cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T CELL AND NON-T CELL COMPARTMENTS CAN INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINE RESISTANCE TO LEISHMANIA MAJOR

In experimental murine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major (Lm), the cellular determinants governing development of protective or exacerbative T cells are not well understood. We, therefore, attempted to determine the influence of T cell and non-T cell compartments on disease outcome. To this end, T cell chimeric mice were constructed using adult thymectomized lethally irradiated, bone marrow-reconstituted (ATXBM) animals of genetically resistant, C57BL/6, or susceptible, BALB/c, backgrounds. These hosts were engrafted with naive T cell populations from H-2-congenic susceptible, BALB.B6-H-2b, or resistant, C57BL/6.C-H-2d, animals, respectively. Chimeric mice were then infected with Lm, and disease outcome was monitored. BALB/c T cell chimeric mice, BALB/c ATXBM hosts given naive C57BL/6.C-H-2d T cells, resolved their infections as indicated by reductions in both lesion size and parasite numbers. Furthermore, the mice developed typical Th1 (interferon[IFN]-gamma hiinterleukin[IL]-4lo) cytokine patterns. In contrast, both sham chimeric, BALB/c ATXBM hosts given naive BALB/c T cells, and control irradiated euthymic mice succumbed to infection, producing Th2 profiles (IFN-gamma loIL-4hiIL-10hi). C57BL/6 T cell chimeras, C57BL/6 ATXBM hosts given naive BALB.B6-H-2b T cells, resolved their infections as did C57BL/6 sham chimeras and euthymic controls. Interestingly, whereas C57BL/6 control animals produced Th1 cytokines, chimeric animals progressed from Th0 (IFN-gamma hiIL-4hiIL-10hi) to Th2 (IFN-gamma loIL-4hiIL-10hi) cytokine profiles as cure ensued. Both reconstitution and chimeric status of all mice were confirmed by flow cytometry. In addition, T cell receptor V beta usage of Lm-specific blasts was determined. In all cases, V beta use was multiclonal, involving primarily V beta 2, 4, 6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 10, and 14, with relative V beta frequencies differing between H-2b and H-2d animals. Most importantly, however, these differences did not segregate between cure and noncure outcomes. These findings indicate that: (a) genetic traits determining cure in Lm infection can direct disease outcome from both T cell and non-T cell compartments; (b) the presence of the curing genotype in only one compartment is sufficient to confer cure; (c) curing genotype T cells autonomously assume a Th1 cytokine profile-mediating cure; (d) noncuring genotype T cells can mediate cure in a curing environment, despite the onset of Th2 cytokine production; and lastly, (e) antigen specificity of responding T cells, as assessed by V beta T cell receptor diversity, is not a critical determinant of disease outcome.
Fumbling toward the future: internal medicine and clinical care teams.

In this issue, the ACP outlines its position on dynamic clinical care teams. The editorialist discusses the challenges of team-based care to internal medicine and concludes that the principles offe...
Forecasting Applications of High-Resolution Satellite Cloud Composite Climatologies

Abstract In this paper, the authors describe experimental forecasting tools developed from high-resolution satellite cloud composites. The satellite data were extracted from the new 5-km, hourly, global satellite database called Climatological and Historical Analysis of Clouds for Environmental Simulations (CHANCES). Analysis was focused on a region over the former Yugoslavia and Adriatic Sea during summer 1994. Cloud composite images were constructed using digital infrared data for each hour of the day. The value at each pixel in the cloud composites was the fractional coverage of cloud at that location for the season and represented its systematic variation. Composite images were also constructed for conditional probabilities of cloud 1–12 h past each hour of the day. The values at any particular pixel in the composites represented the conditional probability of cloud given an initial condition of cloudy or clear in that pixel. Data from both types of composite images were combined to produce a climatol...
Characterization and mapping of the double-stranded regions involved in activation of PKR within a cellular RNA from 3T3-F442A cells

PKR is a doubled-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase which is implicated in the regulation of several cellular processes, including cell proliferation. PKR undergoes phosphorylation and activation in mouse embryonic 3T3-F442A cells in response to endogenous RNA(s). Activation of PKR is related to growth and differentiation of these cells. A cellular regulatory RNA (R-RNA) which activates PKR has been isolated from these cells and its cDNA partially sequenced. Here we have characterized the R-RNA transcript with respect to nuclease sensitivity and the extent of double-stranded structure involved in activation of PKR. The location of the activating sequence was mapped to a contiguous 226/252 nt region of the R-RNA transcript by hybridization to its cDNA fragments. Hybridization with a panel of short oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the R-RNA, coupled with protein kinase analysis, was used to probe the 252 nt region for critical sequences. Three short non-contiguous sequences which appear most important for activation of PKR were identified within the 252 nt region. Thus, these studies have identified specific sequences most important for activation of PKR. Furthermore, since the above antisense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit enzyme activation, our results exemplify an unusual mode of action of antisense sequences on the activation of PKR by disruption of RNA secondary structure.
Opposing roles for superoxide and nitric oxide in the NaCl stress-induced upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity in cotton callus tissue

Abstract The roles of superoxide and NO in the NaCl-induced upregulation on antioxidant enzyme activity were investigated in NaCl-tolerant cotton calli. Both NaCl and paraquat treatments resulted in significant increases in superoxide production. The activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase also increased significantly within 2 h after applying the stress. Pre-treatment with the superoxide scavenger, N -acetyl l -cysteine (NAC), completely removed the superoxide and inhibited the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity in the tissue treated with either NaCl or paraquat. NaCl stress also resulted in a significant increase in the NO level. Experiments were also carried out to measure antioxidant enzyme activity in cotton calli exposed to NO, the NO producer sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) under different salt stress conditions. The direct addition of NO gas produced no change in the activities of catalase and GR and caused a significant decrease in APX activity when compared to the controls. When the calli was treated with SNP in the absence of NaCl stress, APX and GR activities decreased significantly and catalase activity was only slightly higher than the control. Treatment with SNP in the presence of NaCl stress resulted in a significant decrease in APX activity, and GR and APX activities were not significantly different from those observed in the NaCl treatment alone. In the presence of PTIO, the activities of all three enzymes increased in the presence or absence of NaCl stress. These results suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals may serve as signal transduction molecules to switch “on” the early NaCl-induced up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity, while NO may play a role in switching “off” the response after other mechanisms in the cascade of events responsible for NaCl tolerance have been activated.
A descriptive model of innovation and creativity in organizations: a synthesis of research and practice

Based on a review of the reported theoretical advances that are affirmed by empirical works from published management practice, this paper finds that innovation is an outcome of an intentional and designed effort of the organization, and synthesizes the findings for enhancing creativity and innovation by developing three antecedents that positively influence innovation in organizations: (1) the garnered knowledge, (2) the presence of a knowledge-supporting culture, and (3) the accumulation of social capital. The paper also provides a summary of transferable management practices that organizations are employing to enhance innovation and productivity.
Deriving the Snel-Descartes law for a single photon

The laws of reflection and refraction are typically derived using a dispersion relation that assumes that the angular frequency stays the same across a vacuum--dielectric interface and that the angular wave number increases. At the single photon level, this means that the total energy of the photon is conserved but the linear momentum is not. Here I derive the laws of reflection and refraction for a single photon using a dispersion relation that is consistent with the conservation of both total energy and linear momentum. To ensure that both conservation laws are upheld, the optical path length must be considered to be more fundamental than the geometrical path length when reckoning optical distances. As long as the medium is transparent, the optical path length traveled by a photon in a given duration of time is constant. By contrast, the geometrical path length traveled in a given duration of time is inversely proportional to the index of refraction. A photon propagating across a vacuum--dielectric interface is considered to be an indivisible package whose total energy (and angular frequency) and linear momentum (and angular wave number) remain constant, but whose velocity decreases with refractive index as a result of unspecified electromagnetic interactions.
Pitfalls in Diagnostic Laparoscopic Evaluation of the Contralateral Groin

ABSTRACT Laparoscopic evaluation of the contralateral inguinal region at the time of unilateral herniorraphy is gaining popularity as a technique to reduce the incidence of negative contralateral g...
Specific ligand enhancement of the affinity of E. coli pyruvate oxidase for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine

Abstract Pyruvate oxidase (pyruvate; ferricytochrome b 1 oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.2.2) is a peripheral membrane flavoenzyme isolated from Escherichia coli. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetate plus CO2, and is coupled to the E. coli electron transport chain. In vitro, pyruvate oxidase activity is measured spectrophotometrically using ferricyanide as an electron acceptor. In the presence of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine or a number of other phospholipids or detergents, the enzymatic specific activity is enhanced about 25-fold. In this paper the interaction between pyruvate oxidase and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine is examined. It is demonstrated that the presence of the ligands involved in catalysis has a substantial influence on the affinity between pyruvate oxidase and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. In the absence of the substrate (pyruvate) and co-factor (thiamin pyrophosphate) there is no detectable complex formation. However, when both ligands are present, a condition which results in the reduction of the flavoprotein, the interaction between the protein and phospholipid is greatly enhanced. It is clearly shown that the protein-lipid interaction is dramatically modulated by the ligands bound at the catalytic active site on the enzyme and/or by the oxidation-reduction state of the flavin.
Spatial stability analysis of emergent wavy interfacial patterns in magnetic pulsed welding

Abstract During magnetic pulsed welding, a flier workpiece impacts a stationary workpiece to create a solid state weld. If the velocity of the flier workpiece is sufficient (e.g., >200 m/s), a wavy pattern is observed at the interface between the two workpieces. The pattern has similarities to shear instabilities observed in fluid dynamics. To investigate this behaviour and assess if a connection between the two phenomena exists, shear-flow stability analyses, informed by finite-element simulations, were performed. The results confirm that the wavy pattern can be caused by a shear instability, as hypothesized.
High-temperature thermometer with fiber optic readout

Ultra-high temperature measurement is required in many harsh environment applications such as temperature monitoring in combustors and furnaces. This paper presents a novel thermometer, which is capable to measure temperatures above 1000°C with high resolution and accuracy. This sensor functions as a gas thermometer with a fiber optic readout, which will not suffer from blackbody radiation noise. The sensing part has high hardness, good electrical insulation, good wear resistance and does not react with most chemicals. The size of the sensor can be chosen flexibly to satisfy different application requirements. Since no electrical components are involved, the sensor is spark/explosion free and immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI). The sensor structure is simple, easy to fabricate and low cost. Some temperature measurement results in the laboratory are presented.
Contact resistivities for sputtered W/W and W/Ta films on SiGe and SiGeGaP alloys

Abstract Using a two-point probe the contact resistivities were studied at 300 K and the effect of heat treatment on them for W/W and W/Ta layers deposited on SiGeGaP alloys. Up to 1000 K for 10 h the contact resistivity for the W/W deposited layers did not change from the value at 300 K. However, the W/Ta deposited layers spontaneously broke into pieces after heat treatment at 1000 and 1100 K for 10 h. These results have been interpreted on the basis of differential thermal expansion coefficients between the deposited layers.
The influence of aqueous copper speciation on bioluminosity

AbstractStudies were carried out on Luria Bertani (LB) nutrient broth, typical of growth media used to grow strains of luminescent bacteria such as E. coli pCulux, in order to ascertain the chemical speciation of added copper and infer the effect of speciation on luminescent response. Both acid-base and complexometric (with Cu) titrations were conducted. Data were analyzed using the binding spectrum approach in which the concentration and pK value of the reactions of interest are estimated. Results of acid-base titration indicated that LB contains both inorganic and a suite of organic functional groups, the latter probably associated with proteins and amino acids contained in the materials used in making the medium. Titration with cupric ion suggested the presence of two copper-binding groups for freshly prepared LB, but three groups for media in which the bacteria had been allowed to grow for several hours, indicating either the introduction of a Cu-binding substance associated with microbial metabolism,...
Evidence for noncompetitive modulation of substrate-induced serotonin release

Prior work indicated that serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitors competitively inhibit substrate-induced [(3)H]5-HT release, producing rightward shifts in the substrate-dose response curve and increasing the EC(50) value without altering the E(max). We hypothesized that this finding would not generalize across a number of SERT inhibitors and substrates, and that the functional dissociation constant (Ke) of a given SERT inhibitor would not be the same for all tested substrates. To test this hypothesis, we utilized a well-characterized [(3)H]5-HT release assay that measures the ability of a SERT substrate to release preloaded [(3)H]5-HT from rat brain synaptosomes. Dose-response curves were generated for six substrates (PAL-287 [naphthylisopropylamine], (+)-fenfluramine, (+)-norfenfluramine, mCPP [meta-chlorophenylpiperazine], (±)-MDMA, 5-HT) in the absence and presence of a fixed concentration of three SERT inhibitors (indatraline, BW723C86, EG-1-149 [4-(2-(benzhydryloxy)ethyl)-1-(4-bromobenzyl)piperidine oxalate]). Consistent with simple competitive inhibition, all SERT inhibitors increased the EC(50) value of all substrates. However, in many cases a SERT inhibitor decreased the E(max) value as well, indicating that in the presence of the SERT inhibitor the substrate became a partial releaser. Moreover, the Ke values of a given SERT inhibitor differed among the six SERT substrates, indicating that each inhibitor/substrate combination had a unique interaction with the transporter. Viewed collectively, these findings suggest that it may be possible to design SERT inhibitors that differentially regulate SERT function.
Square rooting algorithms for integer and floating-point numbers

An algorithm for evaluating the square root of integers and real numbers is developed. The procedure consists of two parts: one to obtain a close estimate of the square root and the other to modify the initial value, iteratively, until a precise root is evaluated. The major effort in this development has been concentrated on two objectives: high speed and no division operation other than division by 2. The first objective is achieved through a simple two-step procedure for getting the first estimate, and then modifying it by employing a fast converging iteration technique. The second objective is also fulfilled through applying bit-shift operation rather than division operation. The algorithm is simulated for both integer and real numbers, and the results are compared to two methods being widely used. The results (tabulated) show considerable improvement in speed compared to these other two methods. >
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN GEOGRAPHY: CONJECTURES ON THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

Artificial intelligence (Al) and geography are brought together within a broad context involving fundamental issues of theory, epistemology and scientific method. The little known logico-mathematical background of Al is explored and shown to have substantial implications for modeling in general, prediction, the interpretation of theoretical structures, and our understanding of science itself. These more abstract aspects of the “computational revolution,”of which Al is one product, could have far-reaching consequences for geographic research.
Commentary on deliberative democratic evaluation

The realities of democracy in the United States have been experientially different for its oppressed groups. How might that affect the practice of democratic evaluation?
A new operation for ventricular septal defect with aortic incompetence

Two boys, 10 years of age, with ventricular septal defect and severe aortic insufficiency were treated using a new method. An autograft of anterior pulmonary artery wall and the adjacent leaflet and subpulmonary muscle was excised. The excised pulmonary artery segment was used to replace the prolapsed right coronary cusp, and the autograft muscle was used to close the ventricular septal defect. The right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve were repaired using an autologous pericardial patch with an autologous single cusp. The results in both cases were satisfactory.
Monte Carlo simulation of deep-submicron SOI and conventional nMOSFET hot-electron-induced degradation

A coupled Monte Carlo/drift diffusion simulation is applied to an n-channel conventional bulk MOSFET and two fully depleted n-channel SOI transitors. It is found that the SOI devices are more sensitive to trapped electron charge. The models, however predict far fewer high energy electrons (and fewer generated electron-hole pairs), the net result being that the SOI devices are more resistant to hot-electron-induced degradation. Furthermore, the p/sup +/-polysilicon gate SOI devices with lower channel doping are less prone to hot-electron-induced degradation than their n/sup +/gate counterparts. It is shown that the hot-electron flux incident at the SiO/sub 2/ is a function of both the lateral field and the vertical oxide field, if one takes into account barrier lowering and/or tunneling into the oxide. >
Foreign Aid and United Nations Votes: A Comparative Study

This study examines in a comparative foreign policy framework the relationship between bilateral foreign aid allocations and pairwise voting agreements between developed and developing nations in the UN General Assembly. The foreign aid donors considered include the United States, the Soviet “bloc,” and the twelve other UN members of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee. Two different measures of aid allocations in two three-year periods (1962–1964 and 1965–1967) are correlated with two different measures of the percentage of agreements in the UN between each aid donor and its aid recipients, with both indices calculated on the basis of all roll calls taken in the 1963 and 1966 General Assemblies. In general, the results of the analysis were found to be consistent with the hypothesized positive association between aid and votes only in the case of the United States. For many of the remaining donors the association was found to be negative rather than positive, suggesting either that enemies are rewarded more than friends, or, alternatively, that there is little relationship of substantive interest between aid and votes for most donor countries. Even in the case of the U.S., however, which of the two variables should be considered a cause and which a consequence remains unresolved.
Adaptive group-blind multiuser detection based on a new subspace tracking algorithm

Wang and Host-Madsen (see IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol.17, p.1971-84, 1999) developed group-blind multiuser detectors for use in code-division multiple-access (CDMA) uplink environments in which the base station receiver has the knowledge of the spreading sequences of all the users within the cell, but not that of the users from other cells. Yu and Host-Madsen (see Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conf. (VTC99), Houston, TX, p.1042-46, 1999) later developed an adaptive version of this detector for synchronous CDMA channels. We develop a new low-complexity, high-performance subspace tracking algorithm and apply it to adaptive group-blind multiuser detection in asynchronous multipath CDMA channels. The detector can track changes in the number of users and their composite signature waveforms. We present steady-state performance as well as the ability of the receiver to track changes in the signal subspace. We also address the performance gain of the group-blind detector over its blind counterpart for this application.
An Exploratory Study in the Measurement of Children's Pitch Discrimination Ability:

To investigate 6-11-year-olds' ability to detect pitch differences within a semitone, the Modified Sergeant Pitch Discrimination Measure (MSPDM), based on Sergeant's (1979) pitch test, was developed and administered to 169 subjects. On each of the 30 items, subjects indicate which one of five tones differs from the others and whether it is higher or lower than the standard. The MSPDM facilitates direct comparison of performance on two types of task: detection of a difference, and labelling the direction of the change.The MSPDM was group-administered in grades 2-5. and individually administered using a manipulative response mode in grade 1. Statistical analyses revealed that subjects in grades 2-5 were more successful at detecting differences than at labelling their direction; no significant difference between these tasks was evident in grade 1. Older subjects received higher mean scores than younger subjects. No significant gender differences were evident.
Vancomycin Therapy for Infective Endocarditis

summary of these reports indicates a cure in 48 (87%o) of the 55 patients. Recent in vitro and in vivo animal and patient data indicate that vancomycin alone or as part of combined therapy is bactericidal and curative in patients allergic to penicillin for infective endocarditis caused by staphylococci and streptococci-both enterococcal and nonenterococcal (Streptococcus bovis and viridans group streptococci) infections. In this study, 10 patients with infective endocarditis were treated with vancomycin or combined therapy; seven were cured. Five of the 10 patients with infective endocarditis caused by viridans streptococci were cured with combined vancomycin-streptomycin
Enhanced ferroelectric and piezoelectric responses in modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymers and nanocomposites

Recently, it was discovered that by defect modification, the electromechanical responses of P(VDF-TrFE) based ferroelectric polymers can be modified significantly. Here, we present a room temperature phase diagram which illustrates the compositions of two classes of PVDF based polymers investigated in this paper. In the compositions at PVDF homopolymer, by including bulky monomers such as CTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene), CFE, or HFP (hexafluoropropylene), the piezoelectric properties of the homopolymer can be modified. For the electrostrictive polymers, the strain is directly proportional to the square of the polarization. In this paper, we will also show that by nanocompositing of terpolymer with nanofillers such as ZrC>2 or TiC>2 nanoparticles, even with a very small volume content of nanofillers, i.e., in volume content ~ 1 %, a marked enhancement of the polarization can be realized.
Schrödinger-Gleichung des Wasserstoffatoms

Wir wenden uns nun der Berechnung der Coulomb-Wellenfunktionen fur ein einzelnes Elektron zu. In Kurze werden wir dazu die Runge-Lenz-Algebra verwenden, doch zunachst folgen wir kurz der konventionellen Herangehensweise und konstruieren Losungen der Schrodinger-Gleichung als Differentialgleichung in Kugelkoordinaten. In Aufg. 20.5.1 konstruieren wir die Losung in parabolischen Koordinaten. Die spharischen und parabolischen Losungen sind uber die Runge-Lenz-Algebra miteinander verknupft. Wir brauchen beide, um uns ein vollstandiges Bild von der zugrundeliegenden dynamischen Symmetrie zu machen. Zu diesem Zweck stellen wir auserdem in Aufg. 20.5.4 den Zusammenhang mit den Eigenfunktionen des zweidimensionalen harmonischen Oszillators her.
Pectus excavatum and chest pain: a case report

Simultaneous repair of pectus deformities and open heart surgery has been reported. We describe a case of a 23 year old male with a severe pectus deformity complaining of chest pain. Subsequent work up revealed a 10 cm. ascending aortic aneurysm and severe aortic insufficiency. We opted to repair the aneurysm and close the sternotomy, leaving the deformity intact. In a more elective setting, simultaneous pectus repair combined with a cardiac procedure may be considered.
Identifying the potential for market power in electric power systems in real-time

The analysis of recently restructured electric power systems has led to discussions concerning the ability of market participants to manipulate the market to their advantage. Indeed there are instances in which market manipulation has been convincingly established. In this paper we advocate a practical and objective approach to examine market power based on revenue sensitivities. Computing the sensitivities requires only currently available information together with the rules used to operate the electricity market and system. We specifically identify those suppliers with the ability to increase revenues by raising prices or withholding capacity. These suppliers may enjoy some measure of market power since such ability would not be possible in a competitive market in which their generation is easily substitutable. We present a visualization of relevant metrics that have the potential to allow those with the market monitoring function to observe opportunities for market power in real-time. Possible uses for the information are discussed.
Mechanisms of Subcutaneous Absorption of Rituximab in Rats

Absorption of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) after s.c. injection results from the interplay among several kinetic processes. The aims of this study were to investigate the absorption mechanisms of rituximab in rats by using slow s.c. infusion and coadministration with nonspecific IgG or hyaluronidase, and to evaluate the predictive performance of the pharmacokinetic model previously developed to describe the nonlinear absorption behavior of mAbs. Rituximab serum concentrations were measured after s.c. coadministration with nonspecific IgG and hyaluronidase to rats. Several dose levels and different injection sites were evaluated. For the back site, 6.5- and 2.6-fold decreases in the area under the concentration-time curve were obtained after coadministration with IgG for 1 and 10 mg/kg doses compared with administration of rituximab alone. For the abdomen, only a minor reduction in concentrations was observed. Hyaluronidase increased the rate of s.c. absorption and the bioavailability (1.9- and 1.6-fold for the back and the abdomen injection of 10 mg/kg). Our previously established pharmacokinetic model provided excellent predictions of the effect of nonspecific IgG on rituximab absorption. In conclusion, the magnitude of the effect of absorption modifiers is dependent on the site of injection and the dose level of rituximab. Pharmacokinetic profiles further support the hypothesis that neonatal Fc receptor-mediated transport is a major determinant of s.c. absorption of mAbs.
There’s more than one way to skin a fruit: formation and functions of fruit cuticles

As with all aerial plant organs, fleshy fruits are encased in a hydrophobic cuticle that must fulfil multiple functions, including limiting desiccation and preventing microbial infection, which in the case of fruits maintains palatability and promotes seed dispersal. Fruit cuticles have many features in common with those of vegetative organs, but also have unique characteristics, including the fact that they are often astomatous, thicker than those of most leaves, and can be relatively easily isolated. These attributes provide a valuable experimental system to address questions related to cuticle structure, function, and the relationships between composition, architecture, permeability, and biomechanical properties. Here we provide an overview of insights into cuticle biology that have resulted from studies of those of fleshy fruits, as well as the diversity and dynamic nature of fruit cuticle composition and architecture, the environmental factors that influence those features, and the roles that they play in fruit ontogeny.
Temporal Analysis of Coxiella burnetii Morphological Differentiation

Coxiella burnetii undergoes a poorly defined developmental cycle that generates morphologically distinct small-cell variants (SCV) and large-cell variants (LCV). We developed a model to study C. burnetii morphogenesis that uses Vero cells synchronously infected with homogeneous SCV (Nine Mile strain in phase II) harvested from aged infected cell cultures. A time course transmission electron microscopic analysis over 8 days of intracellular growth was evaluated in conjunction with one-step growth curves to correlate morphological differentiations with growth cycle phase. Lag phase occurred during the first 2 days postinfection (p.i.) and was primarily composed of SCV-to-LCV morphogenesis. LCV forms predominated over the next 4 days, during which exponential growth was observed. Calculated generation times during exponential phase were 10.2 h (by quantitative PCR assay) and 11.7 h (by replating fluorescent focus-forming unit assay). Stationary phase began at approximately 6 days p.i. and coincided with the reappearance of SCV, which increased in number at 8 days p.i. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR demonstrated maximal expression of scvA, which encodes an SCV-specific protein, at 8 days p.i., while immunogold transmission electron microscopy revealed degradation of ScvA throughout lag and exponential phases, with increased expression observed at the onset of stationary phase. Collectively, these results indicate that the overall growth cycle of C. burnetii is characteristic of a closed bacterial system and that the replicative form of the organism is the LCV. The experimental model described in this report will allow a global transcriptome and proteome analysis of C. burnetii developmental forms.
Low-dose warfarin coupled with lower leg compression is effective prophylaxis against thromboembolic disease after hip arthroplasty

Consecutive patients having elective total hip arthroplasty were prescribed 1 mg of warfarin for 7 days preceding surgery, variable doses while in hospital (target international normalized ratio, 1.5-2.0), and discharged to rehabilitation center or home taking 1 mg daily until 4-week to 6-week follow-up visit. Lower leg pneumatic compression was used postoperatively and elastic compression stockings after discharge. Hospital and clinic charts plus auxiliary sources were reviewed for evidence of thromboembolic diseases (TED). Of 1003 consecutive patients studied, 3 (0.3%, 95% CI 0.0-0.6%) had symptomatic TED, including 2 with deep venous thrombosis and 1 with nonfatal pulmonary embolus. Follow-up rate was 99.1%. Complications from warfarin were minimal. Very-low-dose warfarin coupled with lower leg compression is effective prophylaxis against TED after elective hip arthroplasty when prescribed as described.
Evaluation of Family Health Education to Build Social Support for Long-Term Control of High Blood Pressure

Sustaining patient motivation for long-term adherence to drug therapies remains a substantial problem for physicians, other health care providers, the patients themselves, and their families. Other therapeutic requests such as dietary changes and weight control may be even more difficult to maintain than taking pills. As part of a controlled experimental design implemented in an outpatient teaching hospital, an educational program was implemented to improve family member support for medical compliance among hypertensive patients. Family members were interviewed, counseled, and provided with a booklet for the purpose of educating and involving them in the home management of high blood pressure. The booklet identified ways the family member could assist the patient with medication compliance, appointment keeping, as well as diet and weight control. These items were identified and recorded as behavioral objectives in the booklet. Patients were followed for three years to assess long-term outcomes. Results showed a strong statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group demonstrating higher levels of appointment-keeping behavior, weight control, and BP under control (all p values less than .001). Analysis of the main effects of the educational program demonstrated that the family member support intervention accounted for the greatest decrease in diastolic blood pressure variability, R2 = .20, p less than .001.
Collisions with ice/volatile objects: geological implications--a qualitative treatment.

Abstract An aperiodic collision of the Earth with extra-terrestrial ice/volatile bodies is proposed as a mechanism to produce rapid changes in the geologic record. Due to the volatile nature of these bodies, evidence for their impacts, particularly in the ocean, might be subtle and best seen as `spikes' in the geochemical or fossil record against normal background. Differing effects would result depending on the site of the major break-up of the object: in the atmosphere, on land, or in the ocean. This paper focuses on the effects of adding material to the seas, oceans, and atmosphere. The treatment is largely qualitative, however mass balance calculations were used to estimate the relative mass needed to affect changes in a variety of reservoirs. Although actual impactors probably have a variable composition, the effects of water-, C-, N-, and S-containing objects are discussed. In the atmosphere, effects could include increased rain acidity, increased levels of nutrients, and enhanced greenhouse warming/cooling. Oceanic effects might include increased oceanic productivity (nitrogen-containing objects). As a result of increased chemical weathering and/or greenhouse effects, increased temperatures coupled with enhanced productivity could result in wider-spread oceanic anoxia or altered calcite/aragonite stability. Possible examples of such impacts from the geologic record and potential biotic effects are given.
Deformalization and Phenomenon in Husserl and Heidegger

This study explores the roots of Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. First, the attempt is made to address the uniquely hermeneutic manner by which Heidegger grounds the self-showing of the “things themselves” in the dynamic of being’s self-concealment. Second, the essay outlines the radicalization of Heidegger’s concept of phenomenology as occurring through a dialogue with, and yet in contrast to, his mentor, Edmund Husserl.
Gender, Legitimation, and Identity Verification In Groups

Drawing upon identity theory, expectation states theory, and legitimation theory, we examine how the task leader identity in task-oriented groups is more likely to be verified for persons with high status characteristics. We hypothesize that identity verification will be accomplished more readily for male group members and legitimated task leaders than female group members and those who are not legitimated. We found that there is an interaction of gender and legitimation on identity verification. Legitimated female leaders and non-legitimated males had higher levels of identity verification. Further examination revealed that legitimated male leaders were consistently overevaluated in the amount of their leadership relative to their own identity standards, while non-legitimated female leaders' leadership behavior was consistently underevaluated relative to their own identity standards. The implications of our findings for the study of identity verification and social structural processes are discussed.
The maximum principle for bilinear elements

It is demonstrated that finite element discretizations may not, in general, satisfy the maximum principle; and sufficient conditions are presented to guarantee that solutions based on bilinear elements do satisfy the maximum principle.
Effects of chronic ethanol administration on brain interstitial fluid levels of Methionine-enkephalin as measured by microdialysis in vivo.

Abstract The level of Met-enkephalin in the brain is inversely correlated with ethanol consumption and is controlled partially through efflux activity of peptide transport system-1 (PTS-1) at the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Prolonged alcohol drinking can perturb aspects of this system, including a loss of control of Met-enkephalin levels at the transcriptional and translational levels, and impaired release of Met-enkephalin from tissue sources. Met-enkephalin levels in whole brain homogenates often first paradoxically increase after a few days of ethanol drinking and then decrease with the development of physical dependence. Which of those various changes drives the others is unclear. To clarify these interactions, we here determined the levels of Met-enkephalin in striatal interstitial fluid (ISF) by microdialysis, striatal tissue homogenates, and serum after chronic ethanol treatment and alcohol withdrawal. Mice received ethanol (5%) in liquid diet for 7 days (ethanol-treated) and others withdrawn for a day following 7-day treatment (withdrawal). There was a significant ( P P
Liver Transduction with Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Is Primarily Restricted by Capsid Serotype Not Vector Genotype

We and others have recently reported highly efficient liver gene transfer with adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV-8) pseudotypes, i.e., AAV-2 genomes packaged into AAV-8 capsids. Here we studied whether liver transduction could be further enhanced by using viral DNA packaging sequences (inverted terminal repeats [ITRs]) derived from AAV genotypes other than 2. To this end, we generated two sets of vector constructs carrying expression cassettes embedding a gfp gene or the human factor IX (hfIX) gene flanked by ITRs from AAV genotypes 1 through 6. Initial in vitro analyses of gfp vector DNA replication, encapsidation, and cell transduction revealed a surprisingly high degree of interchangeability among the six genotypes. For subsequent in vivo studies, we cross-packaged the six hfIX variants into AAV-8 and infused mice via the portal vein with doses of 5 x 10(10) to 1.8 x 10(12) particles. Notably, all vectors expressed comparably high plasma hFIX levels within a dose cohort over the following 6 months, concurrent with the finding of equivalent vector DNA copy numbers per cell. Partial hepatectomies resulted in approximately 80% drops of hFIX levels and vector DNA copy numbers in all groups, indicating genotype-independent persistence of predominantly episomal vector DNA. Southern blot analyses of total liver DNA in fact confirmed the presence of identical and mostly nonintegrated molecular vector forms for all genotypes. We conclude that, unlike serotypes, AAV genotypes are not critical for efficient hepatocyte transduction and can be freely substituted. This corroborates our current model for AAV vector persistence in the liver and provides useful information for the future design and application of recombinant AAV.
Impact of oral vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in oncology

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the major circulating form of vitamin D and a standard indicator of vitamin D status. Emerging evidence in the literature suggests a high prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D (as defined by serum 25(OH)D levels of 32 ng/ml compared to patients with baseline levels < 20 ng/ml. The response to supplementation from suboptimal to optimal levels was greatest in patients with prostate and lung cancer as well as those with baseline levels between 20-32 ng/ml. Characteristics of non-responders as well as those who take longer to respond to supplementation need to be further studied and defined. Additionally, the impact of improved serum 25(OH)D levels on patient survival and quality of life needs to be investigated.
Importance of initial aortic properties on the evolving regional anisotropy, stiffness and wall thickness of human abdominal aortic aneurysms

Complementary advances in medical imaging, vascular biology and biomechanics promise to enable computational modelling of abdominal aortic aneurysms to play increasingly important roles in clinical decision processes. Using a finite-element-based growth and remodelling model of evolving aneurysm geometry and material properties, we show that regional variations in material anisotropy, stiffness and wall thickness should be expected to arise naturally and thus should be included in analyses of aneurysmal enlargement or wall stress. In addition, by initiating the model from best-fit material parameters estimated for non-aneurysmal aortas from different subjects, we show that the initial state of the aorta may influence strongly the subsequent rate of enlargement, wall thickness, mechanical behaviour and thus stress in the lesion. We submit, therefore, that clinically reliable modelling of the enlargement and overall rupture-potential of aneurysms may require both a better understanding of the mechanobiological processes that govern the evolution of these lesions and new methods of determining the patient-specific state of the pre-aneurysmal aorta (or correlation to currently unaffected portions thereof) through knowledge of demographics, comorbidities, lifestyle, genetics and future non-invasive or minimally invasive tests.
The Efficacy of Visual Encounter Surveys for Population Monitoring of Plethodon punctatus (Caudata: Plethodontidae)

Effective monitoring of population size is critically important for endemic species with specialized habitat requirements so that timely remedial steps can be taken when declines are detected. We initiated a monitoring study of the endemic plethodontid salamander, Plethodon punctatus, which is generally found in talus habitats over 1000 m in elevation in a narrow range on Shenandoah Mountain on the border of Virginia and West Virginia. We tested congruence of nighttime visual encounter surveys (VES) and mark-recapture estimates of population size. VES was a valid index of the abundances of P. punctatus in the two habitats we surveyed. Sites on the eastern and western sides of Shenandoah Mountain were surveyed, and both methods estimated that population size on the west was approximately twice as high as that on the east. Individuals of this species exhibited a high degree of site fidelity. Cover object searches for species in talus habitats are expected to be of limited value, and we conclude that nighttime visual encounter surveys are most effective for population size monitoring of P. punctatus and other species that live in talus.
When Treatment as Usual Gives You Lemons, Count on EVBPs: Economic Arguments for Training Child Clinicians in Evidence-Based Practices

This article is a commentary advocating for dissemination and implementation workers to incentivize the adoption of evidence-based practices (EVBPs) with youth. Treatment-as-usual in community settings yields weak effectiveness results. EVBPs for youth exist but are not widely adopted. Consequently, “lemons” or poor treatments are added to the behavioral health care marketplace. The economic concept of lemon market theory is explained and its relevance to the behavioral health care marketplace is illustrated. Several recommendations based both on economic and learning theory are offered. The article argues for the increased use of incentives as behavior modifiers for clinicians’ practices. More specifically, proper branding and fidelity, quality improvement measures, and pay for performance initiatives are discussed.
Quantification of bone marrow water and lipid composition in anterior cruciate ligament-injured and osteoarthritic knees using three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Abstract Purpose To quantitatively evaluate longitudinal changes in water and lipid in knee bone marrow with and without bone marrow edema-like lesions (BMELs) in subjects with acutely ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) or osteoarthritis (OA) using three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (3D MRSI). Material and methods Ten ACL and 10 OA subjects who presented with BMEL and seven BMEL-free controls were scanned at 3 T. All ACL and OA subjects had one-year follow-up scans. 3D MRSI was acquired in BMEL and adjacent bone marrow, and water content (WC) and unsaturated lipid index (UI) were calculated in each region of interest. Results At baseline, ACL BMEL WC was significantly higher than ACL non-BMEL, OA BMEL, and control WC; ACL non-BMEL WC, ACL BMEL UI, and OA BMEL WC were significantly higher than control. ACL BMEL WC decreased significantly one year post-reconstruction; UI decreased non-significantly (p = 0.09). No significant changes in OA BMEL or ACL and OA non-BMEL WC and UI were observed. Conclusion 3D MRSI is a powerful method of quantitatively assessing the biochemical composition of bone marrow in OA and ACL-injured knees, which may serve as imaging markers to improve comprehension of primary and secondary OA pathology.
Interleaving planning and execution

Section 5.1 motivates the technique of interleaving planning and execution, from both computational and information-theoretic points of view. Section 5.2 describes a class of interleaving control systems, describing the computation speedup available, then specifying search termination rules that result in an interleaving system that institutes Premature Search Termination. Section 5.2 presents theoretical results regarding completeness, soundness, and optimality for the class of control systems presented. Then Section 5.3 offers experimental results.