cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Introduction to Wavelets for Scientific Visualization

This paper gives an introduction to wavelet techniques in the context of Scientific Visualization. Wavelets are a powerful tool for the representation of large and complex data sets. Some restrictions apply on the type of data sets which can be represented by wavelets. These restrictions are described in a first part. Thereafter, the basic concepts of wavelet representations are explained: level of detail spaces, wavelet spaces, decomposition and reconstruction algorithms. Orthogonality properties of wavelets and their relations with the ability of computing best approximations are the subject of the next part. Usual applications of wavelet representations in Scientific Visualization are then reviewed. These include progressive transmission, LOD visualization, local area zooming. The last part is dedicated to a recent generalization of wavelet techniques that deals with some types of data sets that cannot be tackle by usual wavelet representations due to the restrictions described in the first part.
Polymers, Water‐Soluble

Water-soluble (co)polymers represent a diverse class of macromolecules ranging from naturally occurring biopolymers such as polysaccharides and most polypeptides to wholly man-made materials. Such materials have found a wide-range of applications. In this article we detail the synthesis and solution characteristics of both natural and synthetic polymers. Emphasis is placed on polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polysaccharides for naturally occurring polymers, while the discussion regarding synthetic materials is divided into sections dealing with neutral, anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic species. Special attention is given to recent advances in synthetic methodologies which now allow the tailoring of synthetic materials with precisely controlled microstructures, predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, and complex topologies. Finally, we detail some of the self-assembly characteristics of both high molecular weight statistical copolymers and lower molecular weight block copolymers in aqueous media with an emphasis on those materials which undergo phase transitions and/or conformational changes in response to an applied stimulus. Keywords: water-soluble polymers; naturally occurring polymers; polynucleotides; polypeptides; proteins; polysaccharides; nonionic polymers; polyelectrolytes; polyzwitterions; polyampholytes; polybetaines
Sore throat, dysphagia, stiffness in back of neck, and dyspnea following tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

A 40-year-old woman is recovering from a tricyclic antidepressant overdose and is about to be transferred out of the ICU. She complains of sore throat, dysphagia, stiffness in back of the neck, and dyspnea. Even though she required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation during treatment and the intubation had been difficult, she was successfully extubated 48 h before without any respiratory complaints. Temperature is 39°C, BP is 150/88 mm Hg, pulse rate is 98 beats/min, and respirations are 22 breaths/min. With the exception of bilateral coarse breath sounds and neck stiffness, the rest of the physical examination is unremarkable. Kernig and Brudzinski signs are absent. Which of the following studies should be done next?
Age-Related Shortening of Poly(A) Tail of Albumin mRNA

Abstract To determine the molecular mechanisms of age-related changes in hepatic albumin gene expression, male Fisher 344 rats at 4, 12, and 24 months of age were studied. The hepatic albumin content was modestly increased by 20% and plasma albumin concentration was not altered with age. There were no age-related changes in albumin mRNA content of the liver. The in vivo synthetic rate of albumin as measured with [ 14 C]leucin incorporation in 4-month-old rats (350 ± 24.5 cpm) was not significantly different from that in 24-month-old rats (393 ± 30.3 cpm). However, in vitro translational efficiency of albumin mRNA from 24-month-old rats was only 49% of that in 4-month-old rats. This was correlated with shortening of the poly(A) tail of albumin mRNA from approximately 300–450 bases in 4-month-old rats to only 50–100 bases in 24-month-old rats. The reduced albumin mRNA translational efficiency in vitro along with shortening of the poly(A) tail with age is probably an adaptive response since hepatic albumin content was increased and plasma albumin concentrations were not altered with age. The age-related shortening of the poly(A) tail is yet another mechanism of age-related alterations in the expression of specific genes where the changes seen with age are mostly translational. Key Words: aging; albumin synthesis; translational control; poly(A) tail.
Creating the Future

The aim of this essay is to explore similarities between Whitehead's stages of education and two of the "ultimate notions" he discusses in Modes of Thought . I hope this exploration will shed light on what Whitehead means when he opens the Epilogue of that book by saying: "The task of a university is the creation of the future, so far as rational thought, and civilized modes of appreciation, can affect the issue" (171).
The solubility of theophylline in aqueous amine solutions

A study has been made of the solubility of theophylline in aqueous solutions of certain amines. The molar solubility of theophylline has been plotted against molar concentrations of monomethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, monoethylamine, diethylamine, moao- n -propylamine, di- n -propylamioe, mono- n -butylamine, and di- n -butylamine. The solubilizing effect decreases with increasing length of the carbon chain; thus monomethylamine has an effect greater than that of any other amine investigated. Monomethylamine has greater solubilizing effect than does dimethylamine, which in turn is more effective than trimethylamine. The solubility increases with increasing concentration of primary amine until a point of maximum solubility is reached, thereafter solubility decreases with increasing amine concentration. The maximum solubility increases with increasing length of the carbon chain.
Infants’ grip strength predicts mu rhythm attenuation during observation of lifting actions with weighted blocks

Research has established that the body is fundamentally involved in perception: bodily experience influences activation of the shared neural system underlying action perception and production during action observation, and bodily characteristics influence perception of the spatial environment. However, whether bodily characteristics influence action perception and its underlying neural system is unknown, particularly in early ontogeny. We measured grip strength in 12-month-old infants and investigated relations with mu rhythm attenuation, an electroencephalographic correlate of the neural system underlying action perception, during observation of lifting actions performed with differently weighted blocks. We found that infants with higher grip strength exhibited significant mu attenuation during observation of lifting actions, whereas infants with lower grip strength did not. Moreover, a progressively strong relation between grip strength and mu attenuation during observation of lifts was found with increased block weight. We propose that this relation is attributable to differences in infants’ ability to recognize the effort associated with lifting objects of different weights, as a consequence of their developing strength. Together, our results extend the body’s role in perception by demonstrating that bodily characteristics influence action perception by shaping the activation of its underlying neural system.
Multifunctional SMA-based smart inhaler system for improved aerosol drug delivery: design and fabrication

This paper documents the development of a prototype smart aerosol drug inhaler system using shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. Unlike conventional dispersed-release inhalers, the smart inhaler system releases the aerosol drug in a very small area within the mouth inlet. Kleinstreuer and Zhang [1] have found that controlled release in the mouth inlet increases drug efficiency and allows targeting of specific sites within the lung. The methodology has been validated numerically and experimentally using fixed-exit position inhalers. The design presented in this work, however, allows for variation of nozzle exit position using SMA wire actuators in a combined actuator/sensor role. In contrast to other possible mechanisms, SMA wires are lightweight, require low power, and are the least obstructive to the flow of air through the inhaler. The dual actuator/sensor nature of the SMA wires (via resistance measurement) further simplifies the design. Solutions and insights into several SMA actuator design challenges are presented. SMA wire actuator characteristics such as achievable stroke and their effect on the design are highlighted. Consideration of actuator force requirements and the capabilities of SMA wires and studied. The problems posed by the thermal characteristics of SMA wires and innovative solutions are reported.
The “Thickening” of the US–Mexico Border: Prospects for Cross-Border Networking and Cooperation

This article examines the effects of national border policy on cooperation and networking among local organizations in the US–Mexico borderlands. Structural and organizational factors are considered in order to build a conceptual model that explains the development of collaborative relations between public and nonpublic entities in a border context. The model explores three research questions. What factors define border organizations' level of engagement in collaborative networks? What determines the resilience of an organization participating in these networks? How does change in national policy toward the border affect cross-border cooperation and networking? Survey data collected from a sample of local organizations in a section of the US–Mexico border region is used to validate the model. Then, it is argue that policies enacted after 9/11 are “thickening” the border by creating new barriers to cooperation and, ultimately, diluting a form of social capital that is important for the region's long-term d...
Understanding GFP chromophore biosynthesis: Controlling backbone cyclization and modifying post-translational chemistry

The Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (GFP) undergoes a remarkable post-translational modification to create a chromophore out of its component amino acids S65, Y66, and G67. Here, we describe mutational experiments in GFP designed to convert this chromophore into a 4-methylidene-imidazole-5-one (MIO) moiety similar to the post-translational active-site electrophile of histidine ammonia lyase (HAL). Crystallographic structures of GFP variant S65A Y66S (GFPhal) and of four additional related site-directed mutants reveal an aromatic MIO moiety and mechanistic details of GFP chromophore formation and MIO biosynthesis. Specifically, the GFP scaffold promotes backbone cyclization by (1) favoring nucleophilic attack by close proximity alignment of the G67 amide lone pair with the pi orbital of the residue 65 carbonyl and (2) removing enthalpic barriers by eliminating inhibitory main-chain hydrogen bonds in the precursor state. GFP R96 appears to induce structural rearrangements important in aligning the molecular orbitals for ring cyclization, favor G67 nitrogen deprotonation through electrostatic interactions with the Y66 carbonyl, and stabilize the reduced enolate intermediate. Our structures and analysis also highlight negative design features of the wild-type GFP architecture, which favor chromophore formation by destabilizing alternative conformations of the chromophore tripeptide. By providing a molecular basis for understanding and controlling the driving force and protein chemistry of chromophore creation, this research has implications for expansion of the genetic code through engineering of modified amino acids.
Anaesthetic management of an insulin‐dependent diabetic child during cardiopulmonary bypass

Summary The management of an insulin-dependent diabetic child presenting for correction of complex congenital heart disease requiring cardiopulmonary bypass is described. A constant rate glucose infusion and variable rate insulin infusion, combined with frequent serum glucose measurements, allowed prompt response to the glucose alterations associated with surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass.
The Cybotactic Region Surrounding Fluorescent Probes Dissolved in 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate: Effects of Temperature and Added Carbon Dioxide

We report on the local microenvironment that surrounds three fluorescent solutes (i.e., the cybotactic region) when they are dissolved in a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) room-temperature ionic liquid as a function of temperature and added CO2 (T = 308 K; P = 0−150 bar). In dry [bmim][PF6] at 293 K, the cybotactic region exhibits a dielectric constant and refractive index of 11.4 ± 1.0 and 1.523 ± 0.025, respectively. The activation energy that describes the [bmim][PF6] viscous flow is 38.4 ± 0.9 kJ mol-1. The activation energy for solute rotational reorientation in [bmim][PF6] is equivalent to the activation energy for [bmim][PF6] viscous flow, indicating that solute rotational dynamics are correlated entirely with the [bmim][PF6] dynamics. There is nanosecond dipolar relaxation surrounding a solute dissolved in dry [bmim][PF6] at 293 K. Even though CO2 is highly soluble in [bmim][PF6] (CO2 mole fraction = 0.6 at 313 K and 68 bar), addition of up to 150 bar CO2 to [bmim][PF...
Adult bone marrow–derived stem cells for organ regeneration and repair

Stem cells have been recognized as a potential tool for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. There are in general two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult stem cells. While embryonic stem cell therapy has been riddled with problems of allogeneic rejection and ethical concerns, adult stem cells have long been used in the treatment of hematological malignancies. With the recognition of additional, potentially therapeutic characteristics, bone marrow-derived stem cells have become a tool in regenerative medicine. The bone marrow is an ideal source of stem cells because it is easily accessible and harbors two types of stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to all blood cell types and have been shown to exhibit plasticity, while multipotent marrow stromal cells are the source of osteocytes, chondrocytes, and fat cells and have been shown to support and generate a large number of different cell types. This review describes the general characteristics of these stem cell populations and their current and potential future applications in regenerative medicine.
Bullous and cicatricial pemphigoid.

Abstract Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and cicatricial pemphigoid are blistering mucocutaneous diseases characterized by detachment of the overlying epithelium from its stroma. IgG and complement components are deposited in all affected tissue at the level of blister formation—through the lamina lucida of the epithelium. The primary antibody response is of the IgG 4 subclass, and the antigens recognized by these autoantibodies have been shown to be 230 kD and 180 kD transmembrane proteins unique to the hemidesmosome of stratified squamous epithelial cells [1,2]. Although it is suspected that these antigens are important in cell-substrate adhesion, this has not been proven. Stanley et al. have recently defined the sequence of a portion of the C terminal end of the 230 kD antigen [3] and Diaz et al. have isolated a cDNA encoding for the 180 kD antigen [4]. Structural data regarding these antigens should prove critical to definition of their presumed function. Therefore, BP is felt to be an autoimmune disease where the cutaneous lesions may solely be a consequence of binding of these antihemidesmosome autoantibodies to the specific antigen, but definitive proof of this assumption is incomplete [5].
The efficacy of human post-editing for language translation

Language translation is slow and expensive, so various forms of machine assistance have been devised. Automatic machine translation systems process text quickly and cheaply, but with quality far below that of skilled human translators. To bridge this quality gap, the translation industry has investigated post-editing, or the manual correction of machine output. We present the first rigorous, controlled analysis of post-editing and find that post-editing leads to reduced time and, surprisingly, improved quality for three diverse language pairs (English to Arabic, French, and German). Our statistical models and visualizations of experimental data indicate that some simple predictors (like source text part of speech counts) predict translation time, and that post-editing results in very different interaction patterns. From these results we distill implications for the design of new language translation interfaces.
The Burgermeister: Germany's Chief Municipal Magistrate

The title bilrgermeister first appears in German municipal history during the early part of the thirteenth century,1 but the exact nature of the tasks imposed upon the official at this period still remains obscured in the darkness of the Middle Ages. We know that there were such officers, and we know something as to the method of their election, but very little as to the extent of their real power. Probably, however, as Von Maurer suggests, the bilrgermeister had originally no other duty than that of presiding over the civic council,2 a simple function, to which came later to be added a general oversight of current affairs and the enforcing of city ordinances. Considerably more, however, may be learned as to the duties of this officer in the seventeenth century, when the franchise had become more and more restricted and the number of town officers much smaller, and when, partly as a result of this decrease and partly in consequence of the awakening industrial life of the period, there had come to be an increase in the importance of town officials, and naturally among the rest in that of the chief magistrate. The consent of the bilrgermeister in all town transactions now appears necessary; and, with an everincreasing number of requirements, it is now sometimes impossible to find suitable candidates for the office within the limits of the municipality. Accordingly strangers begin to be employed in the service, as we learn from the outcry which arose in Alt-Brandenberg in 1690, when complaint was made that too many outsiders were employed in the church, the schools, and the public service.3 That during this century the functions of the bilrgermeister were of a varied character
An experimental evaluation of an Internet-delivered conflict resolution skills curriculum in a secondary school setting

Abstract Given the Internet's capacity to reach a wide audience and recent increases in violence-related episodes among our nation's youth, Internet-delivered, interactive conflict resolution programs may prove to be a powerful tool to prevent the growing phenomena of adolescent violence. In this study, we tested the efficacy of an Internet-delivered conflict resolution program. Specifically, the program emphasizes the development of conflict management skills, which may decrease future use of violent tactics to manage conflict. One hundred ninety-eight 9th grade students from a large urban area high school (64 = control; 134 = experimental) participated in the study. Results indicated that students exposed to the conflict management program reported an increase in knowledge of conflict management skills and negative attitudes toward violence.
Mass of the graviton

After emphasizing that it remains an open question whether one should try to quantize gravity theory (which would mean gravitational force is propagated by a graviton particle), we nevertheless ask whether a limit can be set on the rest mass (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{g}$) of the "graviton." By recalling that gravitational force is clearly exerted over large distances in systems of galaxies and is not eliminated by a graviton-mass Yukawa cutoff, we find a limit. So, although it is not known if the graviton exists, one can still say that its rest mass is less than 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}62}$ g.
Scaling of transepithelial potential difference in the mammalian trachea.

Tracheal epithelia of different mammalian species differ widely with regard to the relative rates of Na+ absorption and Cl− secretion. However, the short circuit current, a measure of total ion transport, appears to be consistently greater in large than in small mammals. Thus, we hypothesized that the in vivo tracheal electrical potential difference (PD) would vary among species as a function of body mass (M). To test this hypothesis we measured PD in ten mammalian species that ranged 1000-fold in mass. The results in mV (mean ± SE, lumen negative) were: 11.4 ± 1.0 in mice; 11.6 ± 1.2 in gerbils; 12.9 ± 1.4 in rats; 19.3 ± 0.9 in guinea pigs; 27.2 ± 2.2 in ferrets; 23.0 ± 1.6 in cats; 27.0 ± 0.6 in rabbits; 32.5 ± 2.6 in dogs; 37.0 ± 1.9 in sheep; and 49.0 ± 3.3 in pigs. Log-log correlation analysis of mean PD (in mV) and M (in kg) yielded PD = 20.9 M0.19 (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). Analysis of published short circuit current (SCC, in μA/cm2) data revealed a similar relationship: SCC = 38.2 M0.21. Thus, the transepithelial electrical potential and active charge transport by the tracheal epithelium are allometric variables that may have direct physiological significance. These results raise questions regarding the importance of net osmotic solute and water transport across the tracheal epithelium.
Actuator Saturation and Control Design for Buildings under Seismic Excitation

Efficient design techniques are presented for improving the response of seismic-excited buildings under actuators with limited capacity. Information regarding the actuator capacity and estimated peak ground acceleration is used to fine tune the controller and reduce conservatism. Both state feedback and observer-based controllers are discussed. The observer-based controller uses the measurement of the ground acceleration, though this requirement can be removed easily. Sufficient conditions for feasibility of a feedback controller are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Performance of the proposed techniques is illustrated through simulations of a six-story building subject to earthquake ground motion.
Unpopularity and disliking among peers: Partially distinct dimensions of adolescents' social experiences

Abstract The paper examines whether unpopularity and disliking among peers are partially distinct dimensions of adolescents' negative social experience. We recruited 418 students (187 boys, 231 girls, M = 12.12 years, SD = 4.33) from an urban junior high school. These early adolescents completed a peer nomination inventory assessing aspects of their social relationships with peers (i.e., popularity, liking, unpopularity and disliking), reciprocated friendships and behavioral reputations with peers (i.e., relationally and overtly aggressive, relationally and overtly victimized, withdrawn and prosocial). The participants also completed self-report inventories assessing their feelings of loneliness and peer victimization. In addition, academic performance data was obtained directly from school records. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that unpopularity and disliking among peers were associated with different behaviors. Unpopularity was also associated with reports of loneliness, relational victimization and low numbers of reciprocated friends, whereas disliking was associated with low academic performance. These results highlight the importance of multidimensional conceptualizations of negative social experiences in early adolescence and the differential risks associated with unpopularity and disliking among peers.
Recent advances in renal hemodynamics: insights from bench experiments and computer simulations

It has been long known that the kidney plays an essential role in the control of body fluids and blood pressure and that impairment of renal function may lead to the development of diseases such as...
Quantification of Physiological and Behavioral Measures of Alcohol Withdrawal in Long‐Sleep and Short‐Sleep Mice

A quantitative, multidimensional animal model of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is desirable for investigating individual differences in susceptibility to alcohol dependence. Following exposure to control or ethanol diets for 7 or 14 days, we measured respiration rates, body temperature, acoustic startle responses, and heart rates in Long-Sleep (LS) and Short-Sleep (SS) mice to determine how initial alcohol sensitivity influences dependence liability. SS mice consumed a greater amount of ethanol diet and exhibited a more severe withdrawal syndrome than LS mice. Withdrawal severity resulted from an interaction of genotype with duration of ethanol exposure. The abstinence syndrome was generally characterized by depressed behavioral and physiological functioning for both mouse lines. Initial alcohol sensitivity influenced the rate of alcohol increase in the blood during dependence induction which, in turn, influenced withdrawal severity. This model incorporates several discriminative measures that independently assess withdrawal reactions and provides a useful animal model of alcohol withdrawal.
Nonthermal inactivation of heterogeneous and superdormant spore populations of Bacillus cereus using ozone and high pressure processing

Abstract Superdormant spores are those which germinate extremely slowly compared to the majority of the spore population. The development of a method to isolate large quantities of superdormant spores in a laboratory setting has allowed for further study of these hardy organisms. In this study, the ability of nonthermal processing technologies, including a combined hurdle technology of aqueous ozone and high pressure processing (HPP), to inactivate superdormant spore populations of mesophilic and psychrotolerant isolates of Bacillus cereus was investigated. Superdormant spores were approximately 20% more resistant to ozone treatment than heterogeneous spore populations (p = 0.02) and psychrotolerant species were approximately 31.9% more resistant than mesophilic species (p = 0.004). The combined ozone-HPP hurdle technology achieved a maximum 2.67-log CFU/mL reduction of superdormant spores. Industrial relevance Nonthermal processing technologies including high pressure processing (HPP) and ozone have high implications for reducing the number of spores in foods; however, these technologies are not widely utilized in the industry due to their inability to completely inactivate all the spores within a product. The spores that do not germinate as easily as the majority of a spore population are known as superdormant spores. This study demonstrates that an ozone-HPP combined hurdle technology may be able to effectively reduce the number of superdormant spores, specifically psychrotolerant sporeforming toxin-producing species such as B. cereus and Bacillus weihenstephanensis, in refrigerated food products such as RPFEDs and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Wave Disturbances Associated with the Red River Valley Severe Weather Outbreak of 10-11 April, 1979

An analysis of mesoscale gravity wave events during the severe weather outbreak in the Red River Valley on 10–11 April 1979 is presented utilizing surface pressure data and the 3 h rawinsonde data from the AVE-SESAMEI special network. The unique data set provided by the SESAME field experiment makes it possible to relate the wavelike characteristics observed at the surface to the variability of the temperature, humidity, and wind fields over a deep tropospheric layer that act to initiate and sustain the waves over long distances and time periods.
Physical activity practices in elementary schools and associations with physical education staffing and training.

Purpose: Authorities recommend that schools provide a variety of opportunities for students to obtain physical activity (PA) before, during, and after school. This study assessed the prevalence of several school PA practices—including measures of quantity and quality of physical education (PE)—in elementary schools and examined the associations of PA practices with school resources (PE staffing, training, and facilities). Method: Surveys were obtained from respondents in nationally representative samples of elementary schools from 2009–2010 to 2011–2012 (1,831 schools). Results: Few schools (20.8%) provided students with PE class every day, but most (76.3%) had an appropriate PE student-to-teacher ratio ( ≤ 25:1). Many schools (74.0%) offered 20 min of recess daily, but fewer than half offered organized opportunities for PA before or after school (e.g., sports). After controlling for demographics and school size, having a full-time PE teacher and requiring PE teachers to obtain PE-related continuing educa...
Effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on the free fatty acids of rat cerebral cortex

Recent studies have indicated that the free fatty acids (FFA) in brain are maintained in a dynamic equilibrium with the membrane phospholipids. Ethanol ingestion may alter this equilibrium as has been demonstrated for other stimulant or depressant stressors. Depending on the dosage and mode of administration, ethanol can be regarded either as a central nervous system depressant or stimulant. Acute administration of ethanol at 1.5 g/kg to rats did not affect brain FFA level, but administration at 6.0 g/kg resulted in a decrease in the FFA level. The decrease in brain FFA also correlated to the behavioral manifestation of ethanol as a CNS depressant, which effect lasted 2–4 h after ethanol administration. Among the fatty acids, arachidonic acid was especially suppressed, although stearic acid was also affected to a lesser extent. Chronic administration of ethanol (8 g/kg) to rats and to guinea pigs also resulted in a decrease in the FFA in brain, suggesting that there is an adaptive shift toward the establishment of a new equilibrium with a lower FFA level upon development of tolerance to ethanol.
Toward automated cell model development through information theory

The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for developing and calibrating models of complex reaction/transport systems. In particular, the complex network of biochemical reaction/transport processes and their spatial organization make the development of a predictive model of a living cell a grand challenge for the 21st century. However, advances in reaction/transport modeling and the exponentially growing databases of genomic, proteomic, metabolic, and bioelectric data make cell modeling feasible, if these two elements can be automatically integrated in an unbiased fashion. In this paper, we present a procedure to integrate data with a new cell model, Karyote, that accounts for many of the physical processes needed to attain the goal of predictive modeling. Our integration methodology is based on the use of information theory. The model is integrated with a variety of types and qualities of experimental data using an objective error assessment approach. Data that can be used in this approach ...
Cytokines and related receptor-mediated signaling pathways

Cytokines represent a multi-diverse family of polypeptide regulators; they are of relatively low molecular weight, pharmacologically active proteins that are secreted by one cell for the purpose of altering either its own functions (autocrine effect) or those of adjacent cells (paracrine effect). Cytokines are small, non-enzymatic glycoproteins whose actions are both diverse and overlapping (specificity/redundancy) and may affect diverse and overlapping target cell populations. In many instances, individual cytokines have multiple biological activities. Different cytokines can also have the same activity, which provides for functional redundancy within the inflammatory and immune systems. As biological cofactors that are released by specific cells, cytokines have specific effects on cell-cell interaction, communication, and behavior of other cells. As a result, it is infrequent that loss or neutralization of one cytokine will markedly interfere with either of these systems. The biological effect of one cytokine is often modified or augmented by another. Because an inter-digitating, redundant network of cytokines is involved in the production of most biological effects, both under physiologic and pathologic conditions, it usually requires more than a single defect in the network to alter drastically the outcome of the process. This fact therefore may have crucial significance in the development of therapeutic strategies for bio-pharmacologic intervention in cytokine-mediated inflammatory processes and infections.
The effects on ovarian activity of a monophasic oral contraceptive with 100 μg levonorgestrel and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol

An open-label, single-center, noncomparative study was conducted to determine the effects of a monophasic oral contraceptive containing 100 microg levonorgestrel and 20 microg ethinyl estradiol on ovarian activity. The subjects were 26 healthy women 20 to 35 years of age who had normal ovulatory cycles and were not at risk for becoming pregnant. For 3 treatment cycles, they took 1 tablet of active drug daily for 21 days followed by placebo tablets for 7 days. Follicle diameters and serum progesterone and 17beta-estradiol levels were measured before, during, and after treatment. In 2 (2.7%) of 73 cycles, luteinized unruptured follicles were present and in another 2 (2.7%) cycles, ovulation was confirmed by the disappearance of the enlarged follicle. Ovarian activity, as reflected by mean serum progesterone levels, was restored after treatment. The results of this study are in agreement with those of other studies that showed suppression of ovarian activity in women treated with a monophasic oral contraceptive containing 100 microg levonorgestrel and 20 microg ethinyl estradiol. These results indicate that low-dose 100 microg levonorgestrel and 20 microg ethinyl estradiol given for 21 days is effective in suppressing ovarian activity and they confirm the contraceptive efficacy observed in clinical trials (Pearl index of 0.8).
The relationship between perceived social support and severity of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms: the role of gender

OBJECTIVE: Whether social support is associated with severity of body dysmorphic symptoms is unknown. To address this gap in the literature, the present study aims to examine the association between three domains of perceived social support (i.e., family, friends, and significant others) and severity of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. METHOD: Participants (N = 400) with symptoms consistent with diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder completed measures of symptomatology and social support via the internet. RESULTS: More perceived social support from friends and significant others was associated with less severe body dysmorphic disorder symptoms for males, and more perceived social support from family and friends was associated with less severe body dysmorphic disorder symptoms among females. Additionally, gender moderated the association between perceived social support from significant others and symptom severity, such that perceived social support from a significant other was significantly negatively associated with body dysmorphic symptom severity in males, but not females. CONCLUSION: The present study implicates social support as an important area of future body dysmorphic disorder research.
Protein A Suppresses Immune Responses during Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection in Guinea Pigs

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus infection is not associated with the development of protective immunity, and disease relapses occur frequently. We hypothesize that protein A, a factor that binds immunoglobulin Fcγ and cross-links V H 3 clan B cell receptors (IgM), is the staphylococcal determinant for host immune suppression. To test this, vertebrate IgM was examined for protein A cross-linking. High V H 3 binding activity occurred with human and guinea immunoglobulin, whereas mouse and rabbit immunoglobulins displayed little and no binding, respectively. Establishing a guinea pig model of S. aureus bloodstream infection, we show that protein A functions as a virulence determinant and suppresses host B cell responses. Immunization with SpA KKAA , which cannot bind immunoglobulin, elicits neutralizing antibodies that enable guinea pigs to develop protective immunity. IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of soft tissue and bloodstream infections; however, a vaccine with clinical efficacy is not available. Using mice to model staphylococcal infection, earlier work identified protective antigens; however, corresponding human clinical trials did not reach their endpoints. We show that B cell receptor (IgM) cross-linking by protein A is an important immune evasion strategy of S. aureus that can be monitored in a guinea pig model of bloodstream infection. Further, immunization with nontoxigenic protein A enables infected guinea pigs to elicit antibody responses that are protective against S. aureus. Thus, the guinea pig model may support preclinical development of staphylococcal vaccines.
“Early” Middle Stone Age Lithic Technology of the Kapthurin Formation (Kenya)

The production of Levallois flakes is considered a hallmark of many Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites, but this aspect of African Pleistocene hominin technology remains poorly documented relative to that from adjacent regions. The site of Koimilot, from the Kapthurin Formation of Kenya, preserves stratified artifact assemblages that show use of multiple Levallois methods to produce flakes of varied shapes and sizes, comparable to that described from Levantine and European Middle Paleolithic sites. Koimilot has an age of 200,000 years on the basis of geochemical correlation with dated volcanic tephra and therefore joins a small but growing number of early MSA sites which antedate the last interglacial (130,000) years ago and provide the most relevant comparisons for understanding the end of the Acheulian. The Kapthurin Formation archaeological sequence suggests that it is the diversification of Levallois technology rather than its origin that characterizes early MSA assemblages. MSA Levallois technology may hav...
Personhood in Classical and Process-Oriented Metaphysics

One major source of conflict in contemporary sexual ethics (e.g., artificial contraception and abortion) is the implicit difference in the worldviews represented by the terms “pro-life” and “pro-choice.” Those who are pro-life support the notion of human personhood as a fixed and unchanging reality from conception to death; those who are pro-choice, in contrast, support the notion of human personhood as developmental, never fully realized. The pro-life position basically reflects the worldview of classical metaphysics; the pro-choice position is logically grounded in process philosophy and theology. The aim of the present article is to compare and contrast these two worldviews so as to see whether or not there is unexpected common ground between the two that could logically justify a consensus position on the more specific moral issues.
Amorphous Silicon FET Addressed Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

Advances in the technology of fabrication of large arrays of thin-film field-effect transistors for liquid crystal display applications is making available an important new component for many other applications such as spatial light modulators for optical signal processors. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon has a number of advantages over other semiconductors for such arrays relating primarily to cost and yield due to the simple, low temperature processing, and options offered by a transmissive device. There are also disadvantages stemming from the low electron mobility which is roughly 0.1% that of crystalline silicon. Still, sub-micro-second switching times are possible which is not only adequate for liquid crystal control within very large arrays but suitable for much of the row and column driving circuitry as well. In this paper we will describe the characteristics of a-Si devices, circuits, and LC cells controlled by them. We will also discuss the technology in the context of projecting what the capabilities of such devices could be for spatial light modulators and displays.
The Proteasome Activator 11 S Regulator or PA28 CONTRIBUTION BY BOTH α AND β SUBUNITS TO PROTEASOME ACTIVATION

The proteasome 11 S regulator (REG) consists of two homologous subunits, REGalpha and REGbeta. Each subunit is capable of activating the proteasome, and when combined, they form superactive REGalpha/REGbeta complexes. We have previously shown that a highly conserved loop in the REGalpha crystal structure is critical for proteasome activation. We now show that hetero-oligomers formed from REGalpha activation loop mutants and wild-type REGbeta or vice versa are partially active. By contrast, hetero-oligomers bearing mutations in the activation loops of REGalpha and REGbeta subunits are inactive, demonstrating that both alpha and beta subunits contribute to proteasome activation. We have also characterized REG proteins with mutations near or at their C termini. Partially active REGalpha(Y249C) and REGalpha(M247V) and an inactive REGalpha subunit bearing five additional C-terminal amino acids formed active hetero-oligomers with REGbeta. REGbeta subunits lacking 1, 2, or 9 C-terminal amino acids did not bind or activate the proteasome, but each of these mutants formed partially active hetero-oligomers with the monomer REGalpha(N50Y). However, hetero-oligomers formed from REG subunits lacking the last 14 amino acids were unable to bind the proteasome. Thus, C-terminal regions of both alpha and beta subunits are required for hetero-oligomers to bind the proteasome.
Time of Pigment Deposition in Brown Shelled Hen Eggs and in Turkey Eggs

Abstract THE PROBLEM THE rate of shell formation in the hen has been accurately recorded in the work of Burmester, Scott, and Card (1939). No attention has been given to the time of pigment deposition in brown shelled eggs as far as the writers have been able to determine. Fischer and co-workers (1923 (1925) have shown that the pigment in egg shells is a porphyrin and Klose and Almquist (1937) found the pink color of the membranes of white shelled eggs also to be a natural porphyrin. This study was made to determine the rate of deposition of pigment in the shell of brown eggs. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rhode Island Red females producing eggs ranging from medium to very dark brown in egg shell color were utilized for this investigation. The pigmentation of immature eggs, manually expelled from the uterus, was compared with that of eggs laid by the same hen . . .
Thinking about the International System in the `Information Age': Theoretical Assumptions and Contradictions

The coming of more efficient means of international communication, especially satellite television, have changed forever the character of international relations, leading many to assume that these developments will spawn an international system of democratic, peaceful states. This article is a critical analysis of these assumptions about the relationship between communications, democracy and international peace. The argument is that they are based upon specific theoretical premises that in reality have not informed the practice of international relations, especially by the states that have propagated this rhetoric the most. These premises are found in (a) liberal-democratic theory, and (b) liberal trade theory. This article compares and contrasts these theoretical assumptions about the impact of communications technologies upon international relations and illustrates the contradictions inherent in them. The finding that logically flows from this analysis is that even though it has now been proven that some states characterized as democracies do not go to war against each other, the dimension of communication in liberal democracies is worthy of further analysis by political scientists in the search for the specific dynamics of the relationship between democracies and international peace.
Multinational alliances: A note on the perception of technology executives

Multinational alliances in the 1980s came into vogue as one of the prominent instruments of corporate strategies. In the process of forging alliances, especially in the technologyintensive firms, senior technology executives such as directors of R & D often play a vital advisory role. This short paper reports the findings of survey of American technology executives. Among the findings two are noteworthy in the conceptualizations of multinational alliances: Alliances are viewed as a means to solving a firm's strategic problems, and as offering mutual learning opportunities, rather than “win-win possibilities” for firms entering the alliances.
Implications of patterns of carbon pools and fluxes across a semiarid environmental gradient

Abstract Landscape scale environmental gradients present variable spatial patterns and ecological processes caused by climate, topography and soil characteristics and, as such, offer candidate sites to study environmental change. Data are presented on the spatial pattern of dominant species, biomass, and carbon pools and the temporal pattern of fluxes across a transitional zone shifting from Great Basin Desert scrub, up through pinyon–juniper woodlands and into ponderosa pine forest and the ecotones between each vegetation type. The mean annual temperature (MAT) difference across the gradient is approximately 3°C from bottom to top (MAT 8.5–5.5) and annual precipitation averages from 320 to 530 mm/yr, respectively. The stems of the dominant woody vegetation approach a random spatial pattern across the entire gradient, while the canopy cover shows a clustered pattern. The size of the clusters increases with elevation according to available soil moisture which in turn affects available nutrient resources. The total density of woody species declines with increasing soil moisture along the gradient, but total biomass increases. Belowground carbon and nutrient pools change from a heterogenous to a homogenous distribution on either side of the woodlands. Although temperature controls the seasonal patterns of carbon efflux from the soils, soil moisture appears to be the primary driving variable, but response differs underneath the different dominant species. Similarly, decomposition of dominant litter occurs faster at the cooler and more moist sites, but differs within sites due to litter quality of the different species. The spatial pattern of these communities provides information on the direction of future changes. The ecological processes that we documented are not statistically different in the ecotones as compared to the adjoining communities, but are different at sites above the woodland than those below the woodland. We speculate that an increase in MAT will have a major impact on C pools and C sequestering and release processes in these semiarid landscapes. However, the impact will be primarily related to moisture availability rather than direct effects of an increase in temperature.
The U.S. Navy Doppler Geodetic System and its Observational Accuracy

This paper describes the configuration and general operations of the Doppler system Tranet that is supported by the U.S. Navy for geodetic research. It also discusses all sources of observational error that contribute more than 1 m in the calculation of position from Doppler data. The current observational accuracy of the system is estimated to be 10 m for the data from a single pass of a near Earth satellite.
Unique use of alternative polyadenylation signals in the mouse aldolase B gene.

We isolated and sequenced two mouse aldolase B cDNAs. They differ only in the length of the 3′ untranslated region. This is consistent with Northern blot analysis of liver RNA which shows two transcripts differing by 400 nucleotides. We also isolated and sequenced the corresponding 3′ genomic region and found four polyadenylation signals in the final exon. RNase protection studies demonstrate that all four of these signals are utilized, but not equally. This is unique to the mouse aldolase B gene.