cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural studies of uranyl complexes of diphenyl-dimethylaminosulfonylmethyl phosphine oxide and diisopropyl-tolylsulfinylmethyl phosphonate ligands

The molecular structures of the bifunctional ligand, (C 6 H 5 ) 2 P(O)CH 2 S(O) 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 ( 1 ), and its coordination complex, UO 2 (NO 3 ) 2 [(C 6 H 5 ) 2 P(O)CH 2 - S(O) 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 ] 2 ( 2 ), were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and the structural influences on the ligand due to coordination were examined. The ligand 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc , with a = 15.982(3), b = 10.003(2), c = 10.245(3) A, β = 99.47(2)°, Z = 4 and V = 1615.5 A 3 , R F = 2.8% on 1158 unique reflections ( I ≥ 2σ( I )). Complex 2 is found in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c , with a = 12.680(3), b = 16.149(5), c = 20.204(6) A, β = 107.17(2), Z = 4 and V = 3952.7 A 3 , R F = 5.2% on 5060 unique reflections ( I ≥ 2σ( I )). The complex contains two phosphine oxide ligands bonded to the uranium atom through the phosphoryl oxygen atoms in a trans orientation with UO(P) 2.35(1) A. The molecular structure for the sulfinylmethylphosphonate complex, UO 2 (NO 3 ) 2 [(i-C 3 H 7 O) 2 P(O)CH 2 S(O)( p -CH 3 C 6 H 4 )] ( 3 ), was also determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and it crystallized in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c , with a = 10.759- (8), b = 13.811(3), c = 17.823(5) A, β = 105.83(3)°, Z = 4 and V = 2548 A 3 , R F = 10.9% on 1908 unique reflections ( I ≥ 2σ( I )). The complex shows a single ligand bonded in a bidentate mode to the uranium atom with UO(P) 2.37(2) A and UO(S) 2.36(2) A.
Universal adaptive control of nonlinear systems with unknown growth rate by output feedback

This paper investigates the problem of global stabilization by output feedback, for a family of uncertain nonlinear systems without zero dynamics. These nonlinear systems are dominated by a triangular system satisfying linear growth condition. In contrast to the previous work in the literature, the growth rate here is a positive constant but not known a priori, and therefore the problem becomes more involved and difficult. Using the idea of universal control combined with the output feedback design method developed in Qian and Lin (2002, 2003), we explicitly construct a universal-type adaptive output feedback controller which globally regulates all the states of the uncertain systems without knowing the growth rate.
Vote-By-Phone Usability Evaluation of an IVR Voting System

There are a myriad of voting technologies available today, but a noted lack of remote voting methods. In this paper we explore a novel remote voting method that allows users to vote-by-phone. This method used an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to allow users to vote using a touch-tone telephone. The IVR voting system has several advantages including ubiquity of access, accuracy, and accessibility. We developed and tested three iterations of IVR voting systems and examined the usability of each system to determine the merit of an IVR voting system as a voting platform. The usability of the IVR voting systems were compared with traditional voting methods to understand how they performed in relation to these other voting methods. The results showed that the vote-by-phone method was as accurate and as subjectively usable, but not as efficient, as traditional voting methods. These results suggest that an IVR voting system could be viable candidate as a voting platform.
Spatial mode dynamics of a thalamo-cortical network

In this paper we extend recent work concerning the emergence of macroscopic patterns in a thalamo-cortical network. A small number of thalamic `cells' were used to drive a network of cortical cells structured on a square lattice consisting of 2-torus connectivity. It was previously shown that the network can exhibit irregular and periodic spatial behavior with the latter including both standing and traveling waves. A systematic analysis of this network across a wide range of driving frequencies revealed several properties of its spatiotemporal behavior which resemble those of the 8 - 12 Hz cortical alpha rhythm. We extend these results by examining the time-dependent amplitude of the spatial modes of this network and derive a system of ODEs to characterize their dynamics. Finally, we investigate the relationship between changes at the microscopic (cellular) level of this system and their effect on these macroscopic parameters.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Use and Misuse of SWOT Analysis and Implications for HRD Professionals

Abstract This article explores the often-used strategy tool known as the SWOT analysis. The history of this tool is explained as well as common uses. The results of a literature review indicate a clear lack of empirical research on the topic and what little research has appeared is reviewed for the purposes of understanding how to further support and develop this tool. An integrative process for conducting SWOT analyses is provided with recommendations for optimizing SWOT in HRD contexts. Common misuses and pitfalls are also discussed along with suggested research for adding robustness to this classic strategic tool.
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF45 interacts with kinesin-2 transporting viral capsid-tegument complexes along microtubules.

Open reading frame (ORF) 45 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a tegument protein. A genetic analysis with a null mutant suggested a possible role for this protein in the events leading to viral egress. In this study, ORF45 was found to interact with KIF3A, a kinesin-2 motor protein that transports cargoes along microtubules to cell periphery in a yeast two-hybrid screen. The association was confirmed by both co-immunoprecipitation and immunoflorescence approaches in primary effusion lymphoma cells following virus reactivation. ORF45 principally mediated the docking of entire viral capsid-tegument complexes onto the cargo-binding domain of KIF3A. Microtubules served as the major highways for transportation of these complexes as evidenced by drastically reduced viral titers upon treatment of cells with a microtubule depolymerizer, nocodazole. Confocal microscopic images further revealed close association of viral particles with microtubules. Inhibition of KIF3A–ORF45 interaction either by the use of a headless dominant negative (DN) mutant of KIF3A or through shRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous KIF3A expression noticeably decreased KSHV egress reflecting as appreciable reductions in the release of extracellular virions. Both these approaches, however, failed to impact HSV-1 egress, demonstrating the specificity of KIF3A in KSHV transportation. This study thus reports on transportation of KSHV viral complexes on microtubules by KIF3A, a kinesin motor thus far not implicated in virus transportation. All these findings shed light on the understudied but significant events in the KSHV life cycle, delineating a crucial role of a KSHV tegument protein in cellular transport of viral particles.
Events, processes, and states

The familiar Vendler-Kenny scheme of verb-types, viz., performances (further differentiated by Vedler into accomplishments and achievements), activities, and states, is too narrow in two important respects. First, it is narrow linguistically. It fails to take into account the phenomenon of verb aspect. The trichotomy is not one of verbs as lexical types but of predications. Second, the trichotomy is narrow ontologically. It is a specification in the context of human agency of the more fundamental, topic-neutral trichotomy, event-process-state. The central component in this ontological trichotomy, event, can be sharply differentiated from its two flanking components by adapting a suggestion by Geoffrey N. Leech and others that the contrast between perfective and imperfective aspect in verbs corresponds to the count/mass distinction in the domain of nouns. With the help of two distinctions, of “cardinal count” adverbials versus frequency adverbials, and of occurrence versus associated occasion, two interrelated criteria for event predication are developed. Accordingly, “Mary capsized the boat” is an event predication because (a) it is equivalent to “There was at least one capsizing of the boat by Mary,” or (b) because it admits cardinal count adverbials, e.g., “at least once,” “twice,” “three times.” Ontologically speaking, events are defined as those occurrences that are inherently countable.
THE PERFORMANCE CONSEQUENCES OF SUBFIELD ENTRY

The emergence of technical subfields is a common phenomenon in dynamic as well as relatively stable industries. The proper strategic response to the emergence of a subfield, that is, the decision on whether to enter or not to enter, is a key determinant of future firm performance. We propose that this entry decision is not a simple one. The effects of subfield entry may be influenced by strategic factors related to the subfield as well as to the greater industry environment. In this study, we apply a population ecology framework to the study of subfield birth and evolution and use this perspective to develop and test several propositions related to the effects of subfield entry on performance. The data pertain to the evolution of the automatic teller machine subfield over the first 9 years of its existence for a population of over 3500 banks. Our results support the population ecology framework, generally emphasizing the positive performance consequences of early subfield entry. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Belief congruence and racial discrimination: Review of the evidence and critical evaluation

A review of the literature pertaining to Rokeach, Smith, and Evans' (1960) belief congruence theory provided a context for discussion of some methodological and theoretical issues relating to conceptualization of the dependent variables, beliefcontent, belief discrepancy, meaningfulness of the race—belief comparison, attitude—belief feedback loops, attitude structure, and the relation between self and ideal similarity. The literature was judged supportive of a weak version of belief congruence theory which states that in those contexts in which social pressure is nonexistent or ineffective, belief is more important than race as a determinant of racial or ethnic discrimination. Evidence for a strong version of belief congruence theory (which states that in those contexts in which social pressure is nonexistent, or ineffective, belief is the only determinant of racial or ethnic discrimination) and was judged much more problematic.
Mechanisms of adsorbate-induced surface resistivity––experimental and theoretical developments

Abstract Recent experimental and theoretical developments in explaining adsorbate effects on electronic conduction in metals are critically reviewed. These effects are of more than academic interest, with applications in nanotechnology, chemical sensing, and tribology. The prevailing model treats the metal as a free-electron gas and the adsorbates as independent point scatterers. This model, first developed by Fuchs and Sondheimer and elaborated in recent years by Persson and Volokitin, makes specific quantitative predictions regarding the optical effects of surface resistivity. Some have been accurately verified, including the spectral shape and temperature dependence of the adsorbate-induced reflectance change, and anti-absorption resonances associated with dipole-forbidden vibrations. The model also predicts, however, that the ratio of the adsorbate-induced reflectance and resistivity changes should depend only on the properties of the metal, and not on those of the adsorbate, and this prediction is strongly violated in several recent experiments. Possible explanations of the discrepancy are discussed.
Adult male replacement and social change in two troops of hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) at Jodhpur, India

I studied the process of adult male replacement and social change in two one- male troops (B20 and B21) of hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus)at Jodhpur, India. Male-male competition lasted for about 6 months before the successful takeover of one troop (B20). During that period, five adult males from three neighboring bands (AMB7, AMB9, and AMB10) and a resident male of a neighboring troop (B21) were involved in taking over the troop. The latter male also copulated with six females during his interim residency, which suggests that he may have opportunistically maximized his mating chances with females of a neighboring group. During an intertroop interaction, a 14-month-old female infant of the other troop (B21) was fatally attacked by an adult female of the first troop and the infant eventually died. The attacker may have taken advantage of the disorganization created by male-male competition, perhaps to eliminate a future food competitor. In addition, the first troop gained an additional feeding area from the other troop’s range; it included a sleeping site and a waterhole, indicating that territorial fights during social instability may have led to the expansion of the winner’s resource area.
The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children and adolescents with major depression.

TOPIC: Recent warnings about suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior in youth treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors raise fundamental questions about the risk–benefit ratio of this class of medications. METHODS: Data from placebo-controlled trials are used to elucidate the potential risks and benefits of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in children and adolescent with major depression. This analysis forms the basis of clinical recommendations. SOURCES: The review includes the six large-scale, placebo-controlled trials that have been published over the past decade. These data were augmented by information from regulatory hearings in 2003–2004 and selected open-label reports. CONCLUSIONS: Emerging data from several clinical trials show that the SSRIs have modest effects on childhood depression. In addition, SSRI treatment may be associated with behavioral activation, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Appropriate use of SSRIs in children and adolescents requires careful diagnostic assessment, evaluation of co-occurring conditions, and diligent monitoring, especially within the first weeks of treatment.
A typological approach to the psychological study of Chinese and Japanese American college males.

A typology formed from scores on the School and College Ability Test, Strong Vocational Interest Blank, and the Omnibus Personality Inventory was applied to 104 Chinese and 50 Japanese American males to identify certain homogeneous subgroups and their resultant psychological characteristics. Chinese and Japanese American males tended to concentrate in certain groups and exhibit unique characteristics that seem explicable in terms of their cultural background and historical experience in America. In addition, our results seem to indicate that Asian Americans are experiencing more stress than their Caucasian counterparts.
Analysis and design of AQM based on state-space models for stabilizing TCP

In this paper, we formulate the AQM (active queue management) design problem for stabilizing a given TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) as state-space models. Thereby, we show that PD-type (proportional-derivative) AQM is a natural state-feedback control structure to stabilize the given TCP for the first time, to our knowledge, in the networking literature and by applying integral control action, a PID-control structure that is a unified framework for analysis and design of AQM. Next, we compensate for delays in congestion measure explicitly by using a memory control. Third, we obtain stabilizing optimal gains of the proposed feedback control structures for linearized systems of the given TCP. We interpret existing AQMs, including a simplified random early detection, random exponential marking, PI and a simplified adaptive virtual queue, as different approximations of the unified AQM structure. We discuss the impact of each structure on the performance from the results of the stabilizing optimal AQMs. Finally, we illustrate our results through simulations for TCP Reno.
Organizational Citizenship: A Review, Proposed Model, and Research Agenda

Organizational citizenship was recently proposed as a form of job performance which may be more strongly related to job satisfaction than performance measures employed in previous job satisfaction-job performance research. However organizational citizenship holds more promise for organizational behavior research than merely its relationship to job satisfaction. Organ (1988a) argues that organizational citizenship, in the aggregate, promotes the effective functioning of the organization. Citizenship is defined as "supra-role behavior," that is, behavior which goes beyond formal job descriptions but which is desired by an organization (Organ, 1988a). Examples include helping co-workers who fall behind in task performance, keeping a work area clean, accepting temporary assignments without complaint, volunteering for tasks that are not assigned, and making suggestions which will improve the department (Bateman & Organ, 1983; Smith, Organ & Near, 1983). This paper presents the results of the studies which have...
Generating optimized code from SCR specifications

A promising trend in software development is the increasing adoption of model-driven design. In this approach, a developer first constructs an abstract model of the required program behavior in a language, such as Statecharts or Stateflow, and then uses a code generator to automatically transform the model into an executable program. This approach has many advantages---typically, a model is not only more concise than code and hence more understandable, it is also more amenable to mechanized analysis. Moreover, automatic generation of code from a model usually produces code with fewer errors than hand-crafted code.One serious problem, however, is that a code generator may produce inefficient code. To address this problem, this paper describes a method for generating efficient code from SCR (Software Cost Reduction) specifications. While the SCR tabular notation and tools have been used successfully to specify, simulate, and verify numerous embedded systems, until now SCR has lacked an automated method for generating optimized code. This paper describes an efficient method for automatic code generation from SCR specifications, together with an implementation and an experimental evaluation. The method first synthesizes an execution-flow graph from the specification, then applies three optimizations to the graph, namely, input slicing, simplification, and output slicing, and then automatically generates code from the optimized graph. Experiments on seven benchmarks demonstrate that the method produces significant performance improvements in code generated from large specifications. Moreover, code generation is relatively fast, and the code produced is relatively compact.
Transmembrane cytoskeletal modulation in preterminal growing axons: I. Arrest of bulk and organelle transport in goldfish retinal ganglion cell axons regenerating in vitro by lectins binding to sialoglycoconjugates

Goldfish retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons regenerating in vitro exhibit a novel mode of axoplasmic transport that entails a rapid bidirectional bulk redistribution of axoplasm, "packaged" as protruding varicosities and non-protruding phase-dense inclusions (Koenig et al.: J. Neurosci. 5:715-729, 1985; Edmonds and Koenig Brain Res. 406:288-293, 1987). We have used phase-contrast video microscopy to study transmembrane effects of surface-binding lectins on bulk transport and transport of single visible organelles in RGC axons. Our findings show that certain lectins which crosslink sialoglycoconjugates, such as wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and the more specific sialic acid-binding lectin Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA), induce a rapid inhibition of transport activity. The LFA-induced inhibition of transport can be reversed by appropriate simple sugar haptens, and can also be antagonized by pretreatment with cytochalasin D. One of the consequences of LFA binding is an increase in RITC-conjugated phalloidin fluorescence staining of preterminal axons. The latter observation in conjunction with the antagonistic action of cytochalasin D suggests that one possible explanation for the transmembrane arrest of transport induced by crosslinking of surface sialoglycoconjugates may involve a polymerization and/or reorganization of the actin filament network which hinders translocation of mobile axoplasmic components.
Mass spectrometric characterization of gelsolin isoforms.

Gelsolin is the most widely expressed member of the actin capping and severing family of proteins. There are two isoforms of gelsolin: isoform 1, a secretory (plasma) protein that is 51 amino acids longer than isoform 2, a cytosolic protein, at the N-terminus; the first 27 amino acids is a signal sequence. Both isoforms are coded by a single gene and differ as a result of alternative initiation site/ splicing. The level of gelsolin in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is altered in many diseases including amyloidoses and other neurodegenerative disorders. Although quantitative analysis of gelsolin has been reported, lack of suitable antibodies makes it impossible to differentiate these two isoforms by immunodetection techniques and no other technique is available. Therefore, ambiguity exists whether gelsolin present in circulation is isoform 1 or also isoform 2 released from lysed cells. We report in this communication a mass spectrometry approach to identify isoform 1 of gelsolin immunopurified from human plasma and CSF. Recombinant isoform 1 was used as reference.
Cutaneous Lesions in the Rat Following Administration of an Irreversible Inhibitor of erbB Receptors, Including the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor:

CI-1033 (canertinib) is an irreversible inhibitor of the erbB family of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, including the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Various inhibitors of the EGF receptor, including CI-1033, have resulted in cutaneous toxicity in humans as a common adverse event. In a chronic toxicity study in rats, CI-1033 produced cutaneous lesions with morphologic characteristics similar to that reported in man. Here the authors describe in detail the dermal changes observed, along with other noteworthy findings of that study. Male and female Wistar rats (15/sex/group) were administered CI-1033 for 27 weeks at 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg (15, 30, or 60 mg/m(2), respectively) by gavage. Control animals (15/sex) received vehicle alone (aqueous 0.5% methylcellulose) in a dose volume of 5 mL/kg. Six animals/sex/dose were included for toxicokinetic evaluations. Skin lesions were the primary drug-related toxicity and occurred at > or = 2.5 mg/kg in a dose-dependent fashion. The major gross lesions were papules that evolved into crusts and scales that were first observed in weeks 1 and 3, respectively. Alopecia developed in conjunction with the papular eruptions. Skin changes were most pronounced in females, possibly due to higher drug levels. In week 13, CI-1033 plasma AUC(0-24) values were 527 to 1980 ng.h/mL in males and 844 to 2920 ng x h/mL in females at 2.5 to 10 mg/kg. Microscopic changes could be described as 3 patterns that affected the tail and body (haired skin). Pattern 1 consisted of epidermal changes that started as a superficial, perivascular spongiotic dermatitis with evolving epidermal hyperplasia, scale-crusts, and areas of ulceration. Areas of hyperplasia on the tail were often associated with the development of new hair follicles. Pattern 2 was characterized by a suppurative to pyogranulomatous infundibular folliculitis. Pattern 3 consisted of abnormally oriented hair follicles with malformed hair shafts that were associated with a deeper (isthmic) folliculitis; this correlated with alopecia. Elevations in bone marrow myeloid counts correlated with a peripheral leukocytosis, consistent with inflammatory changes in the dermis. In addition, hepatic cholestasis and epithelial atrophy in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina occurred at > or = 2.5 mg/kg. In conclusion, CI-1033 produced cutaneous lesions involving the epidermis and hair follicle, and the morphologic characteristics were similar to that reported in clinical studies with various inhibitors of the EGF receptor. These changes are consistent with pharmacologic inhibition of the EGF receptor in these tissues and demonstrate that the rat can serve as an animal model for investigating the mechanisms for this toxicity.
Bacterial Infection Promotes DNA Hypermethylation

Maternal oral infection, caused by bacteria such as C. rectus or P. gingivalis, has been implicated as a potential source of placental and fetal infection and inflammatory challenge, which increases the relative risk for pre-term delivery and growth restriction. Intra-uterine growth restriction has also been reported in various animal models infected with oral organisms. Analyzing placental tissues of infected growth-restricted mice, we found down-regulation of the imprinted Igf2 gene. Epigenetic modification of imprinted genes via changes in DNA methylation plays a critical role in fetal growth and development programming. Here, we assessed whether C. rectus infection mediates changes in the murine placenta Igf2 methylation patterns. We found that infection induced hypermethylation in the promoter region-P0 of the Igf2 gene. This novel finding, correlating infection with epigenetic alterations, provides a mechanism linking environmental signals to placental phenotype, with consequences for development.
Efficient suboptimal solutions of switched LQR problems

This paper studies the discrete-time switched LQR (DSLQR) problem using a dynamic programming approach. Efficient algorithms are proposed to solve both the finite-horizon and the infinite-horizon suboptimal DSLQR problems. More importantly, we establish analytical conditions under which the strategies generated by the algorithms are stabilizing and suboptimal. These conditions are derived explicitly in terms of subsystem matrices and are thus easy to verify. The proposed algorithms and the analysis provide a systematical way of solving the DSLQR problem with guaranteed closed-loop stability and suboptimal performance. Simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithms can efficiently solve not only specific but also randomly generated DSLQR problems, making NP-hard problems numerically tractable.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the RNA journal.

On the wonderful occasion of the RNA journal's 20th anniversary, I think one can say without a doubt that the RNA field has been an amazing source of excitement and remarkable advances that have inseminated multiple fields across biology and medicine. The RNA journal reflects the vibrant and collegial RNA community, but the journal's success is also a tribute to the superb leadership, integrity, and scholarship of its Editor, Tim Nilsen, and dedicated Editorial Board. I feel very fortunate to have been working in this exciting field no less because of the many friendships I have made with wonderful colleagues and mostly the truly exceptional individuals that I have had in my laboratory. The journey, so far, has been phenomenal and full of surprises. Looking back, I would not have been able to foresee the course that my laboratory took since the journal's inception. I will briefly describe some highlights that stand out in my mind from our own research and how we got there. I regret that the concise format precludes mentioning the major contributions and influence that others have had on our work—they are many! My laboratory has a long-standing interest in RNA-binding proteins, RNA-protein complexes (RNPs), and their roles in gene regulation and disease. Most gene regulation in complex eukaryotes occurs post-transcriptionally and is mediated by RNA-binding proteins and small noncoding RNAs. To produce mRNA, the primary gene transcripts of the majority of protein coding genes (pre-mRNAs; historically hnRNAs) are extensively processed to remove translation open reading frame-disrupting introns by splicing, and by 5′-end capping and 3′-end cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA). Splicing is mediated by the spliceosome, comprised of non-coding small nuclear RNPs (major: U1, U2, U4, U5, U6; minor: U11, U12, U4atac, U6atac) and protein factors. The majority of pre-mRNAs have multiple introns, each with 5′- and 3′-splice sites (ss) and multiple polyadenylation signals (PASs) that can be utilized in various alternative combinations to produce diverse mRNA and protein isoforms from the same gene. Pre-mRNA processing initiates co-transcriptionally and completes in the nucleus. The mRNAs are then transported to the cytoplasm where they can be translated and are subsequently degraded. Each of these events is regulated in a cell type and cell cycle stage-dependent manner and in response to external cues. All these processes, including recognition of constitutive and alternative pre-mRNA processing signals, depend on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs or RNP proteins).
The effect of political regimes and technology on economic growth

Do political regimes have a significant effect on economic growth? This study builds on the new neoclassical growth model to identify economic determinants of growth, and explicitly tests for the influence of political variables on economic performance for the 1990s. The results suggest that democracies and bureaucracies significantly outperform autocracies. Economic growth is also promoted by increased protection of property rights, and higher investment in education. Moreover, technology has become a requirement for efficient production, and hence, is crucial in promoting growth. Countries can therefore increase the level of economic growth by increasing the levels of education and technology in the economy, and establishing codified laws to foster property rights.
Necessary and Sufficient Role for T Helper Cells To Prevent Fungal Dissemination in Allergic Lung Disease

ABSTRACT Mucosal immune responses to fungal infection range from T helper type 2 (Th2) cell-directed allergic inflammation to Th1-predominant neutrophilic inflammation, but the mechanisms directing these divergent mucosal immune outcomes and the role of T cells in host defense against mucosal fungal infections are not known. Here we examined the mouse mucosal immune responses to 12 filamentous environmental fungal species over a broad range of exposure doses and determined the requirement of T cells for host defense. For all tested fungi, low-grade conidium exposures induced Th2- and eosinophil-predominant allergic lung disease, whereas higher exposures led to rapid conversion to neutrophil- and Th1 cell-predominant inflammation, a phenomenon we term immune phenotype switching. All fungal exposure doses were further linked to the secretion of interleukin-17A (IL-17A). Fungal infections with Curvularia lunata and Aspergillus fumigatus were typically confined to the airway during allergic inflammation but became locally invasive and disseminated to the brain at higher conidium challenge doses, in association with predominant Th1 responses. Fungal dissemination occurred at relatively low challenge doses with the conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus administered to recombinase activating gene 1 (Rag-1)-deficient mice, which lack B and T cells, but B cell-deficient μMT mice and T helper cell-reconstituted Rag-1-deficient mice were comparable to wild-type mice in preventing fungal dissemination. Our findings demonstrate that Th2 cell-predominant allergic responses followed by immune phenotype switching and fungal dissemination are highly predictable outcomes with progressive fungal infectious burdens and that T helper cell responses are protective against lethal fungal dissemination.
Two-phase westward encroachment of Basin and Range extension into the northern Sierra Nevada

[1] Structural, geophysical, and thermochronological data from the transition zone between the Sierra Nevada and the Basin and Range province at latitude ∼39°N suggest ∼100 km westward encroachment of Basin and Range extensional deformation since the middle Miocene. Extension, accommodated primarily by east dipping normal faults that bound west tilted, range-forming fault blocks, varies in magnitude from 150% in the Wassuk and Singatse Ranges to the east. Geological and apatite fission track data from exhumed upper crustal sections in the Wassuk and Singatse Ranges point to rapid footwall cooling related to large magnitude extension starting at ∼14–15 Ma. Farther to the west, geological and thermochronological data indicate a younger period of extension in the previously unextended Pine Nut Mountains, the Carson Range, and the Tahoe-Truckee depression initiated between 10 Ma and 3 Ma, and incipient post-0.5 Ma faulting to the west of the Tahoe-Truckee area. These data imply the presence of an extensional breakaway zone between the Singatse Range and the Pine Nut Mountains at ∼14–15 Ma, forming the boundary between the Sierra Nevada and Basin and Range at that time. In addition, fission track data imply a Miocene preextensional geothermal gradient of 27 ± 5°C km−1 in the central Wassuk Range and 20 ± 5°C km−1 in the Singatse Range, much higher than the estimated early Tertiary gradient of 10 ± 5°C km−1 for the Sierra Nevada batholith. This might point to a significant increase in geothermal gradients coupled with a likely decrease in crustal strength enabling the initiation of extensional faulting. Apatite fission track, geophysical, and geological constraints across the Sierra Nevada-Basin and Range transition zone indicate a two-stage, coupled structural and thermal westward encroachment of the Basin and Range province into the Sierra Nevada since the middle Miocene.
Two-dimensional block adaptive filtering algorithms

A technique for 2-D system identification which processes 2-D signals using 2-D blocks is proposed. Two algorithms which perform 2-D FIR (finite impulse response) adaptive filtering using 2-D error blocks or windows are presented. The first algorithm uses a convergence factor that is constant for each 2-D coefficient at each window iteration. This algorithm is termed the two-dimensional block least mean square algorithm (TDBLMS). A novel 2-D adaptive fast LMS algorithm which processes 2-D signals is presented. In this algorithm, a convergence factor is obtained that is the same for all 2-D coefficients at a particular window iteration, but is updated at each window iteration. This algorithm is called the two-dimensional optimum block algorithm (TDOBA). The convergence properties of the TDBLMS and TDOBA are investigated and compared using computer simulations for both disjoint and overlapping windows. It is shown that the TDOBA clearly outperforms the TDBLMS algorithm with respect to convergence speed and accuracy of adaptation. >
Compact Miniature High-Resolution Thermometer

We report a compact miniature high-resolution thermometer (CMHRT) based on dilute paramagnetic alloy of PdMn and commercially available Neodymium (NdFeB) magnets. The thermometer utilizes the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of the alloy in an applied magnetic field. The change in susceptibility is measured with a pickup coil connected to a dc-SQUID. Based on this approach, we have developed a self-contained thermometer with sub-nanoKelvin sensitivity with the operating temperature range of 1.6-4 K. Its design, assembly, and performance are described.
The Duplication/Random Loss Model for Gene Rearrangement Exemplified by Mitochondrial Genomes of Deuterostome Animals

One model for gene rearrangement specifies that a portion of the genome is duplicated, followed by the random loss of the now supernumerary genes. Depending on which genes are lost, this process may reorder the duplicated block of genes. Comparisons of mitochondrial genomes have many advantages for addressing the processes of molecular evolution, including gene rearrangement. Here is an analysis of those variations in mitochondrial gene arrangement observed so far among the best sampled group, the deuterostome animals. The duplication/ random loss model is invoked to potentially reconstruct many, though not all, of these rearrangements.
Perceived health and gambling behavior of inmates: a review of the literature.

Purpose An integrative review was conducted to determine perceived health and gambling behavior in incarcerated adults (ages 18-49), measures of perceived health and gambling behavior, and relationships between perceived health and gambling behavior. Conclusions Adult inmates report poorer perceived health and increased levels of gambling problems than those who are not incarcerated. No research investigating the relationships between perceived health and gambling among adult inmates was found. Practice implications Knowledge of relationships between perceived health and gambling can assist healthcare providers in understanding potential healthcare needs of the inmates and begin treatment while they are still incarcerated. Nurses in settings such as free and private clinics, homeless shelters, churches, and emergency departments need to screen for problem gambling in this population. This will facilitate appropriate referrals and continued treatment as these inmates transition back into society.
Community health assessment using self-organizing maps and geographic information systems

From a public health perspective, a healthier community environment correlates with fewer occurrences of chronic or infectious diseases. Our premise is that community health is a non-linear function of environmental and socioeconomic effects that are not normally distributed among communities. The objective was to integrate multivariate data sets representing social, economic, and physical environmental factors to evaluate the hypothesis that communities with similar environmental characteristics exhibit similar distributions of disease. The SOM algorithm used the intrinsic distributions of 92 environmental variables to classify 511 communities into five clusters. SOM determined clusters were reprojected to geographic space and compared with the distributions of several health outcomes. ANOVA results indicated that the variability between community clusters was significant with respect to the spatial distribution of disease occurrence. Our study demonstrated a positive relationship between environmental conditions and health outcomes in communities using the SOM-GIS method to overcome data and methodological challenges traditionally encountered in public health research. Results demonstrated that community health can be classified using environmental variables and that the SOM-GIS method may be applied to multivariate environmental health studies.
Individual homogenization of nonlinear parabolic operators

In this article, we prove an individual homogenization result for a class of almost periodic nonlinear parabolic operators. The spatial and temporal heterogeneities are almost periodic functions in the sense of Besicovitch. The latter allows discontinuities and is suitable for many applications. First, we derive stability and comparison estimates for sequences of G-convergent nonlinear parabolic operators. Furthermore, using these estimates, the individual homogenization result is shown.
Approximate Molecular Potentials of Mescaline Analogues in a Study of Similarities to 5-Hydroxytryptamine

The electrostatic potentials of five substituted phenethylamines have been calculated and compared with that of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). A common pattern of potentials was found in four of the five phenethylamines and 5-hydroxytryptamine which is associated with a previously postulated 5-HT pharmacophore. These four analogues are qualitatively reported as being hallucinogenic; the fifth analogue is not. A quantitative relationship was found between the hallucinogenic potency in the four phenethylamines and the decline of a negative electrostatic potential in the region between the 3 and 4 phenyl positions, reinforcing previous reports on the quantitative importance of this part of the molecule.
Limited Liability Companies as Exempt Organizations

The use of limited liability companies and exempt organizations has exploded over recent years. The combination of the two types of entities raise tax issues that deserve close attention. In particular, limited liability companies raise three issues in the exempt organization context. First, can a limited liability company be disregarded if part of an exempt organization? Second, can a limited liability company be an exempt organization? Do contributions to disregarded limited liability companies wholly owned by exempt organizations qualify for the 170 charitable contribution deduction? This article addresses each of those questions based upon the limited guidance in this area. As limited liability companies become a larger part of business operations and property ownership, more guidance will undoubtedly be required to further address the three questions.
Abstract TP44: Brain Areas Affected by Severity of Vascular Disease as Characterized by fMRI Measures

Background: Vascular disease has the potential of imposing varying degrees of structural, as well as functional changes onto the brain. In this study, we examined the effect of three levels of vasc...
The ocean is our classroom: A 4-year research track for undergraduate exploration, research and discovery in oceanography

Mitigating and adapting to climate change while the global human population continues its projected growth will be the dominant choice challenge confronting the present generation of undergraduates over their professional lifetimes. Today's students should be prepared to develop solutions that will involve the sea, but life-changing at-sea research experiences for undergraduates are limited. The rapid expansion of ocean observatories provides a solution. We have demonstrated in our own observatory how undergraduate student research can be enabled as a year-round activity during a student's full undergraduate career starting on day 1. What began as the Challenger Glider Mission has spread to other observatory technology and science activities both locally and in remote polar regions.
Gramian constraints in the joint inversion of airborne gravity gradiometry and magnetic data

Summa ry We apply Gramian constraints for the joint inversion of airbo rne gravity gradiometry and magnetic data. The method does not require any a priori knowledge about the types of relationships between the different model parameters, but instead determines the form of these relationships in the process of the inversion. The Gramian constraints make it possible to consider both linear and nonlinear relationships between the different physical parameters of a geological model. As an illustration, we consider in this paper polynomial relationships between different model parameters. The case study includes joint inversion of airborne gravity gradiometer (AGG) and magnetic data collected by Fugro Airborne Surveys in the area of McFaulds Lake located in northwestern Ontario. This case study demonstrates how joint inversion may enhance the produced subsurface images of a deposit.
Bayesian Statistics in Marketing

Bayesian statistics points the way to an articulation of business judgment and statistical research in approaching marketing problems. We have always known that neither executive nor statistician is sufficient in himself, but now for the first time we have formal tools that show that the two can be brought closer together. This article shows how this may be accomplished. Also, see the succeeding article, "Bayesian Decision Theory in Pricing Strategy," by Paul E. Green, pp. 5-14. THE application of statistics to marketing has grown substantially in recent decades. Yet statistics has remained more of a "sideshow" than an integral part of the process of decisionmaking. Too often, consumer surveys and sales analyses have been carried out with little thought about their contribution to management problems. This is hardly surprising, because it is only recently that statistical theorists themselves have seen the potential contribution of statistics to decision-making and have begun to evolve a formal structure of decision theory that can actually be applied. Although the structure is still incomplete, its promise is bright. This structure is called Bayesian statistics. The adjective "Bayesian" comes from Bayes's theorem, an elementary result of probability theory traceable to the Rev. Thomas Bayes, an English clergyman of the 18th century. His theorem typically, although not necessarily, plays an essential part in a Bayesian statistical analysis. Strangely enough, the really distinctive feature of Bayesian statistics is not Bayes's theorem but rather the personalistic interpretation of probability. That is, it is legitimate to quantify our feelings about uncertainty in terms of subjectively assessed numerical probabilities, even when confronted by a single unique decision and when there is no extensive past history on which to base the assessment of probabilities. Assessments are made of probabilities of events that determine the profitability of alternative actions open to a decision-maker. Assessments are also made of profit (more generally, utility) for each possible combination of action and event. For each possible action, expected profit can then be computed, that is, a weighted mean of the possible profits, the weights beings the probabilities mentioned above. The action is chosen for which expected profit is highest. The dominating principle of decision, then, is maximization of expected profit (or utility).
A 2D Covalent Organic Framework with 4.7-nm Pores and Insight into Its Interlayer Stacking

Two-dimensional layered covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) organize π-electron systems into ordered structures ideal for exciton and charge transport and exhibit permanent porosity available for subsequent functionalization. A 2D COF with the largest pores reported to date was synthesized by condensing 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and 4,4′-diphenylbutadiynebis(boronic acid) (DPB). The COF was prepared as both a high surface area microcrystalline powder as well as a vertically oriented thin film on a transparent single-layer graphene/fused silica substrate. Complementary molecular dynamics and density functional theory calculations provide insight into the interlayer spacing of the COF and suggest that adjacent layers are horizontally offset by 1.7–1.8 A, in contrast to the eclipsed AA stacking typically proposed for these materials.
Natriuretic peptides in percutaneous coronary intervention: Aren't they all the same?

with stent placement. Patients who experienced MACE during the mean follow-up of 4 years had higher NT-proANP and NT-proBNP compared with patients who did not experience MACE during follow-up. Importantly, although there was correlation between pre-procedural NT-proANP and NT-proBNP levels, the authors did not find significant collinearity. This was important as multivariate analysis found that only NT-proANP levels were significantly associated with MACE, while NT-proBNP levels did not remain independently associated with MACE. This raises the question of whether biomarkers reflecting ANP levels are superior to those reflecting BNP levels in patients undergoing PCIforpredictionofMACE.Thoughthe majorityofpatientswereundergoing PCI for NSTE-ACS, there were some important limitations. First, patients with a history of chronic heart failure and valvular disease were excluded as elevation of these biomarkers may be a result from these disease states. Furthermore, patients with chronic inflammatory diseasewerealsoexcluded.Finally,thisstudyexcludedpatientsundergoing primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to the difficulty in obtaining consent prior to collection of plasma. While this study is limited as it is in a smaller number of patients, it highlights the need to compare the relative prognostic value of multiple biomarkers in patients undergoing PCI to better predict outcomes. This paper serves as an important reminder that although we often utilize biomarkers and try to simplify our understanding of them, there may be important subtle differences that can be associated with differential prediction of outcomes.