 and 10 years were as follows: definitive RT, 99% and 99%; postoperative RT, 96% and 93%; and overall, 97% and 96%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year cause-specific survival rates were as follows: definitive RT 94% and 94%, postoperative RT, 100% and 96%; and overall, 96% and 95%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were as follows: definitive RT, 81% and 75%; postoperative RT, 96% and 85%; and overall, 87% and 79%, respectively. Severe RT complications occurred in 6.8% of patients; severe surgery-related complications occurred in 10 (17%) of 58 patients treated surgically. Conclusions The likelihood of cure after definitive RT or following subtotal resection is excellent. However, a small population of patients experience severe complications, even at the moderate dose used for this disease.
Using ultrasonic attenuation to monitor slurry mixing in real time

Staff at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed and applied a simple ultrasonic attenuation measurement to measure slurry concentration in real time during suspension of solids settled in a large tank. This paper presents a simple single frequency ultrasonic measurement technique that demonstrates the ability of ultrasonic sensors to measure slurry concentration. Sensor calibration data show that in this attenuation regime ultrasonic signal attenuation is proportional to the applied frequency and to the slurry volume fraction. Real-time measurements of ultrasonic signal attenuation were used to track the process of slurry mixing using single sensors and sensor arrays. Results from two experiments show the use of real-time measurements of ultrasonic signal attenuation to track the process of slurry mixing in situ and to track the ability to maintain a well-mixed steady state condition. Comparison of concentration means of the ultrasonic measurements with concentration means obtained from discrete extractive measurements show that the distributions overlap and cannot be statistically distinguished. The real-time ultrasonic sensor can be used as a primary measurement method or to reduce reliance upon extractive methods to measure slurry density and solids concentration.
Canonical partition function for the hydrogen atom in curved space

The electronic partition function for the hydrogen atom was recently derived by integration over the Coulomb propagator. A much simpler derivation is given here, based on Schrodinger's exact solution for a hydrogenic atom in a Riemannian space of positive curvature. The energy spectrum is entirely discrete, including states which correspond to the ionized atom. The curvature in Riemannian space is shown to be equivalent to a finite volume in Euclidean space.
F233A Mutation in AT1R Interrupted Caveolae Targeting and Abolished Regulation of hSlo Channel by Angiotensin II

The large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone in response to changes in intracellular metabolic status and Ca2+ homeostasis. Angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated c-Src activation is known to inhibit the activities of BK channels. Recently, trafficking of the Ang II type I receptor (AT1R) into caveolae was shown to be essential for Ang II signaling and activation of c-Src. We found that BK channels and the AT1R signaling complex are colocalized in the caveolae of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In this study, we examined the role of caveolae in the Ang II-mediated modulation of BK channels by co-expressing hSlo channels, AT1R, caveolin-1, and c-Src in HEK293 cells. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that hSlo and AT1R were co-precipitated by anti-caveolin-1 antibody only in cells co-transfected with caveolin-1, but not in those without caveolin-1, suggesting that hSlo, AT1R, and caveolin-1 were physically associated. Exposure to Ang II (2 μM) inhibited the hSlo current density by 32.7±2.8 %, and the Ang II effect was blocked by Losartan (2 μM) with only 1.2±7.8 % current inhibition. However, in cells coexpressing hSlo, c-Src, caveolin-1, and the AT1R F233A mutant, which abolished its interaction with the caveolin-1 scaffolding domain, exposure to Ang II produced only 6.0±3.7% hSlo current inhibition suggesting that caveolae targeting of AT1R is crucial for Ang II-mediated BK channel regulation. These results were confirmed by experiments using mouse VSMC. Ang II produced 40% inhibition of BK currents in cells from wt mouse but had no effect on those from cav-1(-/-) animals. Hence, translocation of AT1R into caveolae upon agonist activation represents a critical step in Ang II regulation of BK channels and vascular function.
Torus mandibularis in two Northwest Territories Villages.

A study of 433 Canadian Eskimos from the villages of Igloolik and Hall Beach, Northwest Territories, revealed an incidence of torus mandibularis of 39.7% in Igloolik and 37.3% in Hall Beach. No statistically significant differences in size or incidence were noted in a comparison of males and females of the two communities. Further, there were no significant differences in the expression and incidence of the torus between the two villages. The incidences noted in these two communities were comparable with the incidences reported for other Eskimos subsisting upon an essentially aboriginal diet but were higher than those previously published for the Wainwright, Alaska, Eskimos who appear to be more acculturated. Studies within the villages indicate that those individuals ingesting a predominately European diet display reduced incidence of the torus when compared with those individuals on a more aboriginal diet.
The C programming language and a C compiler

In the last few years, the C programming language has become one of the most widely used languages for applications and systems software on microcomputer systems. This paper describes the C language and its history. It then presents a specific implementation of C, the Microsoft C Compiler, which runs on the IBM Personal Computer.
A Biophysical Mechanosensor Model for T-Cell Receptor Signaling

T-cells (cytolytic, helper and others) are vital components in adaptive mammalian immune defense systems. T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling which follows recognition of a peptide antigen bound to an MHC molecule (pMHC) on an antigen presenting cell (APC) is critical for T-cell activation, differentiation, and proliferation. For decades, the mechanism for TCR signaling across the T-cell membrane by this multi-subunit receptor has remained a mystery. Based on our recently obtained structural data on stimulatory and non-stimulatory anti-TCR antibodies and their binding footprint to TCR components obtained by NMR, we present here a simple but all-inclusive “dynamic torque transducer” model for TCR signaling. Extracellular mechanical torque can result in quaternary structure changes between the pMHC-binding TCR alpha/beta chains and the non-convalently linked CD3 chains within the TCR complex, triggering downstream signaling via ITAMs in the CD3 cytoplasmic tails. In this process, the pMHC behaves as a detachable effort arm of this complex-lever system; its binding is determined by the specificity of an individual TCR but is not sufficient to mediate signal transduction per se. An external torque is additionally required to provide the energy for this signaling. Such a torque can be generated either via a shear force or vertical pressure between the opposing APC and T cell membranes. The former “bind-and-tug” mode may be responsible for initial signaling during T-cell scanning of APCs, while the latter “bind-and-bend” mode is responsible for sustained signaling inside immune-synapses during T-cell activation. Our model can also explain T-cell signaling mediated by antibody or multimeric pMHC cross-linking. This mechanism of converting mechanical energy to a biochemical signal, mediated and controlled by a detachable interface, may be generally applicable in other cell-cell signaling systems both within and outside of the immune system.
Empirical indicators of educational equity and equality: A thai case study

The focus of this paper is social indicator reporting, not the development of scientific generalization. This social indicator analysis involves the development of an extensive set of empirical indicators to show the extent of equity and equality of education. Equity and equality are viewed as distinct concepts, each with its own indicators. The set of indicators proposed is applied to Thailand in a case study. Examples of indicators used are (1) the relationship between socioeconomic background and access to preschool education, (2) the relationship between provincial wealth and opportunities for upper primary education, (3) proportion of females in lower primary schools, and (4) degree of equality among provinces in grant per pupil in primary education. The discrepancy ratio is introduced as an indicator to standardize measures of inequality and inequity. This set of indicators shows moderate levels of inequality and inequity in Thailand, with the most serious problems at the preschool, secondary, and higher education levels. Empirical indicators of this type are viewed as critically necessary for governments everywhere to enable them to chart their progress toward greater equity and equality.
Exploratory studies of cloud radiative forcing with a general circulation model

Cloud radiative forcing constitutes the radiative impact of clouds upon the earth's present climate, while cloud radiative feedback is the change in this forcing associated with climatic change. The present study addresses two issues concerning cloud radiative forcing. The first is that an intercomparison of cloud radiative forcing, as predicted by six different general circulation models, shows a considerable lack of agreement, underscoring the need for an improved understanding of cloud/radiation interactions within such models. The second issue pertains to an examination of strategies by which model-predicted cloud/radiation interactions should be compared with satellite-derived data sets. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1987.tb00321.x
Tooling choices and product performance

One of the dilemmas that manufacturers face involves the tradeoff between the cost of maintaining a variety of production processes, and the cost of not having the ideal process for every product that they produce. This issue is continuing to become more of a problem as manufacturers are forced by market conditions to offer a wider selection of products. We study an instance of this problem in the manufacture of sheet metal parts. We model the problem of selecting and/or designing tools to punch holes in these parts. The cost of not having an “ideal process” is the cost of not having a tool that precisely matches a hole's design diameter. We consider both general “process deviation” costs as well as the Taguchi loss function. Solution procedures are provided for several versions of the problem.
On the 'discovery' of vitamin A.

Vitamin A is essential for normal growth, reproduction, immunity, and vision. The characterization of vitamin A spanned a period of about 130 years. During this long, incremental process, there is no single event that can be called the 'discovery' of vitamin A. The physiologist Francois Magendie conducted nutritional deprivation experiments with dogs in 1816 that resulted in corneal ulcers and high mortality - a finding similar to the common clinical situation in poorly fed, abandoned infants in Paris. In the 1880s, Nicolai Lunin showed that there was an unknown substance in milk that was essential for nutrition. Carl Socin suggested that an unknown substance for growth in egg yolk was fat soluble. Frederick Gowland Hopkins proposed in 1906 that there were 'unsuspected dietetic factors' that were necessary for life. In 1911, Wilhelm Stepp demonstrated that this essential substance in milk was fat soluble. The following year, Hopkins showed that there were 'accessory factors' present in 'astonishingly small amounts' in milk that supported life. Contrary to the dogma that all fats had similar nutritional value, in 1913, Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis at Wisconsin and Thomas Osborne and Lafayette Mendel at Yale showed butter and egg yolk were not equivalent to lard and olive oil in supporting the growth and survival of rats. The growth-supporting 'accessory factor' became known as 'fat-soluble A' in 1918 and then 'vitamin A' in 1920. Paul Karrer described the chemical structure of vitamin A in 1932. Harry Holmes and Ruth Corbet isolated and crystallized vitamin A in 1937. Methods for the synthesis of vitamin A came with the work of David Adriaan van Dorp and Jozef Ferdinand Arens in 1946 and Otto Isler and colleagues in 1947. Further work on the role of vitamin A in immunity and child survival continued until through the 1990s.