cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-6 expression in response to innate immune regulatory factor stimulation.

Abstract Innate immune regulatory factor (IIRF) is a serum-derived biological response modifier, or agent that modifies/bolsters the pathogenic immune response. IIRF has been shown to provide protection (e.g., increase host survival) against a variety of pathogenic challenges including Salmonella typhimurium and Pasteurella multocida. In this report, we analyzed cytokine production in mice, whole blood and cultured cells in response to IIRF challenge. When IIRF was administered to mice, it stimulated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Both IL-6 and IL-10 were temporally stimulated when IIRF was introduced. Serum IL-6 peaked at 3 h (3957 pg/ml) before returning to baseline by 8 h, while IL-10 began to appear at 3 h, peaked at 8 h (734.5 pg/ml), and returned to baseline by 36 h. IIRF challenge also increased the expression of two positive acute phase proteins: haptoglobin increased 61-fold, while serum amyloid A levels increased ∼3500-fold in mice. A whole blood immunoassay indicated the effect of IIRF on production of IL-6 was dose- and time-dependent. Anti-asialo GM 1.1 provided to partially (> 95%) eliminate functional natural killer cells elevated IL-6 in whole blood. IIRF was also able to induce the production of IL-6 in cultured human monocytic THP-1 cells. Based upon this study and previously reported data, we propose that IIRF activates the innate immune response via induction of IL-6 production.
Fast modal analysis of large, sparse but unstructured symmetric matrices

Many engineering and scientific applications require the computation of eigenvalues of large, sparse but unstructured symmetric matrices. Existing algorithms can be used to compute a few extreme eigenvalues (and corresponding eigenvectors). Using ideas from optimization theory and abandoning classical requirements of global orthogonality, we construct a Lanczos algorithm for computing not just the extreme eigenvalues of such matrices, but in fact all of the eigenvalues. The storage requirements are small, and this procedure has worked well on matrices with various eigenvalue distributions.
Effect of starvation on fructose diphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoglucomutase activities in organs of Pseudemys (Chrysemys) scripta elegans.

Abstract 1. 1. The glycogen content of liver, kidney, heart and skeletal muscle remains unchanged in turtles following 18–22 weeks of fasting. 2. 2. Liver shows the highest fructose diphosphatase (FDPase) and glucose-6-phosphatase (phosphohydrolase) (G6Pase) activity, followed by kidney, skeletal muscle and heart. Skeletal muscle, however, shows the highest phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity, followed by liver, kidney and heart. 3. 3. Heart has little or no measurable FDPase activity, but shows PGM and G6Pase activity. 4. 4. FDPase, PGM and G6Pase reside mainly in the cytosol of the organs examined with little or no activity in the mitochondrial fraction. 5. 5. Fasting (5–9, 7–14 and 8–22 weeks) results in no significant changes in the activities of these enzymes.
Defect types and surveillance strategies for one-shot items

This paper will describe some of the challenges and strategies for sampling and testing of complex one-shot systems. A taxonomy for defect types will be offered that informs the nature of the testing and analysis that should be done. In addition, some options for balancing and articulating risk will be summarized for the various surveillance programs described.
One-dimensional control grid interpolation-based demosaicing and color image interpolation

We recently reported good results with our image interpolation algorithm, One-Dimensional Control Grid Interpolation (1DCGI), in the context of grayscale images. 1DCGI has high quantitative accuracy, flexibility with respect to scaling factor, and low computational cost relative to similarly performing methods. Here we look to extend our method to the demosaicing of Bayer-Patterned images. 1DCGI-based demosaicing performs quantitatively better than the gradient-corrected linear interpolation method of Malvar. We also demonstrate effective interpolation of full color images.
Children's Understanding of Uniformity in the Environment.

LOCKHART, KRISTI L.; ABRAHAMS, BARBARA; and OSHERSON, DANIEL N. Children's Understanding of Uniformity in the Environment. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1977, 48, 1521-1531. Children's ability to distinguish among those regularities in the environment governed by social convention and those governed by physical law was investigated in this study. 75 children from the first, third, and fifth grades were each asked a series of questions pertaining to 6 topic areas. 4 of these topics dealt with conventionality, one with moral rules, and another with physical laws. In each topic area such issues as the child's understanding of the convention, rule, or law and the child's belief in the universality of the convention, rule, or law were addressed by similar questions. 4 conclusions were drawn from the results: (a) Children's ability to distinguish between social convention and physical law increases with age. (b) In learning to make this distinction, many children pass through an intermediate stage where they believe, incorrectly, that both physical laws and social conventions can be changed. (c) Children's understanding of conventionality develops as an organized whole. (d) Some conventions are more difficult to change than others. Children are more reluctant to change moral rules than conventions.
Comparative effects of glucagon, hydrocortisone and epinephrine on the protein metabolism of the fasting rat.

An approach toward the elucidation of the mechanism of action of gluoagon in promoting protein catabolism has been made by comparing the metabolic effects of glucagon and hydrocortisone using female rats fasted five days. The possible relationship of the level of liver glycogen to protein catabolism has also been investigated by comparing the action of glucagon and epinephrine. Both glucagon and hydrocortisone-treated animals lost more weight and excreted more urinary nitrogen, phosphorus and creatinine than controls. The rate of nitrogen and phosphorus excretion of glucagon-treated rats declined progressively whereas that of hydrocortisone-treated rats increased progressively throughout the course of the experiment. Although the animals in both groups lost similar amounts of urinary nitrogen the glucagon-treated rats lost less body weight, tissue protein and urinary phosphorus. Furthermore, hydrocortisone caused an elevation in the level of blood a amino nitrogen whereas glucagon caused blood a amino nit...
Obesity increases the risk of recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus after lumbar microdiscectomy.

Abstract Background context Recurrent herniation of the nucleus pulposus (HNP) frequently causes poor outcomes after lumbar discectomy. The relationship between obesity and recurrent HNP has not previously been reported. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of obesity with recurrent HNP after lumbar microdiscectomy. Study design Retrospective Cohort. Patient sample We reviewed all cases of one- or two-level lumbar microdiscectomy from L2–S1 performed by a single surgeon with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Outcome measures The primary clinical outcomes were evidence of recurrent HNP on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and need for repeat surgery. Methods All patients with recurrent radicular pain or new neurological deficits underwent a postoperative MRI scan. Recurrent HNP was defined as a HNP at the same side and same level as the index procedure. Results Seventy-five patients were included in the study. The average body mass index (BMI) was 27.6±4.6. Thirty-two patients received an MRI scan. The time from operation to repeat MRI scan varied widely (3 days to 15 months). Eight patients (10.7%) had recurrent HNP. Four patients had persistent symptoms requiring reoperation (5.3%). The mean BMI of patients with recurrent HNP was significantly higher than that of those without recurrence (33.6±5.1 vs. 26.9±3.9, p Conclusions Obesity was a strong and independent predictor of recurrent HNP after lumbar microdiscectomy. Surgeons should incorporate weight loss counseling into their preoperative discussions with patients.
Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) over Arctic sea ice: Retrieval of freeboard

(1) Total freeboard (snow and ice) of the Arctic Ocean sea ice cover is derived using Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) data from two 35-day periods: one during the fall (OctoberNovember) of 2005 and the other during the winter (FebruaryMarch) of 2006. Three approaches are used to identify near-sea-surface tiepoints. Thin ice or open water samples in new openings, typically within 1� 2 cm of the sea surface, are used to assess the sea surface estimates. Results suggest that our retrieval procedures could provide consistent freeboard estimates along 25-km segments with uncertainties of better than 7 cm. Basin-scale composites of sea ice freeboard show a clear delineation of the seasonal ice zone in the fall. Overall, the mean freeboards of multiyear (MY) and first-year (FY) ice are 35 cm and 14 cm in the fall, and 43 cm and 27 cm in the winter. The increases of � 9 cm and � 12 cm on MY and FY sea ice are associated with the 4 months of ice growth and snow accumulation between data acquisitions. Since changes in snow depth account for >90% of the seasonal increase in freeboard on MY ice, it dominates the seasonal signal. Our freeboard estimates are within 10 cm of those derived from available snow/ice thickness measurements from ice mass balance buoys. Examination of the two residual elevations fields, after the removal of the sea ice freeboard contribution, shows coherent spatial patterns with a standard deviation (S.D.) of � 23 cm. Differencing them reduces the variance and gives a near random field with a mean of � 2 cm and a standard deviation of � 14 cm. While the residual fields seem to be dominated by the static component of unexplained sea surface height and mean dynamic topography (S.D. � 23 cm), the difference field reveals the magnitude of the time-varying components as well as noise in the ICESat elevations (S.D. � 10 cm).
B-scan Ultrasonography of Eyes Containing Intravitreal Gas

Contact B-scan ultrasonography was performed on postoperative eyes containing intravitreal gas. Correlation of the ultrasonograms with the ophthalmoscopic findings disclosed that intraocular gas had a characteristic appearance on B-scan ultrasonography. Gas-fluid and gas-tissue interfaces were so highly reflective that no structures within or behind a bubble could be visualized. Shadowing, reverberation, and reflection artifacts were prominent, and dominated ultrasonographic findings. If the ultrasonographic characteristics of gas are understood, it is possible to use B-scan ultrasonography to determine if intraocular gas is present, whether there are one or several bubbles, and what percentage of the vitreous cavity is filled by gas. Specular reflection from a gas-fluid interface may be used to examine portions of the eye that might not otherwise be easily seen with ultrasonography.
The business of blacklisting

The omission of ideology from managerial discourse leaves unacknowledged the dominant influences that shape patterns of thinking and acting. The Cold War offers one such framework for analyzing the intersection of management and ideology. Specifically, the anti-Communist blacklist in the United States offers a rich opportunity to explore the actions of business leaders and to test the assumptions on which those actions were based. Businessmen played a key role in creating and supporting the blacklist. This study suggests that enforcers of the blacklist distorted the nature of public response. The evidence suggests that businessmen were responding from an ideological rather than a pragmatic position and that, from a pragmatic perspective, they might have been well advised to ignore the blacklisters. Copyright © 2008 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. L'omission de l'ideologie dans le discours managerial a pour effet de passer sous silence les influences dominantes qui faconnent les pensees et les actions. La Guerre froide offre un cadre ideal d'analyse de l'interaction entre la gestion et l'ideologie. Plus precisement, la creation aux Etats-Unis d'une liste noire anti-communiste permet d'examiner les actions des chefs d'entreprises et de tester les hypotheses qui les ont sous-tendues. Il apparait que les hommes d'affaires ont joue un role determinant dans la creation et l'entretien de cette liste. Par ailleurs, les agents d'execution de la liste avaient deforme le sens de la reaction du public. Enfin, les faits demontrent que les reactions des chefs d'entreprises etaient inspirees non pas par des considerations d'ordre pragmatique, mais plutot par des soucis ideologiques. En realite, d'un point de vue pragmatique, il eut ete preferable d'ignorer les faiseurs des listes. Copyright © 2008 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shakespeare, the Body Politic, and Liberal Democracy

Abstract We argue for the relevance of a contemporary return to Shakespeare because his work prompts thinking about the “Body Politic,” perhaps the most vivid and enduring image in speech describing political community ever proposed. Shakespeare's meditation on this image invites us to reflect on the conditions under which a body politic can be made whole; that the constitution of any formal commonwealth requires a self-conscious articulation of the body politic and that this articulation could not happen without the parts themselves being aware of their partial character within the whole political order. The need for the consent of those parts in the political order to which they would belong thus becomes suddenly more evident. Shakespeare's plays show that this need for consent always emerges within discrete political communities. As such, the constituent parts of those communities must grant consent, exercise and enjoy their rights, and participate in the whole within the limitations circumscribed by t...
Detection and Correction of Small Abscissa Errors

The availability of quantifying procedures such as least-squares fitting and correlation makes it possible to suppress noise which occurs at spatial frequencies higher than those of the analyte signal. However, these calculations do not discriminate against low-frequency interferences, whether by random noise or other sources. One of the significant contributions to low-frequency interfering signals in Raman as well as in other types of spectroscopic measurements is uncertainty in the establishment of the abscissa position. Having found this to be a limiting factor in certain measurements, we have been interested in finding a procedure that would allow efficient recognition and correction of these errors.
Optimal trajectory for network establishment of remote UAVs

This paper provides two approaches to establish a proximity network among a collection of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are initially scattered in space. The goal is to find the shortest trajectories that bring the UAVs to a connected formation where they are in the range of detection of one another and headed in the same direction to maintain the connectivity. Constant-speed unicycles are chosen to represent UAV kinematics flying steady around cruising speed. Pontryagin Minimum Principle (PMP) is used to determine the control law and path synthesis for the UAVs under the turn-rate constraints. We introduce an algorithm to search for the optimal solution when the final network topology is specified; followed by a nonlinear programming method in which the final configuration is emerged from the optimization routine under the constraints that the final topology is connected. Simulation results along with the discussion on the performance of both methods are provided.
Investigation of the design parameters of AlN/GaN multiple quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy for intersubband absorption

AlN/GaN multiple quantum wells were grown by RF plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on (0 0 0 1) sapphire substrates. Intersubband (ISB) absorption in the range of 1.5–1.9mm was investigated in these structures as a function of the main quantum well design parameters. It is found that the ISB transition line width does not depend strongly on the degree of strain relaxation in the investigated structures, but rather is sensitive to both the well and barrier widths. This is explained by considering well/barrier thickness fluctuations. A reduction in the ISB absorption line width was
Calcium and phospholipid activation of a recombinant calcium-dependent protein kinase (DcCPK1) from carrot (Daucus carota L.)

A calmodulin-like domain protein kinase (DcCPK1, previously designated CDPK431) cloned from carrot (Daucus carota L.) was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli and partially purified. Ca(2+)-induced gel mobility shift and (45)Ca(2+) ligand binding assays confirmed that recombinant DcCPK1 binds Ca(2+) through its calmodulin-like domain and undergoes a significant conformational change. Ca(2+) activated the kinase activity of recombinant DcCPK1 (K(0.5)=1.7 microM) up to 20-fold. Ca(2+) combined with certain lipids, including phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, but not diolein or lysophosphatidylcholine, provided even greater Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase activity. DcCPK1 phosphorylated casein and histone III-S, and a variety of peptide substrates containing a hydrophobic and a basic residue situated P-5 and P-3 amino acids N-terminal to a Ser or Thr residue. The calmodulin and protein kinase inhibitors, W-7 and staurosporine, inhibited CDPK activity. The similarities between DcCPK1 and mammalian protein kinase C (PKC) in substrate specificity, sensitivity to inhibitors, and activation by Ca(2+) and phospholipid suggest that various CDPK isoforms may be responsible for some PKC-like activities in plant cells.
Gene Duplication and Evolution

Lynch and Conery ([1][1]) presented one of the first serious efforts to study the evolutionary fate of gene duplication using genomic sequence data. Their analysis led to several interesting observations, particularly with respect to the rate of gene duplication in eukaryotic genomes and the
New insight into the transcriptional regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the endometrium by estrogen and relaxin.

: Increased uterine capillary permeability, which can be induced by both estrogen and relaxin, is required for endometrial growth and implantation. This effect is mediated in both cases by estrogen receptors (ERs), via stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The sites on the VEGF promoter through which induction occurs, however, are completely unclear. We have used the technique of chromatin immunoprecipitation in vivo to localize the site of ER action and identify other transcription factors that are involved. We have found that ERa associates with Sp1/Sp3 at a GC-rich region of the promoter. More interesting, however, is the observation that estrogen also induces rapid, transient binding of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which mediates VEGF transcription in response to hypoxia, to the promoter. The estrogen-induced HIF-1 binding closely matches the estrogen-induced pattern of VEGF expression in the uterus, suggesting that HIF-1 is involved in that induction, and probably that of many other genes as well (HIF-1 is now known to regulate the expression of more than 40 genes). It is likely that studies now under way will also link relaxin-induced VEGF expression to HIF-1. This is based on the similarities in the effects of the two hormones on VEGF expression and on their shared ability to activate the PI3K and MAPK pathways, both of which can activate HIF-1.
Protamine-reactive natural IgM antibodies in human sera: characterization of the epitope demonstrates specificity of antigenic recognition; occurrence indicates obscurity of origin and function

We have identified a set of natural IgM antibodies in human serum that are reactive with protamines, a class of low molecular weight basic nucleoproteins that are synthesized de novo in the postpubertal testis and are unique to sperm. Those antibodies were detected by ELISA in significant titer in all of 100 sera of normal adult males and females and in 26 of 28 sera of normal pediatrics aged 7 d to 2 yr. Commonality between the protamine-reactive IgM antibodies of pediatric and adult sera was established by the demonstration of similarity in antigen recognition and reaction kinetics. Therefore, the role of protamines as either immunogenic stimulus or antigenic target of that set of natural antibodies is not likely. The antigenic site recognized by the protein-reactive serum IgM antibodies was characterized by comparison with the pattern of antigen recognition by a monoclonal antibody to human sperm protamines (HPmAb). By the use of synthetic peptides simulating the amino acid sequences of various segments of human protamine 2 and of polyarginine, polylysine, and histones as test antigens, the principle characteristic of the antigenic site recognized by both HPmAb and the serum IgM antibodies was inferred to be that of clustered arginyl residues with an apparent minimum requirement of four arginyl residues, including a triplet, within a six residue piece; for both, the reaction was shown to be not dependent upon charge attraction. A series of immunoabsorption procedures indicated that the protamine-reactive serum IgM antibodies are a discrete set with a high order of specificity. A search of protein data bases revealed that the putative minimum epitope is present in four or five human autogenous proteins, all moieties of the immune system, and in a number of viral proteins. The possible implications of those findings are discussed in the light of early hypotheses concerning the origin and function of natural antibodies and the many recent reports of identification of natural antibodies in normal human sera. The set of natural antibodies identified in this study may be unique or may represent a class of antibodies present in the repertoire that, by virtue of the obscurity of their origin or function, have not been previously or extensively recognized.
Parallel SQL execution in Oracle 10g

This paper describes the new architecture and optimizations for parallel SQL execution in the Oracle 10g database. Based on the fundamental shared-disk architecture underpinning Oracle's parallel SQL execution engine since Oracle7, we show in this paper how Oracle's engine responds to the challenges of performing in new grid-computing environments. This is made possible by using advanced optimization techniques, which enable Oracle to exploit data and system architecture dynamically without being constrained by them. We show how we have evolved and re-architected our engine in Oracle 10g to make it more efficient and manageable by using a single global parallel plan model.
Investigation by DC Resistivity Methods of a Ground-Water Barrier Beneath the San Bernardino Valley, Southern California

DC resistivity methods were used to confirm the existence of the Bryn Mawr fault and to evaluate its efficacy as a barrier to ground water in the Bunker Hill basin beneath the San Bernardino valley, California. Vertical electrical sounding indicates layering and vertical offsets across the fault. Dipole-dipole measurements located the fault and determined its attitude. Our modeling indicates that the fault gouge has decreasing resistivity with depth. The resistivity trend is likely caused by increasing clay content. If the interpretation is correct, the ability of the fault to impede ground-water flow will increase with declining water levels. This theory is supported by greater offset of water levels across the fault when the levels were deeper. DC resistivity methods independently yield models which are consistent with known hydrogeological conditions, and can be used to predict them.
Adolescent and Adult Rats' Aversion to Flavors Previously Paired with Nicotine

: Despite the high prevalence of adolescent smoking, few studies have examined nicotine sensitivity during this developmental period. In the present study we examined adolescent and adult rats' preference/aversion for a flavor previously paired with nicotine. Paired (nicotine + Kool-Aid) and unpaired (Kool-Aid) solutions were presented in the home cage on alternating nights, with water given during the light phase for six days. A choice test was conducted 24 hr after the last night of conditioning, with both flavors presented simultaneously during the dark cycle. On test day, although the flavor previously paired with nicotine was not preferred at either age, adolescent rats consumed significantly more of the paired flavor than adults. These results suggest that adolescent rats are less sensitive to the aversive properties of nicotine. This finding taken together with adolescents' increased sensitivity to the rewarding properties of nicotine, may result in an increased vulnerability to nicotine dependence.
ABUNDANCE OF A NOVEL DINOFLAGELLATE PHYLOTYPE IN THE ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA1

The biodiversity of protistan assemblages present in microhabitats of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, was examined using molecular biological methods to obtain a greater understanding of the genetic diversity present. Sequencing of 18S clone libraries indicated genetically diverse collections of organisms in the water column, ice, and meltwater layer (slush), but a single small subunit ribosomal DNA (srDNA) sequence type dominated clone libraries (>30%) from seawater and slush samples taken within the ice pack of this ecosystem. The BLAST searches indicated that this dominant clone was derived from a dinoflagellate, and that it shared sequence similarity (97.6%-98.3%) with both Karenia and Karlodinium species. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal gene sequences supported its placement as a sister group to these taxa, and suggested that it represented a novel genus. The dinoflagellate was successfully recovered in culture, and morphological analyses have shown that it contains chloroplasts, is gymnodinoid, appears not to have thecal plates, and has an apical groove and sulcal structure that confirm its placement as a relative of the Karenia/Karlodinium group. The abundance of this phylotype in natural samples was confirmed by quantitative PCR analyses of water and slush communities, and suggests that this dinoflagellate can be a major constituent of the protistan assemblages of some Antarctic microhabitats of the Ross Sea.
A just noticeable difference in C50 for speech

Abstract C50 is an early-to-late arriving sound ratio used to assess the influence of room acoustics on the clarity and intelligibility of speech. A just noticeable difference in C50 values was determined for speech sounds in simulated sound fields. Over a range of C50 values from −3 to +9 dB, representing most situations in rooms for speech, a just noticeable difference was estimated to be 1.1 dB. The corresponding just noticeable difference in Speech Transmission Index (STI) values was 0.03. This is similar to previous related estimates for speech and musical signals. To improve the acoustical characteristics of a room for speech, it is probably necessary to increase C50 by approximately 3 dB to create a readily detectable improvement in everyday situations. ©
Dodd–Frank and risk in the financial services industry

We present evidence that discretionary risk taking by financial institutions has declined following the passage of Dodd–Frank. The largest institutions experience the greatest reduction in risk consistent with the legislation’s objective of reducing systemic risk and an ultimate goal of ending the too-big-to-fail doctrine. Analysis of a sample of banks, the most highly regulated financial institutions, reveals that banks exhibiting characteristics consistent with riskier business strategies prior to Dodd–Frank experience the greatest risk reduction. Further, banks that alter their business practices by increasing their capital ratios and reducing their level of non-performing loans following the law’s passage are shown to experience the greatest reduction in risk. Our results point to the efficacy of Dodd–Frank in reducing risk in the financial system.
PETT IV: Design Analysis and Performance Characteristics

The operation of PETT IV, a positron emission transverse tomograph capable of multislice imaging, relies on an electronic design which was developed for that system. The functions performed by this system include operation of the scintillation detectors, ?-ray positioning circuitry, data collection logic, and computer interfacing. Design considerations and performance characteristics of PETT IV and this circuitry are presented here.
Homogeneous and inhomogeneous linewidths of Eu 3 + in disordered crystalline systems

The role of disorder on the inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidths of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{3+}$ in single crystals with various degrees of disorder is described for samples grown by LHPG (laser-heated pedestal growth). Emission spectra, hole-burning spectra, and results of the two-pulse photon echo are reported for ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sc}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (x=0.04,0.3,1) and YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia). For the ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sc}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ system, the inhomogeneous linewidths increase with x while the homogeneous linewidths are nearly independent of x. Dynamics associated with low-frequency excitations observed previously in x=0 LHPG samples are nearly absent for xg0. However, both the static and dynamic properties of YSZ show behavior which is characteristic of amorphous systems like silicate glass.
Asthma: are we monitoring the correct measures?

Abstract The prevalence of asthma, a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, has risen sharply over the past 25–30 years, with the biggest increase found in children. Currently, more th...
Cephalometric assessment of snoring and nonsnoring children.

Study objective To determine the differences incraniofacial cephalometric variables between snoring and nonsnoringchildren. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Case Western Reserve University Dental School,Department of Orthodontics, and local Cleveland orthodontic privatepractices. Patients Twenty-eight snoring and 28nonsnoring children between the ages of 7 years and 14 years. Nonsnoring subjects were matched to snoring subjects by age, sex, and ethnicity (mean [± SD] age, 10 ± 2 years; 82% white, 64% female). Interventions None. Measurements Snoring was assessed using a sleep behaviorquestionnaire administered to parents or guardians. The cephalometricradiographs of the study subjects were traced by a single investigator, and 1 angular measurement and 11 linear measurements of hard and softtissues were recorded. The paired Student's t test wasused to analyze the cephalometric data. Results Snoring children manifest a significantly narrower anterior-posteriordimension of the pharynx at the superior and most narrow widths. Snoring children also had a greater length from the hyoid to themandibular plane. Conclusions Snoring children appearto present craniofacial factors that differ from those of nonsnoringchildren.
Variable-Structure Control of Spacecraft Large-Angle Maneuvers

The spacecraft large-angle maneuver problem is treated using the principles of variable-structure control theory. A control law that constrains the state to follow a specified path (the so-called sliding mode) in the state-space is designed on the basis of a simplified model of the spacecraft dynamics. The sliding mode is obtained by solving an optimal control problem posed in a reduced space, the solution being the angular velocities of the spacecraft as functions of the attitude variables (Euler parameters or quaternions in the present context). It is shown that the motion along the sliding mode is insensitive to parameter variations and unmodeled effects.
Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism Interacts With Childhood Adversity to Predict Aspects of Impulsivity

The serotonin transporter polymorphism has been linked—often in interaction with environmental adversity—to a variety of outcomes, including affective disorders. This polymorphism is widely viewed as relating to anxiety traits. A different view is that it relates instead to impulsivity (vs. control) in reacting to emotions. In a test of the latter view, 303 students were genotyped on this polymorphism and completed self-reports bearing on impulsive reactions to emotions (including both negative and positive emotions in separate measures), impulsive tendencies that do not stem from emotions, and childhood adversity. The impulsivity measures reflected three latent variables: pervasive influence of feelings, feelings (including positive feelings) triggering action, and failure to carry through on intentions (with no mention of emotion). Interactions between genotype and adversity emerged for both emotion-related aspects of impulsivity. Theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.
Mental imagery of speech: linking motor and perceptual systems through internal simulation and estimation.

The neural basis of mental imagery has been investigated by localizing the underlying neural networks, mostly in motor and perceptual systems, separately. However, how modality-specific representations are top-down induced and how the action and perception systems interact in the context of mental imagery is not well understood. Imagined speech production (‘articulation imagery’), which induces the kinesthetic feeling of articulator movement and its auditory consequences, provides a new angle because of the concurrent involvement of motor and perceptual systems. On the basis of previous findings in mental imagery of speech, we argue for the following regarding the induction mechanisms of mental imagery and the interaction between motor and perceptual systems: (1) Two distinct top-down mechanisms, memory retrieval and motor simulation, exist to induce estimation in perceptual systems. (2) Motor simulation is sufficient to internally induce the representation of perceptual changes that would be caused by actual movement (perceptual associations); however, this simulation process only has modulatory effects on the perception of external stimuli, which critically depends on context and task demands. Considering the proposed simulation-estimation processes as common mechanisms for interaction between motor and perceptual systems, we outline how mental imagery (of speech) relates to perception and production, and how these hypothesized mechanisms might underpin certain neural disorders.
Fecundity of transgenic wild-crop hybrids of Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae): implications for crop-to-wild gene flow.

Hybridization between crops and their weedy or wild relatives is an area of concern because the widespread use of genetically engineered crops may allow novel, beneficial transgenes to enter nearby populations. We compared fitness components of wild Cucurbita pepo from Arkansas, USA, with wild–crop hybrids derived from yellow squash (a cultivar of C. pepo with transgenic resistance to two viruses). Wild and hybrid progeny were grown in agricultural fields in Arkansas (1996–98) and Ohio (1996) in six similar experiments. Cross types (wild and hybrid) did not differ significantly in seedling survival, which exceeded 85% in all cases. In Ohio, where more detailed observations were made, hybrid plants produced 41% as many male flowers, 21% as many female flowers, and 28% as many seeds as wild plants. At all sites, flowering periods of the two cross types overlapped extensively. Putative virus symptoms were more common in wild plants than in hybrids. Lifetime fecundity varied considerably among sites and years. The average fecundity of hybrids ranged from 453 to 4497 seeds per plant and represented 15% – 53% of the numbers of seeds produced by wild plants in the same experiments. These results suggest that the F1 generation does not represent a strong barrier to the introgression of neutral or beneficial crop genes into free-living populations of C. pepo.
Preparation of technetium metal by thermal treatment under argon/H2O

A new method for the preparation of Tc metal from pertechnetate is described. Metallic technetium was prepared from TcO4 by initial reduction in dry argon atmosphere at 300 °C followed by a wet argon atmosphere in the presence of carbon between 700 and 910 °C. The higher temperature conditions in the presence of H2O and carbon form H2 and CO, which can drive the reduction of TcO2. This method was applied to the recovery of pertechnetate sorbed on anion-exchange resins resulting in the formation of Tc metal microspheres. The resulting Tc was characterized by XRD analysis and SEM.
Developing an introductory curriculum in system modeling and simulation: The system dynamics approach

Abstract Under a grant from the Office of Education, a set of self-teaching, introductory materials in system dynamics has just been completed. The curriculum consists of six student learning packages which integrate text material, completely worked through examples, and open-ended exercises. The packages take students from initial problem conceptualization to building a mathematical model of the problem under study, and simulating the model over time with the aid of a computer. The curriculum also includes an extensive teacher's manual and comprehensive answer books. These materials have been and are being pilot-tested at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate school levels. Initial trial results indicate the materials do succeed in introducing computer simulation as a problem-solving tool to these audiences.
Evidence for the importance of OxPAPC interaction with cysteines in regulating endothelial cell function.

Oxidation products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylcholine (PAPC), referred to as OxPAPC, and an active component, 1-palmitoyl-2-(5,6-epoxyisoprostane E2)-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PEIPC), accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions and regulate over 1,000 genes in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). We previously demonstrated that OxPNB, a biotinylated analog of OxPAPC, covalently binds to a number of proteins in HAEC. The goal of these studies was to gain insight into the binding mechanism and determine whether binding regulates activity. In whole cells, N-acetylcysteine inhibited gene regulation by OxPAPC, and blocking cell cysteines with N-ethylmaleimide strongly inhibited the binding of OxPNB to HAEC proteins. Using MS, we demonstrate that most of the binding of OxPAPC to cysteine is mediated by PEIPC. We also show that OxPNB and PEIPE-NB, the analog of PEIPC, bound to a model protein, H-Ras, at cysteines previously shown to regulate activity in response to 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2). This binding was observed with recombinant protein and in cells overexpressing H-Ras. OxPAPC and PEIPC compete with OxPNB for binding to H-Ras. 15dPGJ2 and OxPAPC increased H-Ras activity at comparable concentrations. Using microarray analysis, we demonstrate a considerable overlap of gene regulation by OxPAPC, PEIPC, and 15dPGJ2 in HAEC, suggesting that some effects attributed to 15dPGJ2 may also be regulated by PEIPC because both molecules accumulate in inflammatory sites. Overall, we provide evidence for the importance of OxPAPC-cysteine interactions in regulating HAEC function.
Inducible Games: Using Tit-for-Tat to Stabilize Outcomes

Assume it is known that one player in a 2 x 2 game can detect the strategy choice of its opponent with some probability before play commences. We formulate conditions under which the detector can, by credibly committing to a strategy of probabilistic tit-for-tat (based on its imperfect detector), induce an outcome favorable to itself. A non-Nash, Pareto-optimal outcome is inducible—that is, it can be stabilized via probabilistic tit-for-tat—in 20 of the 57 distinct 2 x 2 strict ordinal games without a mutually best outcome (35 percent). Sometimes the inducement is “weak,” but more often it is “strong.” As a case study, we consider the current conflict between Israel and Iran over Iran’s possible development of nuclear weapons and show that Israel’s credible commitment to probabilistic tit-for-tat can, with sufficiently accurate intelligence, induce a cooperative choice by Iran in one but not the other of two plausible games that model this conflict.
Physiological studies of arctic animals

A review of the physiology of Arctic animals implies that the effects of, and adaptations to, extreme environmental conditions are of paramount interest. In the minds of many the word “Arctic” is synonymous with “cold”, and the majority of studies concerned with arctic species continue to deal with the effects of low temperature on various body processes. Great seasonal variations in photoperiod also occur in the Arctic, and some recent studies have addressed physiological processes related to this important environmental variable. Other environmentally related factors such as nutrition and water balance are receiving increasing attention, and there is a continuing trend toward studies that combine physiological and environmental measurements. Interest in northern marine environments is presently strong and the literature is beginning to reflect this fact. This review is concerned primarily with literature since 1972 not summarized elsewhere in review articles, although for the sake of continuity some redundancies are present. Several reviews cover the physiology of Arctic homeotherms and some poikilotherms through 1971 (Irving, 1964; Morrison, 1964, 1966; Meryman, 1966; Asahina, 1969; Hart, 1971). and the book by Irving (1972) summarizes information on the physiology of Arctic birds and mammals. Various aspects of adaptation in tundra animals are covered in the recent symposium edited by Vernberg 1975). Recent pertinent Soviet works include the book edited by Chemyavsky (1975), which deals primarily with the ecology of subarctic small mammals, and the series of works on Arctic biology edited by Kontrimavichus (1973, 19745 b). For the purpose of this review it has been convenient to categorize studies as dealing with either homeotherms or poikilotherms and to somewhat arbitrarily form rough phylogenetic subdivisions of those categories based on numbers of papers concerned with a given group.
Overview of the six available randomized trials of high-dose chemotherapy with blood or marrow transplant in breast cancer.

torical series, suggesting either patient selection or an effect of the “intermediate”-dose CBP. Importantly, fewer relapses have occurred in the high-dose arm, but survival in the two arms is similar, presumably because of the early toxic mortality of 7.4%. The Scandinavian trial compared three cycles of induction FEC followed by one high-dose cycle of CTCb with nine cycles of moderately high dose “tailored” FEC. (That is, the doses in mg/m 2 of FEC were tailored to individual tolerance up to 600 of 5-fluorouracil, 120 of epirubicin, and 1800 of cyclophosphamide per cycle.) The cumulative doses for tailored therapy that were actually delivered substantially exceeded those for the CTCb arm. Therefore, this study assesses the role of one high-dose cycle compared with nine cycles of chemotherapy intensified to individual tolerance with a higher cumulative chemotherapy dose. The study probably includes some patients with metastatic disease, since patients with involved marrow and abnormal bone scans were included (5).
Extracting efficient color features for face recognition using evolutionary computation

This paper presents an evolutionary framework as a novel color feature extraction method for face recognition. First, two new color spaces are defined as linear transformations of the input RGB color space. The first color space is defined by one luminance (L) channel and two chrominance channels (C/sub 1/,C/sub 2/), and the second color space incorporates one luminance channel (L) and three chrominance channels (C/sub 1/,C/sub 2/,C/sub 3/). Genetic algorithms (GAs), driven by a fitness function that evaluates face recognition accuracy, thus search for the optimal transformations from the RGB color space to the LC/sub 1/C/sub 2/ and the LC/sub 1/C/sub 2/C/sub 3/ color spaces, respectively. The successful application of the proposed evolutionary framework is demonstrated with the face recognition grand challenge (FRGC) databases and the biometric experimentation environment (BEE) baseline algorithm. In particular, when using an FRGC version 1 dataset containing 366 training images, 152 controlled gallery images, and 608 uncontrolled probe images, the evolutionary framework improves the rank-one face verification rate of the BEE baseline algorithm from 37% to 77%. When applied to an FRGC version 2 dataset consisting of 6,660 training images, 16,028 controlled target images, and 8,014 uncontrolled query images, the evolutionary framework improves the face verification rate (at 0.1% false acceptance rate) of the BEE baseline algorithm from 13% to 37%.
Incisional and Ventral Hernia Repair Including Component Separation

Ventral and incisional hernias centered around the umbilicus and on or close to the midline are good indications for the laparoscopic approach. Lateral hernias close to bony structures (ribs, pubis, iliac crest) or following incisions on the flank are difficult and require special techniques (Fig. 11.1).
Characterization of MG-doped InGaN and InALN alloys grown by MBE for solar applications

In x Ga 1-x N and In x Al 1-x N alloys are grown via MBE on sapphire substrates. A hole concentration of 7.7×1017 cm−3 is achieved on Mg-doped In 0.04 Ga 0.96 N. When x≫0.11, the Hall samples exhibit strong n-type polarity, whereas p-type polarity is confirmed by hot probe measurement for all Mg-doped InGaN and InAlN samples. Single p-i-n junction solar cells made of the same In x Ga 1-x N alloy composition are developed. Upon illumination by a 325 nm laser, V oc is measured at 2.5 V with a fill factor of 61% for all-GaN cell. Clear photo-responses are also observed in InGaN cells with 0.2 and 0.3 Indium content when illuminated by focused outdoor sunlight.
Analytical Subthreshold Potential Distribution Model for Gate Underlap Double-Gate MOS Transistors

We propose an analytical model to compute the potential distribution in gate underlap double-gate symmetric MOS transistors in the subthreshold condition Ggs < Vth . Gate underlap increases the effective channel length, which results in reducing the short-channel effect and, hence, relaxing the constraint on silicon body thickness. We use the proposed model to obtain suitable gate underlap length and silicon thickness for iso subthreshold slope and drain-induced-barrier lowering. Gate fringing field, modulating the potential in gate underlapped regions, is modeled using a conformal mapping technique. Extensive simulations were carried out to confirm the validity of our model to gate lengths ~20 nm.
Preferred flavors and reasons for e-cigarette use and discontinued use among never, current, and former smokers

To compare e-cigarette flavors preferred and reasons for use and discontinued use across never, current, and former e-cigarette users and cigarette smokers. We recruited 1567 participants aged 18–34 years through Facebook ads targeting tobacco users and nonusers in August 2014 to complete an online survey. We assessed tobacco use, preferred flavors, and reasons for e-cigarette use and discontinued use. Our sample was 49 % male, 87 % White; 56 % current cigarette smokers; and 53 % e-cigarette users. Current e-cigarette users used an average of 20.9 days in the past 30 (SD = 11.7) and 55.2 puffs/day (SD = 37.3). Compared to never and current smokers, former smokers used e-cigarettes more frequently (p’s <0.001). Among users and nonusers, the most preferred was fruit flavors, and the most commonly reported reason for e-cigarette use was “they might be less harmful than cigarettes”. The most endorsed reason for discontinued e-cigarette use was “using other tobacco products instead”. Never, current, and former smokers had distinct reasons for e-cigarette use and discontinued use and differed in flavor preferences. Regulating marketing and flavors may impact e-cigarette uptake by young adults.