cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of a single, large bolus of vitamin D in healthy adults over the winter and following year: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Although single, high doses of vitamin D effectively maintain vitamin D sufficiency in several populations, no studies have evaluated healthy adults over winter, during which vitamin D status declines. This study investigated whether high-dose vitamin D3 given once to healthy adults before winter will (1) prevent the wintertime decline in vitamin D status, (2) promote vitamin D sufficiency 1 year following the dose and (3) prevent the rise of parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed plasma 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations at baseline, 5, 90 and 365 days after drug administration in 28 healthy adults. In all, >80% of subjects returned at each time point. At baseline, the young, healthy participants had a mean plasma 25(OH)D concentration of 17.5±6.1 ng/ml. Only two subjects exhibited plasma 25(OH)D concentrations >30 ng/ml. At 5 days, subjects randomized to vitamin D3 had a higher mean plasma 25(OH)D concentration compared with the placebo group (39.1 vs 19.1 ng/ml, P<0.001). Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations returned to baseline at 90 and 365 days in the vitamin D3 group and remained unchanged in the placebo group. PTH and calcium concentrations were unrelated to changes in 25(OH)D levels and similar between groups over time. A dose of 250 000 IU of vitamin D3 given once in November resulted in a robust increase in plasma 25(OH)D after 5 days, but it was unable to sustain this increase after 90 days. A larger or more frequent dosing regimen may be needed for long-term vitamin D sufficiency.
A cytoplasmic chaperonin that catalyzes β-actin folding

We have isolated a cytoplasmic chaperonin based on its ability to catalyze the folding of denatured beta-actin. The cytoplasmic chaperonin is organized as a multisubunit toroid and requires Mg2+ and ATP for activity. The folding reaction proceeds via the rapid ATP-independent formation of a binary complex, followed by a slower ATP-dependent release of the native product. Electron microscopic observations reveal a striking structural change that occurs upon addition of Mg2+ and ATP. The eukaryotic cytoplasm thus contains a chaperonin that is functionally analagous to its prokaryotic, mitochondrial, and chloroplastic counterparts.
Basis variables for linear junction structures

Abstract The basis variables order of a bond graph junction structure is an important basic attribute. Results are available to predict the unique basis order for junction structures that do not contain any essential gyrator nodes. However, for junction structures containing one or more essential gyrator nodes, previous methods were unable to determine the basis properties. In this paper, a causality-oriented general linear junction structure is first converted to an associated gyrobondgraph form. That form is then abstracted into an associated gyrograph. Based on the gyrograph representation and the graph matching concept, an algorithm for determining the existence, the E -minimum and the E -maximum of basis order for a general junction structure is presented. The results should find applications in the effective solution of R-field, C-field, and I-field problems.
Vagal control of heart period in alloxan diabetic rats.

Abstract Autonomic neuropathies are a frequent complication to diabetes in humans. Similar neuropathies have not been well-documented in animal models. To determine if diabetic rats would develop parasympathetic neuropathies, rats were made diabetic by the injection of alloxan into the tail vein and then maintained on daily injections of insulin. At various times subsequent to the induction of diabetes (3–5 weeks, 7–9 weeks, and 14 weeks), the effect of constant frequencies of vagal stimulation on the efferent cardiac chronotropic response was evaluated using analysis of variance techniques. It was found that the vagal parasympathetic effect was accentuated in diabetic rats. That is, at a given frequency of supramaximal vagal stimulation, the heart rate slowed more in diabetic rats than in nondiabetic rats. Whether a similar phenomenon exists in humans is not known.
Expressive writing intervention for young adult cigarette smokers

This investigation examined the feasibility and magnitude of the effect of a stress management intervention involving expressive writing as an adjunct to brief office smoking cessation intervention for young adults. Participants aged 18-21 years were randomized to brief office intervention (N=30) or expressive writing plus brief office intervention (N=30). Biochemically confirmed 30-day point-prevalence tobacco abstinence, smoking reduction, perceived stress, negative affect, and treatment compliance were assessed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post randomization. The expressive writing adjunct was not found to be effective. The 30-day smoking abstinence rates were 0% versus 0% ( p=1.000) at week 4, 20% versus 3% ( p=0.103) at week 12, and 20% versus 10% ( p=0.472) at week 24 for the brief office intervention only versus expressive writing plus brief office intervention groups, respectively. Participants stated they benefited most from the support and structure associated with the brief office intervention. Enthusiasm was lacking for the expressive writing treatment adjunct.
Dreizylindermotoren von Volkswagen. Gegenwart und Zukunft

Der Trend zu immer ver brauchsarmeren Fahrzeugantrieben fuhrt verstarkt zum Einsatz von Dreizylindermotoren. Denn konzeptbedingt sind mit einem aufgeladenen Dreizylinder motor gegenuber einem leistungsgleichen Vierzylindermotor Kraftstoffeinsparungen moglich. Auf Anfrage der MTZ stellt Volkswagen, Pionier dieses Antriebskonzepts, die aktuelle Entwicklungsrichtung vor.
Quantitative analysis of antiradical phenolic constituents from fourteen edible Myrtaceae fruits.

Abstract Many species of Myrtaceae are cultivated in home gardens throughout the tropics for their edible fruit, and have been used in traditional medicine to treat several inflammatory conditions. Fruit phenolics are important dietary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents. We have investigated the antiradical activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC) of 14 underutilized Myrtaceae fruits, namely Eugenia aggregata , E . brasiliensis , E . luschnathiana , E . reinwardtiana , Myrciaria cauliflora , M . dubia , M . vexator , Syzygium cumini , S . curranii , S . jambos , S . javanicum , S . malaccense , S . samarangense , and S . samarangense var. Taiwan pink . An HPLC-PDA method was developed to quantify the amounts of cyanidin 3-glucoside ( 1 ), delphinidin 3-glucoside ( 2 ), ellagic acid ( 3 ), kaempferol ( 4 ), myricetin ( 5 ), quercetin ( 6 ), quercitrin ( 7 ), and rutin ( 8 ) present in MeOH extracts of the fruit. TPC ranged from 3.57 to 101 mg/g, TAC ranged from undetectable to 12.1 mg/g, and antiradical activity, measured as DPPH˙ IC 50 , ranged from very active (19.4 μg/ml) to inactive (389 μg/ml).
AAV Vectors for Cardiac Gene Transfer: Experimental Tools and Clinical Opportunities

Since the first demonstration of in vivo gene transfer into myocardium there have been a series of advancements that have driven the evolution of cardiac gene delivery from an experimental tool into a therapy currently at the threshold of becoming a viable clinical option. Innovative methods have been established to address practical challenges related to tissue-type specificity, choice of delivery vehicle, potency of the delivered material, and delivery route. Most importantly for therapeutic purposes, these strategies are being thoroughly tested to ensure safety of the delivery system and the delivered genetic material. This review focuses on the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) as one of the most valuable cardiac gene transfer agents available today. Various forms of rAAV have been used to deliver “pre-event” cardiac protection and to temper the severity of hypertrophy, cardiac ischemia, or infarct size. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have also been functional delivery tools for cardiac gene expression knockdown studies and successfully improving the cardiac aspects of several metabolic and neuromuscular diseases. Viral capsid manipulations along with the development of tissue-specific and regulated promoters have greatly increased the utility of rAAV-mediated gene transfer. Important clinical studies are currently underway to evaluate AAV-based cardiac gene delivery in humans.
PCV15 Study of Procedure Costs and Outcomes Associated with the Pharmacological Treatment of Arterial Disease and Intermittant Claudication in the Department of Claudication in the Department of Defense

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed between pharmacological treatments of peripheral arterial disease (and intermittent claudication) (PAD/IC) with respect to PAD/IC-related costs and health care outcomes in the Department of Defense (DOD) health care system. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital and prescription data was performed to explore the effects of an exposure to at least 90 days of either aspirin, pentoxifylline, or dypiridamole on various PAD-related outcomes. The outcomes under study were the number of PAD-related invasive procedures performed (INV), number of PAD-related examination procedures performed (EXM), number of PAD-related hospitalization days incurred (HDAYS), and the cost of PAD-related procedures performed (COST). The study period encompassed five years. A covariate representing the pre-study period number of PAD-related hospitalizations was used to attempt to control for severity of disease state. General linear models (GLM) were used in the analyses. RESULTS: A GLM showed a statistically significant difference among the treatment groups for a linear combination of INV, EXM, HDAYS, and COST when controlling for past PAD-related hospitalizations (p < 0.02). A statistically significant relationship was also found to exist between treatment groups and INV (p < 0.04). The pentoxifylline treatment group was shown to have a statistically significant higher covariate-adjusted mean INV when compared to the aspirin treatment group by a post-hoc T test adjusted for alpha inflation (p = 0.04). Also, PAD-related past hospitalizations showed a statistically significant relationship with a EXM (p < 0.006). CONCLUSION: The results appear to support the use of aspirin in PAD as a preventative treatment.
The rogue in the lovely black dress: intimacy in world of warcraft

In this paper we present a critical analysis of player accounts of intimacy and intimate experiences in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft (WoW). Our analysis explores four characteristics that players articulated about their virtual intimate experiences: the permeability of intimacy across virtual and real worlds, the mundane as the origin of intimacy, the significance of reciprocity and exchange, and the formative role of temporality in shaping understandings and recollections of intimate experiences. We also consider the manifest ways that WoW's software features support and encourage these characteristics.
Osmolyte dynamics and microbial communities vary in response to osmotic more than matric water deficit gradients in two soils

Abstract Sodium chloride and other osmotically active molecules are often applied to microbial cultures or soils to describe microbial responses and adaptation to desiccation in soils. However, salts and other osmolytes may have different effects on microorganisms than matric deficits caused by soil drying. It was thus hypothesized that low matric and osmotic potentials would have different effects on soil microbial communities; and that salt (osmotic) treatments would induce greater mol% change in metabolites than drying (matric). To test this, an experiment was conducted with two soils, a lowland Marietta and an upland Sumter, and exposing them to different levels (−0.03 MPa, −1.5 MPa, −4.5 MPa and −10 MPa) of matric and osmotic potential deficit. The physiological and structural response of soil microbial communities across the water deficit gradient was measured by analyzing the metabolites and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), respectively. As hypothesized the matric and osmotic deficits altered the physiology and structure of microbial communities in two soils, however, osmotic induced more change than matric water potential. The mol% of metabolites shifted more in Marietta than the drought-prone Sumter, driven by greater turanose and fructose with degree of osmotic water potential deficit, respectively. Declining matric water potential was associated with inositol and glucitol, respectively, in Marietta and Sumter. The shifts in the metabolite concentration in osmotic treatments resembled osmotic changes often reported in microbial culture. Thus the experiments in soil or in cultures that use osmotic (salt) effects to predict the soil microbial response to matric deficit in soils may not accurately reflect the microbial community response. It is likely that soil microbes use different mechanisms to adapt to salt and matric stresses.
Exploring the Intersections of Technology, Crime, and Terror

The Internet and computer-mediated communications (CMCs) have drastically changed the way that individuals communicate and share information across the globe. Over the last two decades, financial institutions, private industry, and governments have come to rely on technology in order to access sensitive data and manage critical infrastructure, such as electrical power grids. As a consequence, the threat posed by cybercriminals has increased dramatically and afforded significant opportunities for terrorist groups and extremist organizations to further their objectives. The complex and intersecting nature of both crime and terror make it difficult to clearly separate these issues, particularly in virtual environments, due to the anonymous nature of CMCs and challenges to actor attribution. Thus, this study examines the various definitions for physical and cyberterror and the ways that these activities intersect with cybercrime. In addition, the ways that terrorists and extremist groups use the Internet and ...
Noise-induced dynamic symmetry breaking and stochastic transitions in ABA molecules: II. Symmetric-antisymmetric normal mode switching

Abstract The second paper of the series discusses the effect of thermal noise o the stretching vibraional dynamics of symmetric triatomic ABA molecules. In particular, noise-induced transitions between symmetric and antisymmetric normal-mode vibrations are discussed, in the context of symmetry breaking of vibrational dynamics. The statistics of symmetry breaking transitions and the average lifetimes of normal modes of different symmetries are derived analytically and compared with direct numerical simulations. The average lifetimes of symmetric and antisymmetric normal modes are found to be inversely proportional to bath friction strength and depend on the dimensionless parameter κ which is the combination of bath temperature, bond anharmonicity and bond–bond coupling strength. Antisymmetric normal mode depends weakly on κ and is always stable. Symmetric normal mode depends significantly on κ and becomes unstable at κ = 1 . Higher temperatures destabilize symmetric normal mode and therefore decrease the ratio of symmetric-to-antisymmetric normal mode populations contrary to intuitive expectation.
Alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of cellular cAMP accumulation in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

We studied adrenergic regulation of cellular cAMP in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Since CAMP content depends on synthesis, breakdown and egress, the contribution of each of these mechanisms was assessed. In the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, cAMP accumulation stimulated by the β-adrenoceptor agonist (−)-isoprenaline was diminished when the mixed α + β adrenoceptor agonist (−)-noradrenaline was coincubated with (−)-isoprenaline. Moreover, adenylyl cyclase activation stimulated by (−)-isoprenaline was decreased by (−)-noradrenaline and by the selective a1-adrenoceptor agonists (−)-phenylephrine and methoxamine, suggesting that α-adrenoceptor agonism regulates CAMP metabolism through its effect on the synthetic pathway. Evidence for α1-adrenoceptor mediation of this response was enhancement of (−)-noradrenaline-induced cAMP generation by the selective α1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin (10 nmol/l). The selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (10 nmol/l) had no effect. The α1-adrenoceptor mediated depression of (−)-isoprenaline-stimulated CAMP generation and adenylyl cyclase activation was prevented by terazosin and in separate experiments markedly enhanced by pertussis toxin pretreatment, suggesting involvement of a guanine-nucleotide regulatory protein in this process.
Stable isotope tracing of trout hatchery carbon to sediments and foodwebs of limestone spring creeks.

Abstract Limestone springs support productive ecosystems and fisheries, yet aquaculture may modify or impair these ecosystems. We determined trout hatchery organic contribution to spring creek sediments and foodwebs with natural abundance stable isotope methods. Hatchery feed, waste, and trout were significantly enriched in δ13C relative to autotrophs and wild fish. Spring creek sediments were enriched in δ13C toward the hatchery endmember relative to reference streams without hatcheries and relative to a larger larger-order, spring-influenced stream. Contribution of hatchery C to spring creek sediments was greatest during March and associated with greatest sediment %C. Contribution of hatchery C to pollution-tolerant isopod diet was 39–51% in a stream receiving limestone spring water via hatchery effluent. Isopods of one spring creek also relied on hatchery-derived C within one month of hatchery closure. Four years later, less pollution pollution-tolerant amphipods dominated and consumed non-vascular over vascular autotrophs (86%). Isopods of a second spring creek with an active hatchery did not appear to be using hatchery matter directly, but were enriched in δ34S relative to a spring creek tributary with no hatchery influence. Isopods in both of these streams were relatively enriched in δ15N, indicating general nutrient enrichment from surrounding agricultural land use. The contribution of hatchery vs. wild fish in diet of herons and egrets was traced with δ13C of guano. These birds were strongly dependent on stocked trout in a spring creek with a recently closed state trout hatchery, and also near another large, state-run hatchery. Heron dependence on hatchery fish in the spring creek decreased with time since hatchery closure. Use of stable isotope natural abundance techniques in karst spring creeks can reveal stream impairment due to aquaculture, specific C sources to bio-indicating consumers, losses of farmed fish to predation, and potential exposure of higher order consumers to contaminants associated with aquaculture.
Modelling degrees of item interest for a general database query system

Many databases support decision-making. Often this means choices between alternatives according to partly subjective or conflicting criteria. Database query languages are generally designed for precise, logical specification of the data of interest, and tend to be awkward in these circumstances. Information retrieval research suggests several solutions, but there are obstacles to generalizing these ideas to most databases. To address this problem we propose a methodology for automatically deriving and monitoring ”degrees of interest” among alternatives for a user of a database system. This includes (a) a decision theory model of the value of information to the user, and (b) inference mechanisms, based in part on ideas from artificial intelligence, that can tune the model to observed user behavior. This theory has important applications to improving efficiency and cooperativeness of the interface between a decision-maker and a database system. We have performed some preliminary experiments with it.
Surface specialization of the larval salt gland inArtemia salina nauplii

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of brine shrimp nauplii reveal the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax region to be specialized in structure. During larval differentiation the epithelial layer is transformed from a flat caplike structure into a hemispherical dome that has deep channels coursing through the epithelium. A thin cuticular film covers the epithelial cap but a distinct ruffled edge serves as a boundary that identifies the limits of the organ. These morphological observations support previous finding which indicated this area to be the site of the larval salt gland.
Tillich on Salvation

Abstract: Paul Tillich holds that it is the responsibility of every generation to free the received tradition from assumptions that limit the vitality of Christian concepts. Salvation is often held hostage to an exclusive view that limits it to the people who have had contact with Jesus Christ. Tillich holds that Jesus as the Christ as the New Being overcame existential estrangement, making salvation a dynamic power that contends with the anxiety that is the inevitable accompaniment of finitude. This has universal implications.
Animal models for wound repair

Progress in wound pharmacology is dependent on the availability of suitable animal wound models. All animal models try to reflect human wound healing problems. In acute models it is easier to achieve approximations to the clinical situation than in models for the chronic wound.
Fullerene-based macromolecules from photochemical reactions of [60]fullerene and triethylamine

Abstract [60]fullerene-triethylamine macromolecules are obtained from photoinduced electron transfer-proton transfer reactions. The material is characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy of quasi-elastic light scattering, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, NMR and FT-IR techniques. The electronic absorption and emission properties of the material are studied. Because the macromolecules likely contain intramolecular redox pairs, the possibility of intramolecular exciplexes is examined and discussed.
Medicolegal liability in surgical pathology: a consideration of underlying causes and selected pertinent concepts.

Malpractice actions against surgical pathologists are still relatively uncommon, but they have increased in frequency over time and are associated with sizable indemnity figures. This discussion categorizes areas of liability in surgical pathology into three groups: those that represent health system flaws (problems with specimen identification, or transportation, or both; lack of clinical information or erroneous information; sampling effects and defects; and poorly reproducible or poorly defined diagnostic or prognostic criteria), others that exist at the interface between the system and individuals (allowing clinicians to bypass pathologic review of referred specimens; acceding to clinical demands for inadvisable procedures; and working in a disruptive environment), and truly individual errors by pathologists (lapses in reasoning; deficiencies concerning continuity in the laboratory; invalid assumptions regarding recipients of surgical pathology reports; over-reliance on the results of “special” tests; and problems with peer consultation). Finally, two important topic areas are discussed that commonly enter into lawsuits filed against surgical pathologists; namely, “delay in diagnosis” of malignant neoplasms and “failure to provide adequate prognostic information.” Based on a review of the pertinent literature, we conclude that the clinical courses of most common malignancies are not affected in a significant manner by delays in diagnosis. Moreover, the practice of using “personalized external validity” for supposedly prognostic tests is examined, with the resulting opinion that prognostication of tumor behavior in individual patients is not reliable using anything but anatomic staging systems.
In vivo steroidogenic effects of homologous pituitary ventral lobe extract in the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias.

Pregnant Squalus acanthias were injected intravenously with aqueous extract equivalent to three pituitary ventral lobes (VL). Blood samples were withdrawn by caudal sinus puncture at intervals over a period of 72 hr and plasma progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol-17β measured by radioimmunoassay. Early pregnancy animals (Stage A) failed to respond, but mid-pregnancy animals (Stage C) responded to VL with significant increases in plasma steroids. Plasma progesterone and testosterone were increased sevenfold and plasma estradiol-17β fourfold by 10–24 hr postinjection. These studies demonstrate pregnancy stage-dependent differences in gonadal sensitivity to a pituitary ventral lobe gonadotropic moiety.
The stuttgart collection of oligocene primates from the fayum province of Egypt

In 1907, R. Markgraf made a small collection of Oligocene fossil primates from Egypt for the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde in Stuttgart. Circumstances of discovery suggest that this collection came from the same stratigraphic horizon (the Upper Fossil Wood zone) and possibly the same locality as a similar collection made earlier that year byMarkgraf for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Three new genera and species were described bySchlosser, based on the Stuttgart collection.Parapithecus fraasi Schlosser is a junior synonym ofApidium phiomense Osborn. “Parapithecus“grangeri Simons is placed in the new genusSimonsius. Propliopithecus haeckeli Schlosser andMoeripithecus markgrafi Schlosser have previously been recognized as synonyms. In addition,Aegyptopithecus zeuxis Simons is known from the Upper Fossil Wood zone.
Myocarditis in the common cuttlefish (Sepia oficinalis)

This report describes five cases of myocarditis in the common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. Both the systemic heart and the branchial hearts exhibited inflammatory lesions. Vibrio species were isolated from four of these cases.
Concerning the Preparation of Chloroplasts Active in Hill and Photosynthetic Phosphorylation Activities from Leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris

When bean plants are cultivated under certain conditions, liberation of cell contents by grinding with mortar and pestle yields chloroplasts of low Hill and photosynthetic phosphorylation activities, while grinding in a high speed blendor yields active chloroplasts. The inactivity of plastids obtained with mortar and pestle is due to the presence of an inactivator in the homogenate. The culture conditions that determine whether bean leaves ground with mortar and pestle contain inactivator were not determined.
Narrative medicine in the international education of physicians.

The essay by Francois Goupy et al. entitled “L’enseignement de la medecine narrative peutil etre une reponse a l’attente de formation des etudiants a la relation medecin–malade?” prompts me to submit some thoughts in its shadow, both to add some background on the new discipline of narrative medicine and to examine the particular contributions of this educational research project [1].
A combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening protocol identifies submicromolar PPARγ partial agonists.

PPARγ is involved in expression of genes that control glucose and lipid metabolism. PPARγ is the molecular target of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of antidiabetic drugs. However, despite their clinical use these drugs are related to numerous adverse effects, which are related to their full activation of PPARγ transcriptional responses. PPARγ partial agonists are the focus of development efforts towards second-generation PPARγ modulators with favourable pharmacology, potent insulin sensitization without the severe full agonists’ adverse effects. In order to identify novel PPARγ partial agonist lead compounds, we developed a virtual screening protocol based on 3D-ligand shape similarity and docking. 235 compounds were prioritized for experimental screening from a 340,000 MLSMR chemical library. Seven novel potent partial agonists were confirmed in cell-based transactivation and competitive binding assays. Our results illustrate a well-designed virtual screening campaign successfully identifying novel lead compounds as potential entry points for the development of antidiabetic drugs.
Morphological evolution of Ag2Te precipitates in thermoelectric PbTe

Nanostructuring of thermoelectric materials is expected to enhance thermoelectric properties by reducing the thermal conductivity and improving the power factor from that of homogeneous bulk materials. In multiphase, nanostructured thermoelectric materials, an understanding of precipitation mechanisms and phase stability is crucial for engineering systems with optimal thermoelectric performance. In this presentation we will discuss our investigations of the morphological evolution, orientation relationship, and composition of Ag{sub 2}Te precipitates in PbTe using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT). Annealing in the region of two phase equilibrium between Ag{sub 2}Te and PbTe results in the formation of monoclinic {beta}-Ag{sub 2}Te precipitates as determined by x-ray and electron diffraction studies. These precipitates are aligned to the PbTe matrix with an orientation relationship that aligns the Te sub-lattices in the monoclinic and rock salt structures. This relationship is the same as we have reported earlier for {beta}-Ag{sub 2}Te precipitates in rocksalt AgSbTe{sub 2}. Observations using TEM and APT suggest that the Ag{sub 2}Te precipitates initially form as coherent spherical precipitates which upon coarsening evolve into flattened semi-coherent disks along the PbTe directions which is consistent with theoretical predictions for elastically strained precipitates in a matrix. Our HRTEM observations show that sufficientlymore » small precipitates are coherently embedded, while larger precipitates exhibit misfit dislocations and multiple monoclinic variants to relieve the elastic strain. Analysis of the composition of both precipitate groups using APT indicates that the larger precipitates exhibit compositions close to equilibrium while the smaller nanoscale precipitates exhibit enhanced Pb compositions. This detailed analysis of the orientation relationship, morphology, composition, and coarsening behavior of embedded Ag{sub 2}Te precipitates may be helpful in understanding the precipitation mechanisms and microstructure of related thermoelectric materials, such as LAST.« less
MM-wave to THz vacuum electron beam devices

MM-wave to THz vacuum electron beam device (VED) technology has substantial potential to bridge the socalled “THz gap” for high impact applications including nonintrusive detection of contraband items/explosives, > 10 Gbit/s wireless advanced communication systems, medical imaging/diagnostics, and all weather visibility for civil aviation safety to name a few. Recent progress on the development of MM-wave-THz coherent source technology with adequate power, bandwidth, and efficiency in a compact mobile package is briefly reviewed. Two enabling technologies: high current emission density scandate cathodes and novel micro/nano-fabrication schemes are also highlighted. In this context, the UCD efforts on the development of a 0.22 THz Sheet Beam Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (SBTWTA) are also summarized.
The apicomplexan glideosome and adhesins - Structures and function

The apicomplexan family of pathogens, which includes Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, are primarily obligate intracellular parasites and invade multiple cell types. These parasites express extracellular membrane protein receptors, adhesins, to form specific pathogen-host cell interaction complexes. Various adhesins are used to invade a variety of cell types. The receptors are linked to an actomyosin motor, which is part of a complex comprised of many proteins known as the invasion machinery or glideosome. To date, reviews on invasion have focused primarily on the molecular pathways and signals of invasion, with little or no structural information presented. Over 75 structures of parasite receptors and glideosome proteins have been deposited with the Protein Data Bank. These structures include adhesins, motor proteins, bridging proteins, inner membrane complex and cytoskeletal proteins, as well as co-crystal structures with peptides and antibodies. These structures provide information regarding key interactions necessary for target receptor engagement, machinery complex formation, how force is transmitted, and the basis of inhibitory antibodies. Additionally, these structures can provide starting points for the development of antibodies and inhibitory molecules targeting protein-protein interactions, with the aim to inhibit invasion. This review provides an overview of the parasite adhesin protein families, the glideosome components, glideosome architecture, and discuss recent work regarding alternative models.
Test and validation of the Mars Science Laboratory Robotic Arm

The Mars Science Laboratory Robotic Arm (RA) is a key component for achieving the primary scientific goals of the mission. The RA supports sample acquisition by precisely positioning a scoop above loose regolith or accurately preloading a percussive drill on Martian rocks or rover-mounted organic check materials. It assists sample processing by orienting a sample processing unit called CHIMRA through a series of gravity-relative orientations and sample delivery by positioning the sample portion door above an instrument inlet or the observation tray. In addition the RA facilitates contact science by accurately positioning the dust removal tool, Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) relative to surface targets. In order to fulfill these seemingly disparate science objectives the RA must satisfy a variety of accuracy and performance requirements. This paper describes the necessary arm requirement specification and the test campaign to demonstrate these requirements were satisfied.
Radiance factor calibration of near-infrared spectral images of Mars

Abstract We present radiometrically calibrated spectrophotometric images of Mars taken at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) near and during the 1995 and 1999 oppositions. Absolute intensity and radiance factor ( r F = I/F ) values have been calculated for approximately 95% of the surface over all longitudes between −70° to 90° latitude in the 1.5- to 4.1-μm spectral region at a spectral resolution (Δλ/λ) of 1.5%. Values of radiance factor range from r F = 0.4 to 0.6 at 2.2 μm for the bright regions such as Moab and Arabia to r F = 0.12 to 0.3 at 2.2 μm around the dark regions Syrtis Major and Acidalia Planitia. Variations are seen due to seasonal dust and/or condensate cloud cover and viewing geometry. Our results are generally consistent with the few reported previous radiance factor determinations for Mars. These data are unique among ground-based data in their relatively high spatial resolution (≲200 km/pixel at the sub-Earth point) and coverage combined with their spectral resolution and coverage. These radiometrically calibrated observations can be used as input to studies focusing on spectral unmixing of surface and atmospheric components, radiative transfer modeling of disk and limb radiances, and photometric modeling of the martian phase function.
Ear tag induced Staphylococcus infection in mice

Mice used in a 2-year oral toxicity study developed a progressive, moist dermatitis. The initial lesions were seen around the ears in which metal identification tags had been placed and usually progressed to include the skin of the neck and shoulder. Clinically, the mice were pruritic, lost weight, had rough coats, and became moribund. The predominant finding at necropsy was pale brown kidneys with irregular granular surfaces. Histologically, there was inflammation and focal-to-diffuse necrosis in the visceral organs and affected skin. The predominant organism isolated from the skin, kidneys and heart blood was Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is a common inhabitant of the skin of conventionally housed mice and its isolation from the kidneys and blood suggested that the portal of entry was the wound caused by the insertion of the metal ear tag.
The Discovery of Acquaintance Rape The Salience of Methodological Innovation and Rigor

Over the past 20 years, research has uncovered the many types of sexual victimizations women experience. Findings regarding the victim-offender relationship in such incidents have undoubtedly been among the most striking. Particularly salient is the revelation that the sexual abuse of and violence against women-including rape-most often are perpetrated not by a stranger but by someone known to the victim. Without the innovation and implementation of victimization surveys with behaviorally specific questions, this knowledge may have remained unknown. Instead, armed with such knowledge, prevention and education efforts can be fashioned to address sexual victimizations committed by someone known to the victim. In this article, we address these issues related to key developments in sexual victimization research.
Powdery mildew of tobacco (Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.)

SUMMARY A Hirst volumetric spore trap, at a height of 30 cm., was used to assess the diurnal distribution of Erysiphe conidia in the air in tobacco crops infected with E. cichoracearum in Rhodesia. Air temperature and humidity, and the length of time leaves were wet each day, were also recorded at the same height, amongst the plants. In four seasons, most conidia were caught between 13.00 and 15.00 hr. There were close positive correlations in 1962 between numbers of conidia per m.3 of air per hour and saturation deficit and air temperature during the same hours (10.00–18.00 hr.) Correlations of total Erysiphe conidia per day with temperature and humidity were very variable; temperature had no apparent effect during three seasons, but in one (1961)there was a highly significant positive correlation between numbers of conidia and the daily duration of temperatures > 25d C. More conidia were also caught when the air was dry for long periods that season, though temperature probably had the greater effect. In 1962, more conidia were caught per day the longer the air was humid (s.D. 0–1 mb.) In 1961, the amount of rain per day had no apparent effect on numbers of conidia, but in 1962 more were caught the greater the daily rainfall. However, rain, which nearly always fell in the afternoon, also removed most conidia from the air that afternoon. Neither windspeed nor duration of leaf wetness appeared to affect spore dispersion.
A cis-acting element that directs circular adeno-associated virus replication and packaging

A novel pathway of adeno-associated virus (AAV) replication marked by the assembly of circular monomer duplex intermediates (cAAV) has been recently discovered. In the present report we identify a single AD domain of the inverted terminal repeat as a minimal origin of cAAV replication. A small internal palindrome (BB'), necessary for optimal Rep-inverted terminal repeat interaction, does not contribute to the efficiency of cAAV replication, while the terminal resolution site is an essential cis-acting element. Furthermore, recombinant cAAV vectors that encompass only the AD domain replicate exclusively in a circular form and no detectable linear duplex replicative intermediates are generated, suggesting that both pathways of AAV replication are independent and can be separated. In addition, we show that cAAVs are efficient templates for encapsidation of single-stranded DNA genomes, an observation that assigns a biological role for these novel replication species. Together, these findings shed new light on the current model of AAV replication and packaging.
Modeling the electrical effects of metal dishing due to CMP for on-chip interconnect optimization

A dishing model is developed to investigate the electrical effects of metal dishing in the damascene process, based on experimental data and physical analysis. A metric for dishing, the dishing radius, has been defined. A study utilizing this model shows that the impact of dishing on performance can be mitigated at both the process and design stages. More specifically, process improvement is most effective when the dishing radius is less than 50 /spl mu/m. During design, dishing effects can be suppressed by uniformly splitting a wide line into several narrower lines; the most beneficial number of line-splitting is between two and four from both efficiency and performance considerations.
Evolving cooperation via communication in homogeneous multi-agent systems

The paper describes a simulation of evolving communicating agents. This model does not explicitly force agents to communicate by directly rewarding communication, creating a structured communication protocol, or making a distinction between sender and receiver. Instead, the agents are given limited sensory capabilities and the communicative behavior emerges as a form of cooperation among the agents. The auditory signals are utilized by the agents to maximize performance in an unpredictable environment. Three types of signals emerged as useful in the system-a call for foraging, a general purpose recruitment call, and an alarm call.
Effect of Diet pH on Fecal Consistency of Young Calves

Summary Fifteen young male dairy calves of different breeds were fed, in various sequences, normal milk pH (6.8) and milk with pH's adjusted to 5.0 with 1 n HCl, and 8.0 with 1 n NaOH. The feeding of acidified and alkalized milk did not significantly affect dry matter content of the feces, daily fecal excretion, or incidence of scours.
Using Word-Dependent Transition Models in HMM-Based Word Alignment for Statistical Machine Translation

In this paper, we present a Bayesian Learning based method to train word dependent transition models for HMM based word alignment. We present word alignment results on the Canadian Hansards corpus as compared to the conventional HMM and IBM model 4. We show that this method gives consistent and significant alignment error rate (AER) reduction. We also conducted machine translation (MT) experiments on the Europarl corpus. MT results show that word alignment based on this method can be used in a phrase-based machine translation system to yield up to 1% absolute improvement in BLEU score, compared to a conventional HMM, and 0.8% compared to a IBM model 4 based word alignment.
Toward efficient algorithms for generating compact Petri nets from labeled transition systems

Compositional methods for Petri-net-based verification of concurrent systems are appealing because they allow the analysis of a complex system to be carried out in a piece-by-piece manner. An issue in compositional Petri-net analysis is the generation of a compact net from a labeled transition system (LTS) isomorphic to the reachability graph of the net. Several existing approaches for Petri-net generation use the concept of region, a subset of the original LTS; however, the computation of the regions in an LTS appears to be quite expensive. We report preliminary results on the generation of a Petri net from an LTS isomorphic to the net's reachability graph without requiring the computation of regions. We specifically introduce two algorithms for generating the place set and flow relation of a safe and live ordinary Petri net. The most complex of the two algorithms is nearly linear in the size of the input LTS.
Optimum Resource Allocation for Relay Networks with Differential Modulation

In this paper, we investigate the resource allocation in a differentially modulated relay network. In addition to the energy optimization, we also consider location optimization to minimize the average symbol error rate (SER). The closed- form solution is derived for the single-relay case, and formulas allowing numerical search are provided for multiple-relay cases. Analytical and simulated comparisons confirm that the optimized systems provide considerable improvement over the unoptimized systems, and that the minimum SER can be achieved via the joint energy-location optimization.
Opportunities and Obstacles to Combination Targeted Therapy in Renal Cell Cancer

The treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has undergone a major change with the development of potent angiogenesis inhibitors and targeted agents. Several multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, sorafenib and sunitinib, have already been approved for the treatment of advanced RCC. Temsirolimus (CCI-779), a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, has shown a survival advantage over IFN in advanced, poor-prognosis RCC patients. Bevacizumab, an antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, has also shown promising clinical activity. Benefits attributable to these agents have been recognized by high objective response rates (sunitinib), significant increases in progression-free survival (sunitinib, sorafenib and bevacizumab), or improved overall survival (temsirolimus). These agents mediate much of their effect through inhibition of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-VEGF-VEGF receptor axis. Their inhibitory activity for the signaling of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor beta or kinases like c-Raf may contribute to the antitumor effects of the multitargeted kinase inhibitors. Nevertheless, all four single agents rarely, if ever, induce complete responses and, at present, all patients develop resistance and, ultimately, progress during therapy. A critical need exists to develop strategies that may increase the degree of the antitumor effects with the hope of inducing more complete responses impeding the onset of or elimination of refractory disease. Combinations of these and other targeted agents may overcome the resistance that develops with single-agent therapy and could be incorporated either as part of initial therapy or later when disease resistance develops. Approaches aimed at combining these agents can be based on the genetics and biology of clear cell RCC. von Hippel-Lindau loss leads to an increase in cellular levels of HIF (HIF-1alpha or HIF-2alpha) leading to increased expression of a number of hypoxia-regulated genes critical to cancer progression. Combinations of targeted agents may block several of these mediators (VEGF, epidermal growth factor receptor, and PDGF), so-called horizontal blockade. Blockade could also take place at two levels of the pathways (vertical blockade), either at HIF and VEGF or at VEGF and VEGF receptor signaling. Many of the above strategies are ongoing and will require careful phase 1 determination of toxicity and even more rigorous phase 2 analysis before moving onto phase 3 trials.
Effects of planet spanwise engagement on the instantaneous efficiency of compound geared rotary actuators

Abstract The instantaneous efficiency characteristics of actuators with normal compound planet gears were investigated in a previous paper (Wang et al., 2011). The actuator's reacting forces on the planets are either symmetric or asymmetric and spanwise distances between meshes on the compound planet gears will not affect the efficiency. The cantilevered actuator, on the other hand, with asymmetric planet gears is studied in another paper (Wang et al., 2015) and spanwise distances between meshes on the compound planet gears are key factors in the efficiency calculation. In this paper, the derivations of the instantaneous efficiency for both types are discussed and the effect of spanwise distances between meshes on efficiency is explored.