cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Defensive Missile Allocation: A Discrete Min-Max Problem

This paper considers the problem of choosing the discrete antiballistic missile ABM defense levels of reliable subtractive area and point defenses protecting a set of targets so as to minimize the total damage done to the targets by on optimal attack by a given number of reliable offensive missiles of one type. It assumes that the offensive side knows the ABM defense levels chosen and that the defensive side knows the number of missiles possessed by the offensive side. The cost of the defensive allocation chosen must not exceed a stated budget level; the cost function need not be continuous or separable. The 0-1 implicit enumeration scheme of Lawler and Bell is combined with a branch-and-bound procedure to effect a solution.
Clinical, adrenergic and heart endocrine measures in chronic atrial fibrillation as predictors of conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm after direct current cardioversion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical, adrenergic and endocrine factors that could predict sinus rhythm maintenance after direct current cardioversion in chronic atrial fibrillation. Nineteen patients with chronic non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (mean duration 6±5 months) were studied. They were exercised 24 h before cardioversion at maximum effort with the Naughton protocol. Heart rate and blood pressure at rest and exercise were recorded and blood samples were taken for the assessment of adrenergic activity, by measuring cyclic adenosine monophosphate, heart endocrine function, atrial natriuretic peptide and its second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Fifteen of the 19 patients were initially converted to sinus rhythm (eight patients with external and seven patients with internal DC shocks). After 3 months eight patients remained in sinus rhythm and 11 had relapsed, most of them within the first month. On exercise the chronotropic response was lower in the group who remained in sinus rhythm than in the group in atrial fibrillation (peak heart rate 147±11 beats.min−1 vs 165±24 beats.min−1 p =0·02). During exercise, the systolic blood pressure in the sinus group reached higher values than in the group who relapsed (192±17 mmHg vs 176±18 mmHg, p =0·03). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate increased significantly from rest to peak exercise in the sinus rhythm group (from 23±9 pmol.ml−1 to 31±15 mol.ml−1, p =0·02) while it remained unchanged in the atrial fibrillation group (25±10 pmol.ml−1 to 24±8 pmol.ml−1, p =0·02). For all 19 patients the differ ence in cyclic adenosine monophosphate between rest and exercise was negatively correlated with maximum heart rate (r=0·58, p =0·009). Atrial natriuretic peptide increased from rest to peak exercise in the sinus rhythm group (from l29±58 fmol.ml−1 to 140±66fmol.ml−1 while it remained unchanged in the group in which atrial fibrillation persisted or recurred (from 112±58 fmol.ml−1 to 111±53 fmol.ml−1 p =0· A significant correlation between atrial natriuretic peptide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels at exercise before cardioversion was found for the sinus rhythm group only (r=0·76, p =0·02). In patients with non-rheumatic chronic atrial fibrillation evaluation of clinical parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure changes during maximal exercise can be useful in the choice of suitable therapy. An inadequate increase in plasma cyclic-adenosine monophosphate and atrial natriuretic peptide on exercise could predict patients with more severe underlying disease, where cardioversion should not be recommended.
'Active contour without edges', on parametric manifolds

Region based active contour model has been widely used in image segmentation on planar images. However while a photo picture or a medical image is defined on 2D or 3D Euclidean spaces, in many cases the information is defined on the curved surfaces, or more general manifolds. In this work we extend the region based active contour method to work on the parametric manifolds. Essentially, it was noticed that in some region based active contour segmentation methods, it were only the signs of the level set function values, instead of the value themselves, which contribute to the cost functional. Thus a binary state function is enough to represent the two phase segmentation. This gives an alternative view of the level set based optimization and it is especially useful when the image domain is curved because the signed distance function and its derivative are relative difficult to be evaluated in a curved space. Based on this, the segmentation on the curved space is proceed by consecutively changing the binary state function, to optimize the cost functional. Finally, the converged binary function gives the segmentation on the manifold. The method is stable and fast. We demonstrate the applications of this method, with the cost functional defined using the Chan-Vese model, in neuroimaging, fluid mechanics and geographic fields where the information is naturally defined on curved surfaces.
Use of a large-capacity titanium zonal rotor as a batch-type rotor in the preparation of liver microsomes.

Abstract The data presented in this paper show that the titanium zonal rotor (designated Ti-15 by Spinco Division of Beckman Instruments) can be used effectively as a batch-type rotor without modifications or accessories in addition to those normally supplied by the manufacturer. This paper describes the procedure for loading and unloading the rotor and gives data for comparison of yields of pig liver microsomal electron transport components from the titanium zonal rotor versus the #30 fixed-angle rotor.
Lord of the Rings: GroES Structure

The crystal structure of the chaparonin GroES, which together with GroEL assists in the folding of many proteins in Escherichia coli , is reported in this issue of Science by Mande et al . (p. 203). In this Perspective, M. Mayhew and F. U. Hartl discuss the implications of the new structure for the function of the GroEL:GroES complex.
Antinociception vs motor effects of intrathecal vasopressin as measured by four pain tests.

The effects of intrathecal (i.t.) vasopressin (VP) on nociception were quantitatively tested in rats using 4 pain tests: tail flick, tail shock vocalization, hot plate, and formalin. In addition, motor effects of VP were examined qualitatively. I.t. VP produced a prolonged antinociception lasting at least 40 min on the tail flick (2.5 and 25 ng) and formalin (25 ng) tests, and a brief antinociception lasting less than 20 min on the tail shock (25 ng) and hot plate (25 ng) tests. Those rats not responding to the pain tests showed no signs of perceiving the pain stimulus, such as orientation to the stimulus or vocalization. In addition, i.t. VP produced scratching bouts (2.5 and 25 ng) and suppressed hindbody motor function (25 ng). The motor inhibitory effects of VP, although severe in some rats, were brief, lasting less than 15 min. In conclusion, i.t. VP produces antinociception in addition to its motor effects, and these properties appear to be due to separate mechanisms.
Dual Reporter Comparative Indexing of rAAV Pseudotyped Vectors in Chimpanzee Airway

Selecting the most efficient recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) serotype for airway gene therapy has been difficult due to cross-specific differences in tropism and immune response between humans and animal models. Chimpanzees—the closest surviving genetic relative of humans—provide a valuable opportunity to select the most effective serotypes for clinical trials in humans. However, designing informative experiments using this protected species is challenging due to limited availability and experimental regulations. We have developed a method using Renilla luciferase (RL) and firefly luciferase (FL) reporters to directly index the relative transduction and immune response of two promising rAAV serotypes following lung coinfection. Analysis of differential luciferase activity in chimpanzee airway brushings demonstrated a 20-fold higher efficiency for rAAV1 over rAAV5 at 90 days, a finding that was similar in polarized human airway epithelia. T-cell responses to AAV5 capsid were stronger than AAV1 capsid. This dual vector indexing approach may be useful in selecting lead vector serotypes for clinical gene therapy and suggests rAAV1 is preferred for cystic fibrosis.
Erratum to Multilateral trade negotiations, bilateral opportunism and the rules of GATT/WTO

Abstract Trade negotiations occur through time and between the governments of many countries. An important issue is thus whether the value of concessions that a government wins in a current negotiation may be eroded in a future bilateral negotiation to which it is not party. We identify rules of negotiation that serve to protect the welfare of governments that are not participating in the bilateral negotiation. Our main finding is that the two central principles of GATT/WTO—nondiscrimination (MFN) and reciprocity—preserve the welfare of nonparticipating governments and therefore offer a “first-line of defense” against bilateral opportunism.
Genesis of compositional characteristics of Stillwater AN-I and AN-II thick anorthosite units

Compositional variations among samples of the thick Stillwater anorthosite units are used here to model the mechanism by which the anorthosite formed. Suspended plagioclase, on reaching a volumetric crystal concentration of about 65 percent, formed a plagioclase framework here called cumulus plagioclase (CP). Within the interstices among the crystals, some plagioclase and pyroxene precipitated, producing what is here called adcumulus plagioclase and pyroxene (APP). The final materials consists mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene formed from complete crystallization of trapped supporting liquid and called intercumulus plagioclase and pyroxene (IPP). Where the CP framework was relatively open initially, bulk liquid communicated with the interior of the framework to produce APP. Where this communication with the bulk liquid stopped or was prevented initially, the intercumulus liquid froze. Where the CP framework was more tightly packed initially, a relatively higher proportion of IPP to APP was produced.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis and Regulation of NF-κB Activity in Human Leukemic T Cells1

Glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis was investigated in glucocorticoid-sensitive 6TG1.1 and resistant ICR27TK.3 human leukemic T cells. Following glucocorticoid treatment of 6TG1.1 cells, chromatin fragmentation was observed after a delay of 24 h. Fragmentation was not observed in ICR27TK.3 cells containing mutant glucocorticoid receptors (L753F) that are activation-deficient but retain the ability to repress AP-1 activity. Nor was fragmentation observed after treatment with RU38486, indicating that repression of AP-1 activity is not involved. As described in other systems, fragmentation required ongoing protein synthesis. However, inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide anytime during the first 18 h of steroid treatment was as effective in blocking chromatin fragmentation as inhibition for the entire period, suggesting that synthesis of a component with a rapid turnover rate is required. Dexamethasone treatment completely blocked 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate induction of nuclear factor-κB...
Induced aspermatogenesis in adult guinea pigs injected with testicular antigen and adjuvant in neonatal stages

Abstract The experimental sections of this study have demonstrated that neonatal guinea pigs injected with homologous testicular homogenate combined with adjuvant undergo aspermatogenesis after they reach maturity. Sensitization thus occurs early and there is an early release of circulating body. Seminiferous differentiation and spermatogenesis, however, are neither inhibited nor prevented, but testicular destruction follows later. Both testes of a pair tend to respond alike as to timing and severity of lesions; unilateral castration during neonatal or adolescent stages has no effect on the aspermatogenic response of the remaining testis. Histologically normal testes, removed from sensitized animals, induce aspermatogenesis and the release of circulating antibody in mature recipients, but damaged testes from sensitized animals fail to do so. The sequence of events in a single animal can be studied by semicastration at an early stage and examination of the remaining testis later on. No granulomatous lesions or perivascular leucocytic infiltration characterize the early stages. One of the first abnormal findings is the filling of epididymal ducts with cellular debris sloughed from the germinal epithelium. The antigenic material is limited to the adult testis, containing spermatids and spermatozoa which give the staining reactions of polysaccharides. Neonatal testes fail to induce aspermatogenesis when injected into adult guinea pigs. In the discussion, conditions are noted under which aspermatogenesis is induced without previous combination of antigen and adjuvant at the site of injection. Neonatal guinea pigs are immunologically competent, as judged by their capacity to produce humoral antibody during the first week after birth. Immune tolerance, to be acquired by guinea pigs, must thus be induced in utero . An attempt has been made to relate these findings to the sequence of events involved in aspermatogenesis. The evidence supports the recognition hypothesis of Burnet and Fenner, and further suggests that antigen modification need not be a requirement of autoantigenicity. It is postulated that different types of immunologic competence develop in sequence in young animals. The characteristics of the aspermatogenic syndrome in relation to homograft rejection are briefly discussed.
Effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on the growth, development, and microRNA expression of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Nanoparticles are a class of newly emerging environmental pollutions. To date, few experiments have been conducted to investigate the effect nanoparticles may have on plant growth and development. It is important to study the effects nanoparticles have on plants because they are stationary organisms that cannot move away from environmental stresses like animals can, therefore they must overcome these stresses by molecular routes such as altering gene expression. microRNAs (miRNA) are a newly discovered, endogenous class of post-transcriptional gene regulators that function to alter gene expression by either targeting mRNAs for degradation or inhibiting mRNAs translating into proteins. miRNAs have been shown to mediate abiotic stress responses such as drought and salinity in plants by altering gene expression, however no study has been performed on the effect of nanoparticles on the miRNA expression profile; therefore our aim in this study was to classify if certain miRNAs play a role in plant response to Al2O3 nanoparticle stress. In this study, we exposed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants (an important cash crop as well as a model organism) to 0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% Al2O3 nanoparticles and found that as exposure to the nanoparticles increased, the average root length, the average biomass, and the leaf count of the seedlings significantly decreased. We also found that miR395, miR397, miR398, and miR399 showed an extreme increase in expression during exposure to 1% Al2O3 nanoparticles as compared to the other treatments and the control, therefore these miRNAs may play a key role in mediating plant stress responses to nanoparticle stress in the environment. The results of this study show that Al2O3 nanoparticles have a negative effect on the growth and development of tobacco seedlings and that miRNAs may play a role in the ability of plants to withstand stress to Al2O3 nanoparticles in the environment.
A New Silicon Boride, SiB 4

THE existence of compounds in the silicon–boron system has been a subject of conjecture for more than fifty years, since the many studies that have been made have produced negative, inconclusive, or contradicting results. Moissan and Stock1, in the original work on the system, reported that by fusion of the elements they were able to prepare two compounds, SiB3 and SiB6. The SiB3 was obtained as black rhombic plates with a density of 2.52 gm./cm.3, and the SiB6 as black irregular crystals with a density of 2.47 gm./cm.3. The borides were reported to have high melting points, high hardness, and to be conductors of electricity, properties which prompted future workers to conduct further investigations.
Accuracy of Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Determining Aortic Valve Structure in Patients >50 Years of Age Having Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis

We sought to measure the accuracy of 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in determining aortic valve structure in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). Few studies have compared aortic valve structure determined by echocardiogram to that determined by examination of the operatively excised stenotic aortic valve. Two-dimensional echocardiograms were reviewed and interpreted by an expert echocardiographer in blinded fashion in 100 patients >50 years of age (mean 70) who had undergone AVR for isolated AS ± aortic regurgitation and the aortic valve structure (unicuspid, bicuspid, tricuspid) was compared to that from examination of the operatively excised stenotic valve. After excluding 14 cases in which echocardiograms were uninterpretable because of heavy calcium and/or poor image quality, congenitally malformed valves were present in 44 patients (51%) and tricuspid valves in 42 of the 86 patients (49%). Ten of the 14 patients (71%) with uninterpretable echocardiograms had congenitally malformed valves. Valve structure by echocardiogram was concordant with morphologic interpretation in 57 of 86 patients (66% accuracy, kappa = 0.33). Accuracy trended toward improvement as degree of AS decreased. In patients with valve areas similar to those enrolled in the recent transcatheter aortic valve implantation trial (PARTNER; 0.7 ± 0.2 cm(2)), aortic valve structure was accurately determined by echocardiography in 21 of 35 patients (60%). In conclusion, aortic valve structure was interpretable by transthoracic echocardiogram in 86 of 100 patients and accurate in 57 of these 86 patients (66%).
Inward rectifier K+ channel Kir2.3 (IRK3) in reactive astrocytes from adult rat brain

Astrocytic inward rectifying K+ channels that participate in K+ spatial buffering in the central nervous system have been extensively investigated, but specific gene products have not been fully identified. We studied primary cultured reactive astrocytes of stellate and polygonal morphology from adult rat brains, as well as stellate astrocytes from neonatal rat brains. Single-channel recordings of cell-attached patches revealed that polygonal reactive astrocytes expressed only one hyperpolarization-activated single-channel conductance of 11–15 pS whose open probability was independent of voltage, whereas stellate reactive and stellate neonatal astrocytes exhibited two conductances, 11–15 pS and 24–27 pS. All three subtypes of astrocytes exhibited a hyperpolarization-activated macroscopic inward K+ current that was strongly rectifying and was abrogated by 1 mM intracellular Mg2+ introduced during conventional but not perforated patch whole-cell recording. This Mg2+-sensitive current comprised the total inward rectifier current in polygonal reactive astrocytes, but only a fraction of the inward rectifier current in stellate reactive and stellate neonatal astrocytes. Because a strongly rectifying, inward rectifier K+ channel with a single-channel conductance of 11–15 pS that is voltage independent is consistent with features of Kir2.3 (IRK3), we performed immunofluorescence experiments with anti-Kir2.3 and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies. Both antibodies co-localized to all three subtypes of astrocytes in primary culture and to reactive astrocytes in situ within brain and gelatin sponge implants. Our data indicate that astrocytes of both polygonal and stellate morphology, from both adult and neonatal rat brain, express Kir2.3 both in vivo and in vitro. Constitutive expression of Kir2.3 regardless of cell morphology or age of origin of the source tissue suggests an important functional role for this channel in astrocytes. GLIA 31:181–192, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of the champion in DSS implementation

Abstract Adoption of a DSS usually involves changes or innovation in an organization's way of doing things. The process of innovation has been the subject of study in other contexts, and research has indicated that the efforts of various champions can be critical to successful innovation. Observations of DSS implementations in several organizations suggest that a system champion can likewise be a key factor in implementation success. Such persons play a variety of roles, including that of reference leader, of missionary or change agent, or of top management surrogate. Implementation strategies can be designed which capitalize on the presence of a champion.
Impact of an Immunoglobulin G–Specific Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay on the Management of Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether using an immunoglobulin G (IgG)-specific platelet factor 4 (PF4) test reduces the rate of positive PF4 results and has an impact on prescribing practices of nonheparin anticoagulants (direct thrombin inhibitors and fondaparinux) in patients assessed for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). DESIGN Single-center prospective cohort study with a historical control group. SETTING Large academic medical center. PATIENTS A total of 672 patients assessed for HIT. INTERVENTION Patients were assessed for HIT by using either an IgG-specific PF4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; 336 patients) or a nonspecific PF4 ELISA (336 patients; historical control group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS No significant difference was noted in the proportion of patients with a low, intermediate, or high risk of HIT based on the 4Ts pretest clinical scoring system. The PF4 ELISA was positive in 6.9% versus 11.3% of patients (p=0.04) in the IgG-specific and nonspecific cohorts, respectively. A smaller proportion of patients were prescribed a direct thrombin inhibitor in the IgG-specific cohort (19.4% vs 25.9%; p=0.04). No significant difference in fondaparinux use was noted between the cohorts. The duration of direct thrombin inhibitor therapy, bleeding events, hospital length of stay, and in-hospital mortality was similar in both cohorts. CONCLUSION Use of an IgG-specific PF4 ELISA was associated with a lower rate of positive PF4 test results. Direct thrombin inhibitor prescribing was also significantly lower during the time period where the IgG-specific PF4 ELISA was used, with no significant differences noted in safety outcomes.
The impact of protein disulfide bonds on the amyloid fibril morphology

Amyloid fibrils are associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Being formed from more than 20 different proteins that are functionally or structurally unrelated, amyloid fibrils share a common cross-β core structure. It is a well-accepted hypothesis that fibril biological activity and the associated toxicity vary with their morphology. Partial denaturation of a native protein usually precedes the initial stage of fibrillation, namely the nucleation process. Low pH and elevated temperature, typical conditions of amyloid fibril formation in vitro, resulted in partial denaturation of the proteins. Cleavage of disulfide bonds results typically in significant disruption of protein native structure and in the formation of the molten global state. Herein we report on a comparative investigation of fibril formation by apo-α-lactalbumin and its analog that contains only one of the four original disulfide bonds using deep UV resonance and non-resonance Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Significant differences in the aggregation mechanism and the resulting fibril morphology were found.
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ENVIRONMENT PATTERNS AMONG JEWS AND NON-JEWS

56 Jewish and 42 non-Jewish adolescents completed measures of social desirability, fear of negative evaluation, moral anxiety, and self-acceptance. They also completed Moos's Family Environment Sca...
Perceptions of facial profile and their influence on the decision to undergo orthognathic surgery

Eighty patients, who had previously been evaluated by an oral surgeon and an orthodontist as requiring orthognathic surgery, completed questionnaires rating their perceptions of their own profiles. Half of the patients had decided to undergo surgical correction of their jaw deformities, while the other half had decided against surgical treatment. In addition, booklets containing pretreatment photographs of all 80 patients were mailed to 37 oral surgeons, 46 orthodontists, and 43 lay persons. These three groups of evaluators rated the patients' profiles, using the same rating scales that the patients had used. Cephalometrically, the two patient groups were statistically the same in all skeletal and soft-tissue measures except for ANB (mean difference = 1.8 degrees) and soft-tissue AN-pogonion (mean difference = 2.4 degrees). Differences in these dimensions were considered in subsequent data analyses. Results of this study support the following conclusions: In spite of the fact that surgical treatment may be recommended by dental specialists and indicated by cephalometric measurements, self-perceptions of profile are more important in the patient's decision to elect surgical correction; the perception by others that the profiles of patients deciding against surgery are closer to ideal may have some influence on their decision against surgical correction of their jaw deformities; oral surgeons and orthodontists evaluate facial profiles similarly, but surgeons are more likely to recommend surgical correction; lay persons are more likely to rate an individual's profile as being normal than are dental specialists in orthodontics and oral surgery; in contrast, individuals perceive their own profiles differently than orthodontists, oral surgeons, and lay persons, particularly with respect to the mandibular and dentoalveolar dimensions.
Prominin 1/CD133 endothelium sustains growth of proneural glioma

In glioblastoma high expression of the CD133 gene, also called Prominin1, is associated with poor prognosis. The PDGF-driven proneural group represents a subset of glioblastoma in which CD133 is not overexpressed. Interestingly, this particular subset shows a relatively good prognosis. As with many other tumors, gliobastoma is believed to arise and be maintained by a restricted population of stem-like cancer cells that express the CD133 transmembrane protein. The significance of CD133+ cells for gliomagenesis is controversial because of conflicting supporting evidence. Contributing to this inconsistency is the fact that the isolation of CD133+ cells has largely relied on the use of antibodies against ill-defined glycosylated epitopes of CD133. To overcome this problem, we used a knock-in lacZ reporter mouse, Prom1lacZ/+, to track Prom1+ cells in the brain. We found that Prom1 (prominin1, murine CD133 homologue) is expressed by cells that express markers characteristic of the neuronal, glial or vascular lineages. In proneural tumors derived from injection of RCAS-PDGF into the brains of tv-a;Ink4a-Arf−/− Prom1lacZ/+ mice, Prom1+ cells expressed markers for astrocytes or endothelial cells. Mice co-transplanted with proneural tumor sphere cells and Prom1+ endothelium had a significantly increased tumor burden and more vascular proliferation (angiogenesis) than those co-transplanted with Prom1− endothelium. We also identified specific genes in Prom1+ endothelium that code for endothelial signaling modulators that were not overexpressed in Prom1− endothelium. These factors may support proneural tumor progression and could be potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapy.
A discriminant analysis of factors affecting the employment of urban youth

While the issue of youth unemployment has received a great deal of attention by policy makers, there has been little empirical research on factors which affect the demand for young workers at the micro level of actual labour market settings. This paper offers some evidence on entry level wages, unskilled job characteristics, and recruitment practices as factors affecting the employment of urban youth. A bivariate discriminant analysis is applied to survey data on employers located in five, centralized urban labour markets and shown that firm size, turnover, number of unskilled job slots, school referrals and employee–friend referrals are significant, differentiating factors between firms who have young workers on their payroll and firms who do not employ youth. These differentiating factors are related to the structure of youth labour markets.
On application of the Weibull distribution in hydrology

The Weibull distribution, commonly used in hydrology, was derived using the principle of maximum entropy. The derivation required two constraints to be determined from data and yielded, in turn, a unique procedure for estimation of the distribution parameters. This method of parameter estimation was either superior or at least comparable to the methods of moments (MOM) and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) for the precipitation data used. This distribution was less than accurate in representing probability distributions of rainfall depths and durations.
Chlamydiae and polymorphonuclear leukocytes: unlikely allies in the spread of chlamydial infection

While much is known about the attachment of the chlamydiae to the host cell and intracellular events during the developmental cycle, little is known about the mechanism(s) by which elementary bodies exit the cell. In this report, we use the guinea-pig conjunctival model of Chlamydia caviae infection to present in vivo ultrastructural evidence supporting two mechanisms for release of chlamydiae from the mucosal epithelia. Four days after infection, histopathologic observation shows an intense infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the conjunctival epithelium. Using transmission electron microscopy, a gradient-directed PMN response to chlamydiae-infected epithelial cells was observed. As PMN infiltration intensifies, epithelial hemidesmosome/integrin/focal adhesion adherence with the basal lamina is disconnected and PMNs literally lift off and release infected superficial epithelia from the mucosa. Many of these infected cells appear to be healthy with intact microvilli, nuclei, and mitochondria. While lysis of some infected cells occurs with release of chlamydiae into the extracellular surface milieu, the majority of infected cells are pushed off the epithelium. We propose that PMNs play an active role in detaching infected cells from the epithelium and that these infected cells eventually die releasing organisms but, in the process, move to new tissue sites via fluid dynamics.
Phylogenetic Analysis of Ontogenetic Shape Transformations: A Reassessment of the Piranha Genus Pygocentrus (Teleostei)

Despite the potential information that may lie in phylogenetic analyses of ontogenies of body form, few studies have examined methods for extracting and analyzing ontogenetic shape characters. We propose and exemplify a procedure for phylogenetic shape analysis. We use the thin-plate spline decomposed by its partial warps, a method that has several critical advantages over available alternatives. Most notably, shape variables extracted by this method refer to local-. izable features of the morphology. We demonstrate how these characters can be coded and include them in a phylogenetic analysis of the piranha genus Pygocentrus, using a data set also comprising meristic, myological, and osteological characters. Using ontogenies of these localized shape vari? ables, we have corroborated the monophyly of Pygocentrus. Although we found no new characters corroborating the proposed sister-group relationship of P. nattereri and P. cariba, our characters are all congruent with this hypothesis. Several ontogenetic shape characters serve to diagnose the previously undiagnosed P. nattereri. Independence of ontogenetic shape features is assessed in the same manner as for any other features: by examination of their distributions on the corroborated cladogram. In addition to inspecting associations among characters that changed multiple times, character independence was assessed using the information in the kinds of ontogenetic modifi? cations (gain, loss, reorientation, reversal) and the information in observed development. Most of the geometrically independent features extracted during this study are phylogenetically indepen? dent of each other. We also found that region-specific ontogenetic allometries are phylogenetically independent of each other. In addition, localized ontogenetic changes along orthogonal body axes (anteroposterior and dorsoventral in this case) are usually phylogenetically independent. Although these findings of character independence may be specific to this study, the method for assessing this independence can be applied generally. Evolution of both spatial and temporal patterns of growth is an inference that depends upon using methods, such as the one employed here, capable of describing the spatial patterning of ontogeny. (Ontogeny; phylogeny; character independence; geometric morphometrics; piranhas; Pygocentrus.)
Reactions of the polyhydride complex ReH7(dppe) (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, 1-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine and 2-mercaptoquinoline. synthesis and structural characterization of seven-coordinate monohydrido complexes of rhenium(iii)

Abstract The thermal reactions of ReH 7 (dppe) (dppe = Ph 2 PCH 2 CH 2 PPh 2 ) with pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (Hpic), 1-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid (Hisoquin), 2-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine (Hmhp) and 2-mercaptoquinoline (Hmq) in refluxing benzene afforded the monohydridorhenium(III) species ReH(L) 2 (dppe) [L = pic (1a), isoquin (1b), mhp (1c), mq (1d)]. While analogous complexes have been prepared previously from ReH 7 (PPh 3 ) 2 in the case of L = pic, isoquin and mhp, the reactions between ReH 7 (PPh 3 ) 2 and the ligands 2-hydroxyquinoline and 2-mercaptoquinoline are dependent on the choice of reaction solvent; the rhenium hydride complexes ReH 4 (L)(PPh 3 ) 2 (L = hq or mq) and ReH(hq) 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 have been isolated in a pure state. 1 H and 31 P NMR spectral measurements on the seven-coordinate species 1a-d show that these compounds are stereochemically rigid at room temperature. The solution structures are in accord with the solid state structures of 1c and 1d, as determined by X-ray crystallography. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd
Frontometaphyseal dysplasia—evidence for X‐linked inheritance

Fewer than two dozen cases of frontometaphyseal dysplasia have been reported, some doubly or erroneously. In most reports, no information is available on possible variable manifestations in female relatives. Statements that the disorder is inherited as a dominant trait, and as an X-linked recessive have caused us to consider genetic heterogeneity. A recent large kindred prompted us to survey all published examples. We asked authors to reexamine the families they studied for any expression in relatives. In some cases, no further information could be elicited, but some additional information was gathered and pedigrees modified. This evidence was sufficient to indicate X-linked inheritance, with severe manifestations in males and extremely variable manifestations in females.
The ER‐associated degradation component Der1p and its homolog Dfm1p are contained in complexes with distinct cofactors of the ATPase Cdc48p

Misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are often degraded in the cytosol by a process called ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD). During ERAD in S. cerevisiae, the ATPase Cdc48p associates with Der1p, a putative component of a retro-translocation channel. Cdc48p also binds a homolog of Der1p, Dfm1p, that has no known function in ERAD. Here, we show that Der1p and Dfm1p are contained in distinct complexes. While the complexes share several ERAD components, only the Dfm1p complex contains the Cdc48p cofactors Ubx1p and Ubx7p, while the Der1p complex is enriched in Ufd1p. These data suggest distinct functions for the Der1p and Dfm1p complexes.
Evolution of Ground Level Scalar Concentrations Through a Compact Cylinder Array Embedded in the Atmospheric Surface Layer

Experiments for this study were designed to understand gas dispersion in the presence of surface mounted obstacles. To this end, model field experiments were conducted in a compact barrel array employing a spatial distribution of concentration sensors. Specific aims were to explore the effects of atmospheric stability and plume source initial conditions on the plume dispersion through the barrel array. The present results indicate a relaxation towards Gaussian behavior along the plume centerline. The rate of this Gaussian-like behavior is dependent upon atmospheric stability conditions. Plume dispersion through the array appears to be independent of source initial conditions under neutrally stable conditions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Effect of mild solvent post-treatments on the gas transport properties of glassy polymer membranes

Abstract This study examines the effect of treatment of defective glassy polymer membranes with a variety of vapors and liquids which have varying solvency power for the polymer. The pure-gas oxygen/nitrogen selectivities of defective, asymmetric membranes are shown to be permanently increased, in special cases, by treatment with certain solvents which have adequate solvency power to cause a critical level of swelling in the membrane skin layer. Three distinct types of membranes have been treated; asymmetric polysulfone membranes formed by dry/wet phase inversion, spin-coated poly(phenylene oxide)-ceramic composite membranes and solution-deposited polyimide-ceramic composite membranes. While the detailed fundamental processes controlling the elimination of surface defects are complex, our results suggest that plasticization of the selective skin layer, coupled with surface-tension driven cohesive forces are likely to be the key factors at play.
Immersive ParaView: A community-based, immersive, universal scientific visualization application

The availability of low-cost virtual reality (VR) systems coupled with a growing population of researchers accustomed to newer interface styles makes this a ripe time to help domain science researchers cross the bridge to utilizing immersive interfaces. The logical next step is for scientists, engineers, doctors, etc. to incorporate immersive visualization into their exploration and analysis workflows. However, from past experience, we know having access to equipment is not sufficient. There are also several software hurdles to overcome. Obstacles must be lowered to provide scientists, engineers, and medical professionals low-risk means of exploring technologies beyond their desktops.
Floating-disk parylene microvalve for self-regulating biomedical flow controls

A novel self-regulating parylene micro valve is presented in this paper with potential applications for biomedical flow controls. Featuring a free-floating bendable valve disk and two-level valve seat, this surface-micromachined polymeric valve accomplishes miniature pressure/flow rate regulation in a band-pass profile stand-alone without the need of power sources or active actuation. Experimental data of underwater testing results have successfully demonstrated that the microfabricated in-channel valve can regulate water flow at 0-80 mmHg and 0-10 muL/min pressure/flow rate level, which is perfectly suitable for biomedical and lab-on-a-chip applications. For example, such biocompatible microvalve can be incorporated in ocular implants for control of eye fluid drainage to fulfill intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation in glaucoma patients.
Multi-disciplinary applications in an introductory thermo-fluids course

In the fall of 2003, ENG3200, thermo-fluids was developed at Michigan Technological University to introduce biomedical engineering students to thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Since then, the course has evolved into a course for a diverse group of majors: biomedical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, geological engineering. Additionally, other engineering undergraduate and graduate students have elected to take the course. This diverse group has presented challenges in presenting the material such that the students see how thermodynamics and fluid mechanics relate to their fields. As material is introduced, students learn conceptually about different applications or data. Additionally, materials and examples have been developed and/or modified to illustrate how the course concepts can be applied and used in real world applications. This paper will describe examples and problems that students learn to solve in class that are different from traditional thermo-fluids problems. Student reactions and comments regarding these problems will be presented. As part of the course assessment, students complete a pre- and post-test containing many thermo-fluids definitions. The paper will contain data to show that as the course material relating to the various majors increases, the post- assessment scores improve.
Integration of hypoxic dilation signaling pathways for skeletal muscle resistance arteries

Mediator contributions to hypoxic dilation of rat gracilis muscle resistance arteries were determined by measuring dilation, vascular smooth muscle hyperpolarization, and metabolite production afte...
An experimental study of credibility in e‐negotiations

E-negotiators' credibility was compared to that of face-to-face (FTF) negotiators in an integrative bargaining task. Dyads were randomly assigned to negotiate either on the computer or FTF. E-negotiators perceived their opponents to be less credible and reported less selfcredibility than FTF negotiators. Although lying did not vary significantly from FTF to e-negotiations, self-credibility and lying were negatively correlated. E-negotiators were also more likely to advocate using dishonesty in the future. Consistent with psychological distance theory, skepticism regarding the credibility of e-negotiators appears warranted. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Kinematic Evidence of Minor Mergers in Normal Sa Galaxies: NGC 3626, NGC 3900, NGC 4772, and NGC 5854

BVRI and Hα imaging and long-slit optical spectroscopic data are presented for four morphologically normal and relatively isolated Sa galaxies, NGC 3626, NGC 3900, NGC 4772, and NGC 5854. VLA H I synthesis imaging is presented for the first three objects. In all four galaxies, evidence of kinematic decoupling of ionized gas components is found in the long-slit spectroscopic data; the degree and circumstances of the distinct kinematics vary from complete counterrotation of all of the gas from all of the stars (NGC 3626) to nuclear gas disks decoupled from the stars (NGC 5854) to anomalous velocity central gas components (NGC 3900 and NGC 4772). In the three objects mapped in H I, the neutral gas extends far beyond the optical radius, RH I/R25 ≥ 2. In general, the H I surface density is very low, and the outer H I is patchy and asymmetric (NGC 3900) or found in a distinct ring, exterior to the optical edge (NGC 3626 and NGC 4772). While the overall H I velocity fields are dominated by circular motions, strong warps are suggested in the outer regions by bending of the minor axis isovelocity contours (NGC 3900) and/or systematic shifts in position angle between inner and outer rings (NGC 3626 and NGC 4772). In the interior, coincidence is found between the Hα and H I in rings, sometimes partial and crisscrossed by dust lanes. Optical imaging is also presented for NGC 4138 previously reported by Jore et al. to show counterrotating stellar components. The multiwavelength evidence is interpreted in terms of the kinematic "memory" of past minor mergers in objects that otherwise exhibit no morphological signs of interaction.
Extremely high thermal conductivity of graphene: Prospects for thermal management applications in silicon nanoelectronics

Graphene, a recently discovered form of carbon, revealed many unique properties, including extremely high electron mobility of ~15000 cm2/Vs at room temperature (RT). We have experimentally studied the thermal conductivity of graphene suspended over a trench in silicon (Si) wafer. It was found for a given set of samples that RT thermal conductivity of graphene is in the range ~ 3080 - 5150 W/mK. The giant thermal conductivity and demonstrated graphene - Si integration suggest that graphene can become superior material for thermal management of Si nanoelectronic circuits.
Rheumatoid arthritis, item response theory, Blom transformation, and mixed models.

We studied rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium (NARAC) data (1499 subjects; 757 families). Identical methods were applied for studying RA in the Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 (GAW15) simulated data (with a prior knowledge of the simulation answers). Fifty replications of GAW15 simulated data had 3497 ± 20 subjects in 1500 nuclear families. Two new statistical methods were applied to transform the original phenotypes on these data, the item response theory (IRT) to create a latent variable from nine classifying predictors and a Blom transformation of the anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrinullated protein) variable. We performed linear mixed-effects (LME) models to study the additive associations of 404 Illumina-genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the NARAC data, and of 17,820 SNPs of the GAW15 simulated data. In the GAW15 simulated data, the association with anti-CCP Blom transformation showed a 100% sensitivity for SNP1 located in the major histocompatibility complex gene. In contrast, the association of SNP1 with the IRT latent variable showed only 24% sensitivity. From the simulated data, we conclude that the Blom transformation of the anti-CCP variable produced more reliable results than the latent variable from the qualitative combination of a group of RA risk factors. In the NARAC data, the significant RA-SNPs associations found with both phenotype-transformation methods provided a trend that may point toward dynein and energy control genes. Finer genotyping in the NARAC data would grant more exact evidence for the contributions of chromosome 6 to RA.
Novel sampling approach to optimal molecular design under uncertainty

For a reliable optimal molecular design, imprecision associated with property-prediction models cannot be neglected. This study presents a novel sampling approach to stochastic optimization, incorporating property-prediction uncertainty effects in a robust, generalized optimization framework. Detailed uncertainty analysis addresses, through nine case studies, various issues in computer-aided molecular design under uncertainty. Results indicate that property-prediction uncertainty can significantly impact the optimal molecular designs. Additional complex cases with nonlinear or black-box models, nonlinear objective function and constraints, and nonstable distribution for model parameter uncertainty representation highlight the flexibility and versatility of this approach. Sensitivity analysis of uncertainties in the model parameters was also made possible in this generalized framework. Uncertainties, the focus of any future research, were identified through this critical model. Increased computational efficiency of this approach and wider applicability to solve problems involving various kinds of objective functions and constraints, and different forms of uncertainties, is illustrated in the context of polymer design case studies.