cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Severe upper airway obstruction during sleep

Few disorders may manifest with predominantly sleep-related obstructive breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder, varies in severity and is associated with significant cardiovascular and neurocognitive morbidity. It is estimated that between 8 and 18 million people in the United States have at least mild OSA. Although the exact mechanism of OSA is not well-delineated, multiple factors contribute to the development of upper airway obstruction and include anatomic, mechanical, neurologic, and inflammatory changes in the pharynx. OSA may occur concomitantly with asthma. Approximately 74% of asthmatics experience nocturnal symptoms of airflow obstruction secondary to reactive airways disease. Similar cytokine, chemokine, and histologic changes are seen in both disorders. Sleep deprivation, chronic upper airway edema, and inflammation associated with OSA may further exacerbate nocturnal asthma symptoms. Allergic rhinitis may contribute to both OSA and asthma. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard treatment for OSA. Treatment with CPAP therapy has also been shown to improve both daytime and nighttime peak expiratory flow rates in patients with concomitant OSA and asthma. It is important for allergists to be aware of how OSA may complicate diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. A thorough sleep history and high clinical suspicion for OSA is indicated, particularly in asthma patients who are refractory to standard medication treatments.
Reducing LIDAR wind speed measurement error with optimal filtering

Recent research has shown the potential for reduction in wind turbine generator speed error and structural loads with the introduction of feedforward control using preview LIDAR measurements. Several sources of error exist in the estimation of the wind speeds that will interact with the turbine rotor, including LIDAR distortion and coherence loss due to wind evolution. If a feedforward controller is designed assuming perfect wind speed measurements, however, the error in the disturbance estimate may cause feedforward control to increase output errors. Here we derive the minimum mean square error feedforward controller for imperfect measurements using statistical descriptions of the wind. We show that the resulting controller is the ideal feedforward controller, assuming perfect measurements, in series with a Wiener prefilter to reduce the mean square error of the disturbance estimate. We derive the optimal filter in the frequency domain assuming infinite preview as well as the optimal filter in the time domain with preview time constraints. Examples illustrating the error reduction with optimal prefiltering are provided for simulated control and measurement scenarios.
Effects of serotonergic lesions on investigatory responding by rats in a holeboard.

Both the frequency and the typical durations of nose pokes by rats (male Sprague-Dawleys) into holes in the floor during a 24-min session in a holeboard were markedly increased by electrolytic lesions of the median raphe nucleus, and only slightly increased by lesions of the dorsal raphe nucleus. The raphe lesion-induced augmentation of holeboard responding was evident both 5 and 21 days after surgery, although a significant attenuation of the effect was found in the latter test. These lesions reduced hippocampal and striatal serotonin, respectively. However, comparable depletions of forebrain serotonin produced by infusions of the neurotoxin, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, into the lateral ventricle (100 μg/10 μl), the hippocampus (45 μg/4.5 μl each side), or the median raphe nucleus (3 μg/0.3 μl) had no significant effect on behavior in the holeboard. Furthermore, the neurotoxin was ineffective in affecting holeboard responding in the same animals in which hyperreactivity was demonstrable in a tactile startle test. These results suggest that the effects of electrolytic raphe lesions on behavioral measures of reactivity are better related to depletions of forebrain serotonin than are the effects of these lesions on measures of activity or investigatory behavior. An additional experiment demonstrates that the reductions in holeboard responding produced by either the hallucinogen, d-lysergic acid diethylamide (100 μg/kg), or the dopaminergic agonist, apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg), are unaltered by either electrolytic or neurotoxic lesions of the ascending serotonergic pathways. Therefore, the effects of these drugs on investigatory responses in a holeboard appear to be independent of their effects on central serotonergic systems.
Cross-cultural research on organizational commitment: A review and application of Hofstede's Value Survey Module

Consistent with the growth of interest in international management over the last decade, researchers have begun to explore organizational commitment outside of the United States. In this article, published, empirical research on organizational commitment occurring outside of the United States was reviewed in order to (1) organize what is known about cross-cultural commitment into a coherent and useful form, and (2) illustrate the value of an over-arching theoretical framework for interpreting variation in level of organizational commitment across cultures. Hofstede’s Value Survey Module is offered as a theoretical framework to add coherence to the cross-cultural study of organizational commitment.
Response of the tropical tropopause to El Chichon and the El Nino of 1982‐1983

We present time series of anomalies of tropopause height, tropopause potential temperature and lower stratospheric potential temperature over the tropical western Pacific for the period 1980-1982. These observations show a decrease in tropopause height as anticipated following the lower stratospheric warming associated with El Chichon. However, the magnitude of the decrease in tropopause height is considerably less than expected. Analysis reveals, however, that the tropospheric warming associated with the El Nino can account for this discrepancy.
Comprehensive Characterization of Hybrid Junctions Comprised of a Porphyrin Monolayer Sandwiched Between a Coinage Metal Overlayer and a Si(100) Substrate

The promise of molecular electronics has stimulated a variety of approaches for making hybrid junctions wherein molecules are sandwiched between two metal contacts or a metal and a semiconductor contact. However, the fate of molecules subsequent to deposition of a top metal contact has generally not been well characterized. Toward this goal, the interaction of evaporated Cu, Ag, and Au films deposited in varying thicknesses (3, 5, and 8 nm) on a series of monolayer-coverage porphyrins covalently attached to Si(100) substrates was investigated. Each porphyrin contains a triallyl tripod attached to the porphyrin via a p-phenylene unit, which anchors the porphyrin to the Si(100) substrate via hydrosilylation of the allyl groups. All of the porphyrins are Zn chelates bearing meso p-tolyl substituents orthogonal (lateral) to the tripodal surface anchor, but contain different substituents in the meso position opposite (distal) to the surface anchor, p-tolyl, α,α,α-trifluoro-p-tolyl, pentafluorophenyl, or p-cyan...
Tribological Performances of Polymer-Based Coating Materials Designed for Compressor Applications

With increasing importance of advanced coating materials for use in interacting parts of air-conditioning compressors, several commercially available polymer-based coatings (PTFE/ Pyrrolidone-1, 2, PTFE/MoS2-1, 2, Fluorocarbon, PEEK/PTFE and PEEK/Ceramic coatings) were tribologically evaluated. Friction and wear behavior of these coatings, deposited on gray cast iron were in-situ measured using a specialized pin-on-disk tribometer. The experiments were performed under compressor specific conditions, namely under oscillatory motion simulating piston-type compressor and unidirectional motion simulating swash plate-type compressor operation. Also, the tribological properties of newly developed ATSP-based coatings deposited on aluminum substrates were evaluated under ball-on-disk, unidirectional sliding experiments. Polymer-based coatings exhibited excellent frictional properties, while their wear resistance was also acceptable, even though lower compared to hard coatings. However, the wear debris generated at the interface acted as a third-body solid lubricant with a beneficial role in their overall performance. ATSP coatings blended with fluoroadditives showed superior frictional behavior than pure ATSP coatings, and their wear rate was extremely low compared to commercially available PTFE-based coatings.
Submillimeter scale zonation of δ18O in quartz and feldspar, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Abstract Laser probe analysis of oxygen-isotope ratios in submillimeter domains of quartz and feldspar in hydrothermally altered granite reveals complex intragranular zonation that can be contoured within individual grains. Two samples collected within 10 m of each other in the Maol na Gainmhich Epigranite (MGE), Isle of Skye, Scotland, are similar petrographically, yet display very different δ18O zonation patterns. SK1 has isotopically zoned quartz ( δ 18 O = 1.8–8.2‰ ), with intragranular gradients of δ18O as great as 5 ‰/mm and individually homogeneous grains of K-feldspar (±0.2‰) which also display a large range of values ( δ 18 O = −1.7‰ to −7.3‰ ). Oxygen-isotope gradients of more than 11‰/mm were measured in this sample. In contrast, SK4 has homogeneous quartz (δ18O = 5.7 ± 0.3, n = 14) and a zoned K-feldspar phenocryst ( δ 18 O = − 3.3‰ to −6.9‰ ). Isotopic heterogeneity in quartz correlates with the degree of chlorite alteration in adjacent hornblende grains. The isotopic heterogeneity revealed by the laser probe in single grains of quartz and feldspar is greater than the entire range of values displayed by bulk mineral analysis of samples collected throughout the MGE pluton, although the average values of δ18O obtained by laser probe are identical to the average bulk values. Values in K-feldspar suggest exchange at 400°C with infiltrating meteoric water ( δ 18 O $ −10 ). The marked differences in zonation profiles between samples on the outcrop scale suggest that permeability and isotope exchange during hydrothermal alteration was highly heterogeneous. These microanalytical data for quartz and feldspar provide the first oxygen-isotope evidence from pervasively altered granites that paleopermeability is caused at least in part by intracrystalline microfractures.
Relativistic Coulomb excitation within the time dependent superfluid local density approximation.

Within the framework of the unrestricted time-dependent density functional theory, we present for the first time an analysis of the relativistic Coulomb excitation of the heavy deformed open shell nucleus 238U. The approach is based on the superfluid local density approximation formulated on a spatial lattice that can take into account coupling to the continuum, enabling self-consistent studies of superfluid dynamics of any nuclear shape. We compute the energy deposited in the target nucleus as a function of the impact parameter, finding it to be significantly larger than the estimate using the Goldhaber-Teller model. The isovector giant dipole resonance, the dipole pygmy resonance, and giant quadrupole modes are excited during the process. As a result, the one-body dissipation of collective dipole modes is shown to lead a damping width Γ↓≈0.4 MeV and the number of preequilibrium neutrons emitted has been quantified.
High school grades, admissions policies, and the gender gap in college enrollment

Abstract The female advantage in college enrollment and completion has generated concern among university officials and sparked debate about gender-conscious college admissions. There are a number of explanations for this increasing gender imbalance on college campuses. This paper focuses on the role played by admissions policies that base decisions solely on applicants’ high school grades. Given that females earn higher grades than males, such policies can contribute to growing female shares in admissions. To exemplify this trend, I use publicly-available data from Texas to show that the Texas Top 10% plan, which guarantees public university admission to students who graduate in the top decile of their high school class, led to an increase in the female share of accepted students. The increase was particularly large among black students, where the female share of admitted students was already highest among the major racial/ethnic groups.
Synthesis of actively compensated double-integrator filter without matched operational amplifiers

Actively compensated double-integrator filters proposed so far in the literature require matched operational amplifiers (OA's). Recently a double-integrator loop has been suggested to overcome this difficulty [1]. Even in this filter, the realized Q p is only free of error and is less sensitive to the gain-bandwidth (GB) products of the OA's. In this article, a new filter of this type is suggested which does not require matched OA's and is less sensitive to GB products by an order of magnitude in both realized Q p and ω p . Its superior performance will be brought out by both theoretical as well as experimental results.
β-Glucans: Importance in Brewing and Methods of Analysis

β-Glucans in barley, malt, wort and beer have long been implicated in malting and brewing process problems. In this review we examine the literature on β-glucans and describe methods of β-glucan analysis. A modification of existing enzymatic methods is offered.
Nonlinear realization of supersymmetry and superconformal symmetry

Nonlinear realizations describing the spontaneous breakdown of supersymmetry and $R$-symmetry are constructed using the Goldstino and $R$-axion fields. The associated $R$-current, supersymmetry current and energy-momentum tensor are shown to be related under the nonlinear supersymmetry transformations. Nonlinear realizations of the superconformal algebra carried by these degrees of freedom are also displayed. The divergences of the $R$ and dilatation currents are related to the divergence of the superconformal currents through nonlinear supersymmetry transformations which in turn relates the explicit breakings of these symmetries.
Approximating minimum set cover in a Hopfield-style network

Abstract The minimum set cover problem (MSC) is an important NP-hard problem on hypergraphs. We map MSC to a Hopfield-style network, and then approximately solve it using the network's dynamical algorithms. Approximation performance is experimentally determined on random instances of hypergraphs by comparing it to two known greedy approximation algorithms. Our optimizing dynamics are discrete and efficient. One of the greedy algorithms finds slightly better solutions than the neural network algorithm on hypergraphs containing edges of cardinality up to three. The neural network algorithm is significantly faster, however, and requires less memory. Solutions found by the other greedy algorithms are significantly poorer than those found by the neural network algorithm. The Instructor Hiring Problem (IHP) is defined, and is formulated as an MSC problem. Approximation performance is experimentally determined on pseudorandom instances of IHP. The neural network algorithm is shown to be competitive with the better greedy algorithm.
Cloning and sequencing of the 3′-region of the canine parathyroid hormone-related protein gene and analysis of alternate mRNA splicing in two canine carcinomas

A canine genomic library in Lambda FIX II vector was screened with a 281-base pair canine PTHrP cDNA to the prepro- and coding regions. Two genomic clones were isolated and mapped to the 3 � -end of the PTHrP gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of exons in this region. One clone (3.5 kb) was amplified by PCR, partially sequenced, and compared to the human PTHrP gene. Regions were identified with a high degree of homology to exons 6, 7, and 8 of the human PTHrP gene. A polyadenylation site was present 3 � to the exon 8-like region. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated that exon 7 of the PTHrP gene was transcribed in two canine carcinomas (SCC 2/88 cells and CAC-8 tumor line) which produce PTHrP. This confirmed that the 3 � -region of the canine PTHrP gene is alternately spliced with splicing of exon 6 to exons 7 or 9. Transcription of exon 8 was not demonstrated by RT-PCR and suggests that the exon 8-like region of the dog PTHrP gene is not utilized. The exon 8-like region contained an early stop codon that was not present in exon 8 of the human PTHrP gene. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
Radiation sensitivity of glial cells in primary culture

Primary cultures from newborn mouse brain were subjected to ionizing radiation to determine the sensitivity of galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes and A2B5-positive progenitor cells during development. The radiosensitivity or D0 of the 2 cell populations was determined by measuring the fraction of surviving cells after various doses of x-rays. When the cultures were exposed to a single dose of x-rays at 6 days, oligodendrocytes showed a D0 of 1.4 Gy, and A2B5-positive cells a D0 of 4.5 Gy. When the cultures were exposed to a single dose of x-rays at 12 days, oligodendrocytes showed a D0 of 4.4 Gy, indicating that they have become more radioresistant. Cultures exposed to a dose of 1.5 Gy and monitored from 9 h to 2 weeks after irradiation showed a reduced but constant number of galactocerebroside-positive cells at all time points. Since galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes are non-dividing or slowly dividing cells, the radiosensitivity of young oligodendrocytes was attributed to interphase cell death. These results indicate that young differentiated oligodendrocytes are more radiosensitive than other glial cell types, and that there is no significant replacement of lost oligodendrocytes either through proliferation or through differentiation of progenitors after irradiation in the culture system.
Molecular surface sampling and chemical imaging using proximal probe thermal desorption/secondary ionization mass spectrometry.

Proximal probe thermal desorption/secondary ionization mass spectrometry was studied and applied to molecular surface sampling and chemical imaging using printed patterns on photopaper as test substrates. With the use of a circular cross section proximal probe with a tip diameter of 50 μm and fixed temperature (350 °C), the influence of probe-to-surface distance, lane scan spacing, and surface scan speed on signal quality and spatial resolution were studied and optimized. As a compromise between signal amplitude, signal reproducibility, and data acquisition time, a surface scan speed of 100 μm/s, probe-to-paper surface distance of 5 μm, and lane spacing of 10 μm were used for imaging. Under those conditions the proximal probe thermal desorption/secondary ionization mass spectrometry method was able to achieve a spatial resolution of about 50 μm as determined by the ability to distinguish surface patterns of known dimensions that were printed on the paper substrate. It is expected that spatial resolution a...
Electrocatalytic H2 production with a turnover frequency >107 s-1: the medium provides an increase in rate but not overpotential

Rapid proton movement results in exceptionally fast electrocatalytic H2 production (up to 3 × 107 s−1) at overpotentials of ∼400 mV when catalysed by [Ni(PPh2NC6H4x2)2]2+ complexes in an acidic ionic liquid–water medium ([(DMF)H]NTf2–H2O, χH2O = 0.71).
A Beta-Gamma Discriminator Circuit

The major difficulty encountered in the determination of beta-ray dose in field conditions is generally the presence of a relatively high gamma-ray component. Conventional dosimetry instruments use a shield on the detector to estimate the gamma-ray component in comparison with the beta-ray component. More accurate dosimetry information can be obtained from the measured beta spectrum itself. At Los Alamos, a detector and discriminator circuit suitable for use in a portable spectrometer have been developed. This instrument will discriminate between gammas and betas in a mixed field. The portable package includes a 256-channel MCA [1] which can be programmed to give a variety of outputs, including a spectral display, and may be programmed to read dose directly.
g Factor of the 90-KeV Level in Ru 99 and the Paramagnetic Correction in Transition Atoms

Using the decay of 16.1-day ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{99}$, the half-life of the 90-keV state in ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{99}$ has been measured by observing delayed coincidences for the (354-90)- and the (529-90)-keV cascades. The result ${t}_{\frac{1}{2}}=(20.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)$ nsec, is very suitable for a measurement of the Larmor precession in this level by means of the time-differential angular-correlation technique. To overcome the difficult problem of correcting for paramagnetic shielding, the $g$ factor was determined with the Ru atoms in three magnetically different environments: (1) with a liquid source, (2) with Ru embedded in a copper lattice, and (3) with Ru dissolved in Ni. In the last case the product $g{H}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ was measured as a function of an external polarizing field, yielding both the $g$ factor and the magnetic hyperfine field of Ru in Ni. The method of using cubic metal lattices [case (2) above] is demonstrated to be a reliable way of measuring $g$ factors of excited nuclear states, as there are no interfering perturbation effects due to time-dependent and/or static quadrupole interactions. The final result for the $g$ factor is $g=\ensuremath{-}0.189\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004$, which gives, with a spin of $\frac{3}{2}$ for the 90-keV level, a magnetic moment of $\ensuremath{\mu}=\ensuremath{-}0.284\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006$ nm. Paramagnetic shielding in liquid sources of transition elements is discussed, and $g$ factors previously determined for such sources are shown to be in doubt by 5 to 10%.
Influence of Advertisement on Women's Attitudes Toward Mammography Screening

This project represents an effort to incorporate a feminist perspective into research on mammography screening. The purpose of this study was to assess women's attitudes toward four advertisements designed to encourage mammography screening. The goal was to create awareness about women's attitudes toward mammography advertisements in order to encourage the development of more effective and responsive motivational materials. The results indicated that each ad communicated different messages about the seriousness of breast cancer and the efficacy of mammography in detecting early breast cancer: Each ad also affected women differently regarding their feelings of control over breast cancer, their perceived loss of sex appeal resulting from a breast cancer diagnosis, and their general fear of breast cancer
EXPERIMENTAL COCCIDIOSIS IN MULE DEER FAWNS

Five mule deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus) ranging in age from 3 to 6 weeks were given sporulated Eimeria mccordocki oocysts orally. Four of the five fawns developed coccidiosis. Initial clinical signs appeared by 8 to 9 days post-inoculation and included elevated body temperature and bloody diarrhea. Dehydration and limited emaciation occurred as the disease progressed. The disease was allowed to run its course in one fawn and oocysts were passed in the feces on the 16th day following inoculation. Oocyst passage continued until the 27th day, at which time the animal appeared to be completely recovered. The remaining animals demonstrated all signs of coccidiosis and were euthanized prior to passing oocysts. Intracellular stages of E. mccordocki in these animals were confined to the last 75 to 100 cm of the ileum. The cytoplasm of each infected epithelial cell contained one to five meronts. The intestinal epithelium was inflammatory and contained many necrotic foci.
Pseudomonas scleritis resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones in a patient without prior trauma or surgery.

Purpose: To describe a case of necrotizing scleritis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones. Methods: Case report. A 50-year-old woman with no history of trauma or surgery presented with pain and redness of the left eye. Results: The patient did not respond to empiric treatment and developed scleral edema with a nummular area of avascular sclera nasally. Histopathologic examination revealed necrotizing scleritis and cultures grew P. aeruginosa resistant to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones. Conclusions: A high index of suspicion for an infectious etiology must be maintained in cases not responding to conventional noninfectious scleritis therapy and in cases with unusual presentations. Resistance to commonly used empiric antibiotics may further complicate the diagnosis and management of infectious scleritis.
Industrial Accidents: Does Age Matter?

This study examined the relationship between risk of accident involvement and the aging process. It was predicted that the relationships between age and accident frequency and severity would differ...
The effect of calcium on the inotropy of catecholamine and paired electrical stimulation in the newborn and adult myocardium

This study was designed to determine the age-related difference in the inotropic effect of isoproterenol and paired electrical stimulation in newborn and adult rabbits, and to explore the influence of calcium on the inotropic effect of these interventions. Baseline myocardial contractility in the newborn was significantly less than that in the adult. The sensitivity to the inotropic effect of isoproterenol was similar in the two age groups. Both time to peak tension and half-relaxation time were equally shortened by isoproterenol in both age groups. The maximal inotropic effect of calcium in the newborn was significantly greater than that in the adult. The net inotropic effect of isoproterenol and paired electrical stimulation expressed as % of control [+dTdt(max)] in the newborn was significantly greater than that in the adult. However, the absolute increase in +dT/dt(max)/g tissue during these interventions was similar in both age groups. Higher calcium concentration was required in the newborn to abolish the net inotropic effect of both isoproterenol and paired electrical stimulation. These data suggest that: (1) the biochemical responsiveness to isoproterenol was similar in the two age groups and (2) the lower intracellular calcium concentration in the newborn might be responsible for the greater inotropic effect of calcium, isoproterenol, and paired electrical stimulation in this age group.
Half-Cycle Pulse Assisted Electron-Ion Recombination

Unipolar ``half-cycle'' electric field pulses (HCPs) have been used to recombine free electrons and calcium ions. The field assisted process is very similar to controlled three-body recombination in plasmas. We report on experiments that utilize HCP assisted recombination to probe the probability distribution of continuum electron wave packets and produce bound wave packets that are highly localized in three spatial dimensions.
Sensitivity and specificity of the PTSD checklist in detecting PTSD in female veterans in primary care.

PTSD affects a substantial number of women in medical settings and is associated with significant distress and impairment. There are effective methods of treating trauma-related distress, but a minority seek such care. Thus, primary care is an important setting in which to identify individuals with PTSD. We sent questionnaires, including the PTSD Checklist—Civilian Version (PCL-C), to 419 female veterans who were seen in our primary care clinic in 1998; 56% (N = 221) returned the measures. A random subset (n = 49) was interviewed to establish psychiatric diagnoses. The results provide qualified support for the use of the PCL-C total score with a lowered cutoff score as a screening measure for PTSD in female veterans in primary care.
A new nonlinear adaptive lattice filter

Lattice filters for prediction of polynomial autoregressive processes are presented. By exploiting the structure of the nonlinearity, a reduced complexity lattice filter is derived. Bispectral tests show that the filter is effective in removing nonlinear dependence. >
Checkpoint processing and recovery: towards scalable large instruction window processors

Large instruction window processors achieve high performance by exposing large amounts of instruction level parallelism. However, accessing large hardware structures typically required to buffer and process such instruction window sizes significantly degrade the cycle time. This paper proposes a checkpoint processing and recovery (CPR) microarchitecture, and shows how to implement a large instruction window processor without requiring large structures thus permitting a high clock frequency. We focus of four critical aspects of a microarchitecture: 1) scheduling instructions; 2) recovering from branch mispredicts; 3) buffering a large number of stores and forwarding data from stores to any dependent load; and 4) reclaiming physical registers. While scheduling window size is important, we show the performance of large instruction windows to be more sensitive to the other three design issues. Our CPR proposal incorporates novel microarchitecture scheme for addressing these design issues-a selective checkpoint mechanism for recovering from mispredicts, a hierarchical store queue organization for fast store-load forwarding, and an effective algorithm for aggressive physical register reclamation. Our proposals allow a processor to realize performance gains due to instruction windows of thousands of instructions without requiring large cycle-critical hardware structures.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF54/dUTPase downregulates a ligand for the NK activating receptor NKp44

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establishes long-term latent infection in humans and can cause cancers in endothelial and B cells. A functioning immune system is vital for restricting viral proliferation and preventing KSHV-dependent neoplasms. While natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are known to target virus-infected cells for destruction, their importance in the anti-KSHV immune response is not currently understood. Activating receptors on NK cells recognize ligands on target cells, including the uncharacterized ligand(s) for NKp44, termed NKp44L. Here we demonstrate that several NK ligands are affected when KSHV-infected cells are induced to enter the lytic program. We performed a screen of most of the known KSHV genes and found that the product of the ORF54 gene could downregulate NKp44L. The ORF54-encoded protein is a dUTPase; however, dUTPase activity is neither necessary nor sufficient for the downregulation of NKp44L. In addition, we find that ORF54 can also target proteins of the cytokine receptor family and the mechanism of downregulation involves perturbation of membrane protein trafficking. The ORF54-related proteins of other human herpesviruses do not possess this activity, suggesting that the KSHV homolog has evolved a novel immunoregulatory function and that the NKp44-NKp44L signaling pathway contributes to antiviral immunity.
Angiotensin II, Independent of Plasma Renin Activity, Contributes to the Hypertension of Autonomic Failure

At least half of primary autonomic failure patients exhibit supine hypertension, despite profound impairments in sympathetic activity. Although the mechanisms underlying this hypertension are unknown, plasma renin activity is often undetectable, suggesting renin-angiotensin (Ang) pathways are not involved. However, because aldosterone levels are preserved, we tested the hypothesis that Ang II is intact and contributes to the hypertension of autonomic failure. Indeed, circulating Ang II was paradoxically increased in hypertensive autonomic failure patients (52±5 pg/mL, n=11) compared with matched healthy controls (27±4 pg/mL, n=10; P=0.002), despite similarly low renin activity (0.19±0.06 versus 0.34±0.13 ng/mL per hour, respectively; P=0.449). To determine the contribution of Ang II to supine hypertension in these patients, we administered the AT(1) receptor blocker losartan (50 mg) at bedtime in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=11). Losartan maximally reduced systolic blood pressure by 32±11 mm Hg at 6 hours after administration (P<0.05), decreased nocturnal urinary sodium excretion (P=0.0461), and did not worsen morning orthostatic tolerance. In contrast, there was no effect of captopril on supine blood pressure in a subset of these patients. These findings suggest that Ang II formation in autonomic failure is independent of plasma renin activity, and perhaps Ang-converting enzyme. Furthermore, these studies suggest that elevations in Ang II contribute to the hypertension of autonomic failure, and provide rationale for the use of AT(1) receptor blockers for treatment of these patients.
Navy internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) transition strategy in support of network-centric operations and warfare

Network-centric warfare is the operational concept that provides information sharing amongst a large array of networked nodes, including mobile platforms, sensors, space systems, weapons, munitions and war fighters. This information sharing enhances battle space situation awareness, which allows war fighters to get the right information at the right time and place, and to make the right decisions ahead of adversaries. IPv6 is an enabling technology of network-centric operations and warfare for improving the scalability, robustness, agility, security, flexibility and manageability of military communication systems. The large address space, built-in stateless node discovery, Internet Protocol (IP) security (IPSec) and mobility functions offered in IPv6 will be an important enabler for information sharing and distribution amongst war fighters in a dynamic battle space environment. As described in a mid-2003 memo1, to achieve its vision of network-centric operations and warfare, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a goal to transition all military communications networks to IPv6 across the Global Information Grid (GIG), and for all systems that are part of the Defense Information System Network (DISN) that will interoperate with the GIG. The purpose of this paper is to present the Navy overall strategy of transitioning its critical network infrastructure to IPv6 to support network-centric warfare and fleet operations. The paper also highlights the U.S. Navy's recent accomplishments, namely the two Joint Staff IPv6 Operational Criteria - Criterion 4 (known as JCS 4) demonstrations of voice, data, and video integration. In addition, the paper discusses the way forward in light of the establishment and deployment of the multi-site Navy Technical Excellence Center with focus on current and future IPv6 test and evaluation - encompassing laboratory tests, field tests (i.e., experiments), demonstrations, and modeling and simulation - to address operational needs and requirements of the war fighters.
Model for the fast estimation of basis set superposition error in biomolecular systems

Basis set superposition error (BSSE) is a significant contributor to errors in quantum-based energy functions, especially for large chemical systems with many molecular contacts such as folded proteins and protein-ligand complexes. While the counterpoise method has become a standard procedure for correcting intermolecular BSSE, most current approaches to correcting intramolecular BSSE are simply fragment-based analogues of the counterpoise method which require many (two times the number of fragments) additional quantum calculations in their application. We propose that magnitudes of both forms of BSSE can be quickly estimated by dividing a system into interacting fragments, estimating each fragment's contribution to the overall BSSE with a simple statistical model, and then propagating these errors throughout the entire system. Such a method requires no additional quantum calculations, but rather only an analysis of the system's interacting fragments. The method is described herein and is applied to a protein-ligand system, a small helical protein, and a set of native and decoy protein folds.
Microwave detection optimization of disbond in layered dielectrics with varying thickness

The detection sensitivity optimization of air disbond in layered dielectric composites, using an open-ended rectangular waveguide, is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The sensitivity of the disbond detection is strongly influenced by the proper choice of parameters such as the operating frequency and the layered composite geometry (conductor hacked or terminated by an infinite half-space of air). The capability of optimizing the measurement system parameters to detect and estimate the thickness of a disbonded layer independent of some changes in the thickness of the dielectric coating is also demonstrated. The impact of the parameters influencing detection optimization is theoretically investigated and then experimentally verified. >
Comprehension Monitoring, memory, and study strategies of Good and Poor Readers

Comprehension and memory skills of fourth grade good and poor readers were compared in two studies. Their ability to monitor comprehension of difficult and anomalous information was measured in three ways; by spontaneous self- corrections during oral reading, by directed underlining of incomprehensible words and phrases, and by study behaviors. Poor readers engaged in significantly less monitoring on all three measures and this was correlated with poorer comprehension and recall scores. An additional metacognitive measure of perceived reading strategy effectiveness indicated that poor readers are often unaware of the negative in- fluences of some strategies. The patterns of responses on the multiple measures sug- gest that poor readers may adopt decoding rather than meaning comprehension goals during reading and they are less accurate in applying monitoring skills towards resolving comprehension failures. Reading comprehension involves many perceptual and cognitive skills, but a ma- jor component is the ability to monitor one's level of understanding while reading. This kind of mental pulse-taking is important because it is a measure of progress towards a reading goal and a signal for comprehension failures. Checking com- prehension thus provides a link between the reader's purposes, progress, and behavior. In our view of reading as a means-goals problem-solving task, there are three distinct aspects of comprehension monitoring: evaluation, planning, and regulation. The evaluation component involves checking one's current state of knowledge while reading and provides answers to questions such as, "Does this make sense? Do I understand this word? Do these ideas fit with previous informa- tion?" If the answer to any of the previous questions is negative, then the reader must generate a plan to rectify the comprehension problem (or, alternatively, change
THERMAL STABILITY OF NETWORKS CONTAINING SILOXANE LINKAGES

Abstract : The thermal stability of elastomers containing siloxane linkages was compared using the technique of chemical stress relaxation in an inert environment. Enchancement of the already high stability of the basic poly(dimethyl-siloxane) silicone rubber by the substitution of hetero groups in and on the main chain was proved. Particularly dramatic was the effect of the m-carborane moiety in SiB-2 elastomers which enhanced the thermal stability of the siloxane chain by more than 100C.
Dynamics of Multilayered Structures of VACNTs with Metallic Inter-layers

We study the dynamic behavior of periodic multilayered structures composed of compliant freestanding vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays alternating with rigid metallic inter-layers, subjected to small transient excitations. The presence of intrinsically nonlinear effects in VACNTs arrays enable us to create materials and structures with tunable properties in which, for example, the stiffness can be tuned over a large range. As a result, the dynamic stress propagation properties in these materials can be tailored to specific applications.
Carcinoma of the Esophagus: The Philosophy for Palliation

Abstract From 1958 to 1969, 234 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were treated by surgical procedures, irradiation, or combinations of the two. Six survived five years. The morbidity, as indicated by fistula formation and the necessity to perform gastrostomy, was significant and unacceptable in terms of patient comfort and survival. Approximately two years ago we adopted a philosophy of palliation. Since irradiation produces long-term survival and good palliation in upper third and cervical lesions, this became the primary mode of therapy for patients with lesions in these locations. Resection became the primary mode of treatment for patients with lesions in the middle and lower third of the esophagus. Twenty-one patients have been treated according to this protocol, 4 with upper third lesions, 11 with middle third lesions, and 6 with lower third lesions. Resection was accomplished in 16 of 17 patients in the last two groups. There was no hospital mortality. All patients received excellent palliation, and survival thus far is as good as or better than we were able to achieve previously.
Real-time index profile measurement during GRIN glass fabrication.

A new instrument for measuring the evolution of index profiles during diffusion in hot (500°C) glass is presented. This instrument, called the oven interferometer, has a spatial resolution of 10 μm at 0.6471 μm and a phase resolution of λ/50. The development of index profiles with both time-dependent and constant boundary conditions is shown.
Complementary and alternative medicine research: a National Cancer Institute perspective.

Abstract The widespread use of a variety of nutritional, psychological and natural medical approaches, collectively termed complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), has been well documented. Recent surveys demonstrate that between 9% and 91% of US cancer patients use CAM therapies at some time after their diagnosis. Despite their extensive use, there is a paucity of data available to indicate whether these practices are efficacious and safe. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is implementing programs to increase the amount and quality of cancer CAM research, support the production of high-quality CAM cancer information, and facilitate the dialog between CAM practitioners and cancer researchers. Semin Oncol 29:546-551. This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.
Physico-chemical composition, fractionated glycerides and fatty acid profile of chicken skin fat.

Skin is one of the several co-products of chicken meat industries, considered as waste, being rarely utilized or underutilized. Brazil is the world leader in chicken exports (3.6 million tons) and the third largest producer with 10.9 million tons, from which 440 000 ton/year are residues. This work aimes at characterizing chicken skin fat (CSF), comparing it with soybean oil, a well-known and abundant compound, evaluating the physico-chemical composition, fractionated glycerides and fatty acid profile, searching for CSF use in interesterification reactions. For that, determination of peroxide and p-anisidine values, as well as thiobarbituric acid, iodine, saponification, acidity, unsaponified matter and refraction indexes were accomplished, besides the glycerides fractionation, followed by FAME derivatization and identification by GC. The nutritional quality indexes were calculated from the lipid profile. CSF showed satisfactory quality due to low acidity (0.65 g oleic acid/100 g), peroxide (2.14 meq/kg), p-anisidine (0.70 absorbance units/g) values, besides presenting high proportion of MUFA (40%). However, due to CSF low hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic value (HH = 2.72), it may be difficult to use it for nutritional purposes the way it is found, once it tends to increase cholesterol. CSF it is a promising residue for different purposes including interesterification reactions and biodiesel production.
Fibroblast Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate and Ribose-5-Phosphate Concentration and Generation in Gout with Purine Overproduction

Despite the identification of several hereditary enzyme abnormalities which result in excessive uric acid synthesis (1–4), the underlying metabolic defects in the great majority of individuals with gout and purine overproduction have not been defined by routine screening of enzyme activities (5,6). For this reason, a different approach to the identification of additional enzyme abnormalities or of subtle variants of known enzyme abnormalities has been developed (7). This approach is based on our present understanding of the regulation of the rate of purine synthesis de novo schematically summarized in Figure 1.
Membrane sites regulating developmental gene expression in Dictyostelium discoideum

Postaggregative gene expression in Dictyostelium discoideum requires cell contact. Polyspecific monovalent antibodies (Fab) prepared from sera raised against membranes of aggregation- and postaggregation-stage cells were used to probe the cell interactions that induce rapid postaggregative synthesis of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. When cells of strain V12M2 were dissociated after 8 hr of development and replated in the presence of immune Fab, both reaggregation and pyrophosphorylase synthesis were blocked. Fab neutralized by incubation with EDTA-high salt extracts of cells developed for 3 hr blocked pyrophosphorylase synthesis but not reaggregation. Therefore, some cell-surface components that regulate pyrophosphorylase synthesis (called E sites) are antigenically distinct from those required for reaggregation. The Fab provides a means to assay E sites during their purification. Addition of 10(-3) M cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP enabled the cells to bypass the blocking of E sites by Fab; pyrophosphorylase was synthesized in the absence of reaggregation. We hypothesize that E sites function by raising the level of intracellular cyclic AMP.
A novel test methodology for MEMS magnetic micromotors

This paper describes a novel test methodology for testing MEMS magnetic micromotor. A fault simulation model has been developed for the micromotor. The test apparatus consists of a low frequency sinusoidal source and a resonator that is tuned to the normal operating frequency of the micromotor. The test method described in this paper is used to detect complete open and near-open defects in the stator coils of the micromotor.
Throughput and noise of the Aladdin infrared beamline

The infrared beamline at the Aladdin electron storage ring utilizes edge radiation for spectromicroscopy. For wavelengths of 0.8-16 /spl mu/m, computations indicate that /spl sim/20% of the collected radiation is transported through the microscope. Transverse oscillations of the electron beam cause oscillations in microscope throughput that account for about one-third of the beamline's zero-burst noise.
The next stage-maintenance of certification.

1. Errol Alden, MD* 2. Robert Perelman, MD† 1. 2. *Deputy Executive Director 3. 4. †Director, Department of Education, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL Since 1993, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has provided its Program for Renewal of Certification (PRCP) as an at-home, computer-based examination, with an optional written version also available. While praised by some as an examination approach that also fostered learning, the at-home test drew criticism based on perceived and procedural shortcomings. In short, there was no guarantee that the person submitting the completed examination was the person who actually took the test, making some state licensure boards uncomfortable. This was clearly a vulnerability of the take-home examination system. Concerns about public perception …