cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neutralization of Human Serum β-Lysin by Sodium Polyanetholsulfonate and Sodium Amylosulfate

Normal fresh and heat-inactivated (56 degrees C, 30 min) human sera (80 vol%, i.e., 80% [vol/vol] of a 2-ml assay volume) killed Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 cell inocula of 1.5 x 10(4) colony-forming units per ml within 1 to 2 h after exposure. The B. subtilis assay strain proved slightly and reversibly susceptible to 5 mug of egg white lysozyme per ml. Seitz filtration of fresh human serum completely removed beta-lysin activity; significant amounts of serum lysozyme were removed as well, as determined with the bioassay strain Micrococcus lysodeikticus ATCC 4698. However, bactericidal activity of human serum via classical or alternative complement pathway activation remained intact. Addition of 0.01 M dithiothreitol to fresh human serum abolished beta-lysin activity, but not that of serum lysozyme. Chelation of fresh and heat-inactivated human serum with 0.01 M MgCl(2) + 0.01 M ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid, but not with 0.01 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, markedly retarded beta-lysin activity; however, lysozyme activity remained unaffected. Chelation of serum with 0.01 M MgCl(2) + 0.01 M ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid + 0.01 M CaCl(2) completely abrogated beta-lysin activity, but not that of lysozyme. Absorption of human serum with 10 mg of bentonite per ml (10 min, 37 degrees C) completely removed beta-lysin and lysozyme activity, but failed to affect serum bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli control strain C. Reconstitution of 50 vol% of bentonite-absorbed serum with 40 vol% of heat-inactivated human serum restored both beta-lysin and lysozyme activity. Addition of either 63 to 500 mug of sodium polyanetholsulfonate per ml or 63 to 500 mug of sodium amylosulfate per ml to 80 vol% of fresh human serum completely neutralized beta-lysin activity for the entire observation period of 22 h.
Pyrite suppression in oil agglomeration of coal

The oleophilicity of pyrite frequently interferes with the separation of coal and pyrite in aqueous suspensions by selective agglomeration with oil. To solve this problem, a search has been conducted for suitable agglomeration suppressants for oleophilic pyrite, and a number of promising materials have been found. Of special interest is a group of organic compounds which is the subject of this report. These compounds contain both sulfhydryl group (-SH) and a hydrophilic group such as a carboxyl or sulfonic acid group. Thioglycolic acid (HSCH{sub 2}COOH) is an example. This material has been used to suppress the recovery of pyrite in froth flotation systems where particle separation is also controlled by surface properties. For the present study, both high-grade mineral pyrite and coal-derived pyrite were sulfurized by treatment with a freshly acidified solution of sodium sulfide which made the pyrites highly oleophilic. The treated pyrites were used subsequently to test a number of potential agglomeration suppressants. The effect on agglomeration was determined by monitoring changes in the turbidity of an agitated pyrite suspension as increasing amounts of heptane were introduced. A decrease in turbidity was indicative of agglomeration, whereas an increase in turbidity was indicative of particle an/or oil dispersion. Additionalmore » experiments were conducted in which an artificial mixture of Illinois No. 6 coal and sulfurized mineral pyrite was agglomerated with heptane after being conditioned with a pyrite suppressant. The agglomerates were recovered by screening and then analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the suppressant. 7 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.« less
Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction as a complication of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

We report a case of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy complicated by intestinal pseudoobstruction. The patient had recurrent attacks of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention for many years, and abdominal films repeatedly showed a dilated and fluid-filled small intestine and colon. Barium studies showed an esophageal diverticulum, reduced esophageal and gastric motility, and a dilated small bowel and colon. Pathologically, the entire gastrointestinal tract had smooth muscle fibrosis, but this was most marked in the esophagus and stomach. We conclude that Duchenne's muscular dystrophy may involve intestinal smooth muscle and produce pseudoobstruction.
Long-Term Effects of Childhood Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Health During Adulthood

The primary purpose of this article is to provide a broad overview of the research on the long-term effects of childhood risk factors on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) during adulthood and to outline recommendations for the prevention of CVDs based on evidence-based interventions. CVDs are the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States and globally. Risk factors for CVDs are already identifiable in children and youth, and include both modifiable factors (eg, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco smoking) and factors that cannot be changed (eg, age, heredity, sex). A fundamental issue has been the severity of the long-term effects of childhood risk factors (ie, behavioral and intermediate risk factors) on subsequent cardiovascular health. It is clear from the empirical evidence that risk factors for CVDs can develop during childhood and adolescence. These risk factors in childhood have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including CVDs, during adulthood. The findings thus far suggest that, in order to be effective and reduce the risk of adulthood CVDs, intervention strategies should begin during childhood. The findings also underscore the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle as early in life as possible.
New Personnel Interlock System and Procedures for the RPI Linac Lab

Experience indicates that periodic modification to personnel interlock system operating procedures (nuisance modifications) increase user awareness. A modular interlock system which permits easy modification of the forced inspection sequence has been designed and installed at the RPI Accelerator Laboratory. The system provides for forced area inspection within specified time periods. Audible signals alert workers when the inspection is in progress.
Rapid noninvasive optical imaging of tissue composition in breast tumor margins

Abstract Background In women undergoing breast conserving surgery (BCS), up to 60% can require re-excision. Our objective is to develop an optically based technology which can differentiate benign from malignant breast tissues intraoperatively through differences in tissue composition factors. Methods A prospective study of optical imaging of BCS margins is being performed. Optical images are transformed into tissue composition maps with parameters of total hemoglobin concentration, b-carotene concentration and scattering. The predicted outcome is then compared to the margin-level pathology. Results Fifty-five margins from 48 patients have undergone assessment. Within 34 specimens with pathologically confirmed positive margins, the ratio map of b-carotene/scattering showed the most significant difference reflecting a decrease in adipose and an increase in cell density within malignant margins (p=.002). These differences were notable in both in-situ and invasive disease. Conclusions We present a novel optical spectral imaging device that provides a rapid, non-destructive assay of the tissue composition of breast tumor margins.
Business process offshoring: India and the global services revolution

Kaushik Basu (Ed.). 2004. India's Emerging Economy: Performance and Prospects in the 1990s and Beyond. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 319 pages. ISBN: 0-262-02556-6. Paul Davies. (2004). What's This India Business? Offshoring, Outsourcing, and the Global Services Revolution. London: Nicholas Brealey International. 233 pages. ISBN: 1-904838-00-6. Mark Kobayashi-Hillary. (2004). Outsourcing to India: The Offshore Advantage. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. 275 pages. ISBN: 3-540-20855-0.
Anaphylactic Shock Due to Cow's Milk Protein Hypersensitivity in a Breast-Fed Infant

A newborn infant developed anaphylactic shock three times, once after ingesting his mother's milk and once after ingesting a formula containing casein hydrolysate. Symptoms resolved after cow's milk was withdrawn from the mother's diet and lactation was resumed. The case demonstrates that anaphylactic shock may occur in breast-fed infants and emphasizes the need to consider allergic phenomena even in these infants.
Electrical conductivity, crystal structure, and variable temperature ESR investigation of (BEDSe-TTF)2IBr2

Abstract The electrocrystallization of 3,4;3′,4′-bis(ethylenediseleno)-2,2′,5,5′-tetrathiafulvalene in the presence of [NBu 4 ] [IBr 2 ] in THF yields a 2:1 charge transfer complex that crystallizes with space group PĪ and lattice parameters a = 6.863(2) A , b = 10.065(3) A , c = 13.0183 (3) A , α = 87.94(2)°, β = 100.49(2)°, γ = 98.84(2)°, Z = 1, V = 884.8(4) A 3 . This product is semiconducting with a room temperature resistivity of 285 Ωcm and is isostructural with the 2:1 s-phase BEDT-TTF salts containing the ICI 2 − and BrICI − anions. ESR data obtained over the temperature interval 10–300 K show a monotonic decrease in peak-to-peak linewidth and the spin susceptibility data show that a sharp decrease in the sample magnetic susceptibility occurs with an onset temperature of approximately 12 K.
Elastic and inelastic (5 1 D, 6 1 P) electron scattering cross sections for barium

Electron scattering by Ba atoms has been studied in a beam-beam configuration. Momentum-transfer and differential and integral cross sections for elastic scattering and for the excitation of the 5s5d1D and 6s6p1P states have been determined at impact energies of 20, 30, 40, 60, 80 and 100 eV in the 3 degrees to 130 degrees angular range.
Blood island formation in attached cultures of murine embryonic stem cells

Differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells in suspension culture results in the formation of cystic embryoid bodies that develop blood islands. In this study pre-cystic embryoid bodies were attached to a substratum, and the program of differentiation was monitored. The attached ES cell cultures formed blood islands on a cell layer that migrated out from the center of attachment and beneath a mesothelial-like cell layer. Morphological and in situ marker analysis showed benzidine-positive hematopoietic cells surrounded by vascular endothelial cells that expressed PECAM and took up DiI-Ac-LDL. Waves of morphological differentiation were evident, suggesting a graded response to differentiation signals. Electron microscopy of the blood islands showed that they were similar to blood islands of cystic embryoid bodies and mouse yolk sacs, and cell-cell junctions were evident among the blood island cells. RNA expression analysis was consistent with the presence of hematopoietic precursor cells of several lineages and a primitive vascular endothelium in the cultures. Thus a program of vascular and hematopoietic development can be elaborated in attached ES cell cultures, and these blood islands are accessible to experimental manipulation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Data Rods: High speed, time-series analysis of massive cryospheric data sets using pure object databases

A data rod is a conceptual data object, defined as the time-series of data at a specific set of gridded coordinates. Ideally, a single data rod encapsulates all the information known at that location through time. The Data Rods project sought to store collections of data rods in stand-alone or distributed databases, providing users with direct access to large collections of remotely-sensed data (as opposed to only allowing direct access to the metadata). Temporal data analyses could then be performed by querying for the set of data rods that cover the spatial area of interest. This query process would implicitly retrieve only the data necessary for the desired analysis, avoiding the overhead of downloading and filtering extraneous data. Combined with server-side processing and user-friendly analytical tools, the project's overarching objective was to reduce the research cycle time from weeks or months down to days, perhaps less.
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroradiometer measurement of cloud radiative and microphysical properties

Spectrally resolved radiometric measurements of middle infrared atmospheric emission can be used in conjunction with detailed radiative transfer calculations to retrieve cloud emissivity, and to estimate cloud liquid water path (LWP), optical depth, and equivalent radius of the droplet size distribution. Using a discrete-ordinates radiative transfer formulation, an algorithm has been developed to retrieve these cloud properties from FTIR data. The algorithm has been successfully applied to a four month Antarctic data set provided by the CalSpace FTIR Spectroradiometer. Radiative transfer calculations were performed to estimate spectral cloud emissivity for a range of cloud optical depth, liquid water content, and equivalent radius, sufficient to bracket values expected in the field. These calculations made use of bi-modal droplet size distributions actually observed in Antarctic clouds. Using a least- squares algorithm, a theoretical cloud emission spectrum is chosen which best reproduces a given measured brightness temperature spectrum. The results show marked differences in cloud emissivity between high and low overcast layers, and between clouds with and without precipitation. The results also suggest that the emissivity of a maritime Antarctic cloud deck should be smaller for a given LWP than the parameterization frequently used in general circulation models.
Direct measurements of protein backbone 15N spin relaxation rates from peak line-width using a fully-relaxed Accordion 3D HNCO experiment

Abstract Protein backbone 15 N spin relaxation rates measured by solution NMR provide useful dynamic information with a site-specific resolution. The conventional method is to record a series of 2D 1 H- 15 N HSQC spectra with varied relaxation delays, and derive relaxation rate from the following curve fitting on the resonance intensities. Proteins with poorly resolved spectra often require several 3D HNCO spectra to be collected on a 15 N/ 13 C double labeled protein sample. In order to reduce the relaxation dimension Carr et al . (P.A. Carr, D.A. Fearing, A.G. Palmer, 3D accordion spectroscopy for measuring N-15 and (CO)-Carbon-13 relaxation rates in poorly resolved NMR spectra, J. Magn. Reson. 132 (1998) 25–33) employed an Accordion type HNCO pulse sequence to obtain 15 N or 13 C T 1 relaxation rates by numerical fitting of the relaxation interfered free induction decay (FID) data. To avoid intensive analysis of the time domain data, we propose a modified protocol to measure 15 N T 1 and T 2 relaxation rates from easily obtained line-widths in an Accordion HNCO spectrum. Both T 1 and T 2 relaxation could be simultaneously convoluted into the constant-time evolution periods of 13 C′ and 15 N, respectively. The relaxation delay was allowed to reach at least 3 × T 1 or 3 × T 2 so that the signal was substantially decayed by the end of the FID, and the resulting peak full-width at half height (FWHH) could be directly used to calculate relaxation rate. When applied to the 76-residue Ubiquitin and the 226-residue glutamine-binding protein (GlnBP), this method yielded T 1 and T 2 values deviating on average by 4–6% and 5–7%, respectively, from the measurements based on the conventional 2D method. In comparison, the conventional methods possessed intrinsic error ranges of 2–4% for T 1 and 3–6% for T 2 . In addition to comparable accuracy, the fully-relaxed Accordion HNCO method presented here allowed measurements of relaxation rates for resonances unresolved in 2D spectra, thus providing a more complete dynamic picture of the protein.
Assessing changes in socioemotional adjustment across early school transitions-new national scales for children at risk.

Abstract This article reports the development and evidence for validity and application of the Adjustment Scales for Early Transition in Schooling (ASETS). Based on primary analyses of data from the Head Start Impact Study, a nationally representative sample ( N = 3077) of randomly selected children from low-income households is configured to inform developmental–transitional stability and change in socioemotional adjustment. Longitudinal exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the ASETS revealed behavioral dimensions of Aggression, Attention Seeking, Reticence/Withdrawal, Low Energy, and higher-order dimensions of Overactivity and Underactivity. Each dimension was vertically equated through IRT, with Bayesian scoring across 2 years of prekindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade. Multilevel modeling provides evidence for concurrent validity, assessment of future risk, and detection of differential growth trajectories across the 4 years of early school transition.
Implications of an Electron-Hopping Model for Charge Transport through Donor−Bridge−Acceptor Assemblies Connected to Metal Electrodes

An electron-hopping model for electrode-to-electrode charge transport through donor-bridge-acceptor assemblies (J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 10687) is further developed by detailed electrostatic analysis of the assembly and treatment of the steady-state kinetics. Charge transport between the two electrodes proceeds via the D−B−A bridges: D transfers an electron to A through the bridge. The newly formed D+ and A- are then rapidly reduced and oxidized, respectively, at the electrodes giving rise to a steady state in which the current depends on the rate of electron transfer from D to A. The driving force dependence of the nuclear factor for the D to A electron transfer results in the current through the D−B−A bridge increasing with applied voltage (positive differential conductance) in the normal free-energy region but decreasing in the inverted region (negative differential conductance). The electronic factors can be manipulated by changing the separations between the electrodes and DBA or the length of B or by changing the nature of the bridge material. Decreasing the electronic factor for D to A electron transfer decreases the flux at a given applied voltage in the normal region, but the effect is much greater in the inverted region. Possible parallel tunneling and electron hopping mechanisms that could contribute to the current and interfere with the region of negative differential resistance are analyzed in detail. For the coupled electron-transfer sequence considered here, changing electronic factors result in dramatic shifts of the reaction profile.
Cardiac Sodium Channel (SCN5A) Variants Associated with Atrial Fibrillation

Background— Genetic studies have identified ion channel gene variants in families segregating atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. Here, we tested the hypothesis that vulnerability to AF is associated with variation in SCN5A, the gene encoding the cardiac sodium channel. Methods and Results— We resequenced the entire SCN5A coding region in 375 subjects with either lone AF (n=118) or AF associated with heart disease (n=257). Controls (n=360) from the same population were then genotyped for the presence of mutations or rare variants identified in the AF cases. In 10 probands (2.7%), 8 novel variants not found in the control population (0%; P=0.001) were identified. All variants affect highly conserved residues in the SCN5A protein. In 6 families with >1 affected member, the novel variant cosegregated with AF. We also identified 11 rare missense variants in 12 probands (3.2%) that have previously been associated with inherited arrhythmia syndromes (eg, congenital long-QT...
Delay Uncertainty Reduction by Interconnect and Gate Splitting

Traditional timing variation reduction techniques are only able to decrease the gate delay variation by incurring a delay overhead. In this work, we propose novel and effective splitting based variation reduction techniques for both interconnect and gate. We developed a new tool called TURGIS: timing uncertainty reduction by gate-interconnect splitting which reduces the timing variations of a circuit and presents little delay overhead at the primary output. It is shown that using splitting on interconnect can reduce the chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) induced dishing effect and can result in decrease at an average of 5% in mean interconnect delay in addition to its variation. Improvements of up to 30% are achieved on timing variation for gates of various size while reduction of 55% can be observed in interconnect delay variation.
Societal and observational problems in earthquake risk assessments and their delivery to those most at risk

Abstract Losses from earthquakes continue to rise despite increasingly sophisticated methods to estimate seismic risk throughout the world. This article discusses five specific reasons why this should be. Loss of life is most pronounced in the developing nations where three factors – poverty, corruption and ignorance – conspire to reduce the effective application of seismic resistant codes. A fourth reason is that in many developing nations the application of seismic resistant construction is inadvertently restricted to wealthy, or civil segments of the community, and is either unobtainable or irrelevant to the most vulnerable segment of the public — the owner/occupiers of substandard dwellings. A fifth flaw in current seismic hazard studies is that sophisticated methodologies to evaluate risk are inappropriate in regions where strain rates are low, and where historical data are short compared to the return time of damaging earthquakes. The scientific community has remained largely unaware of the importance of these impediments to the development and application of appropriate seismic resistant code, and is ill-equipped to address them.
Connectionist hashed associative memory

Abstract This paper proposes the use of simple connectionist networks as hashing functions for sparse associative or content addressable memory. The robustness of such networks in the presence of noisy inputs, and the property that “similar inputs lead to similar outputs” permits (in a probabilistic sense) faster-than-linear retrieval of data which best fits the input. The input may be noisy or have partially specified feature vectors. Mathematical analysis is presented for the Boolean feature case using a network with randomly selected connection strengths.
Language and Mind

Buku ini berisi tiga bab yang merupakan perluasan dari sari kuliah yang dipresentasikan pada Universitas California. Bab pertama adalah upaya dalam mengevaluasi kontribusi pada masa lalu terhadap kajian atas pikiran yang berdasarkan pada penelitian dan spekulasi berkenaan dengan sifat dasar bahasa. Kedua adalah difokuskan pada perkembangan linguistik kontemporer yang tetap berfokus pada kajian atas pikiran. Dan, ketiga adalah sebuah diskusi spekulatif tentang tujuan dalam mengkaji bahasa dan pikiran pada masa yang akan datang. Dengan demikian, buku ini bertolak dari kajian bahasa dan pikiran pada masa lalu, sekarang, dan masa yang akan datang.
Computerized analysis of coronary artery disease: performance evaluation of segmentation and tracking of coronary arteries in CT angiograms.

Purpose: The authors are developing a computer-aided detection system to assist radiologists in analysis of coronary artery disease in coronary CT angiograms (cCTA). This study evaluated the accuracy of the authors’ coronary artery segmentation and tracking method which are the essential steps to define the search space for the detection of atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: The heart region in cCTA is segmented and the vascular structures are enhanced using the authors’ multiscale coronary artery response (MSCAR) method that performed 3D multiscale filtering and analysis of the eigenvalues of Hessian matrices. Starting from seed points at the origins of the left and right coronary arteries, a 3D rolling balloon region growing (RBG) method that adapts to the local vessel size segmented and tracked each of the coronary arteries and identifies the branches along the tracked vessels. The branches are queued and subsequently tracked until the queue is exhausted. With Institutional Review Board approval, 62 cCTA were collected retrospectively from the authors’ patient files. Three experienced cardiothoracic radiologists manually tracked and marked center points of the coronary arteries as reference standard following the 17-segment model that includes clinically significant coronary arteries. Two radiologists visually examined the computer-segmented vessels and marked the mistakenly tracked veins and noisy structures as false positives (FPs). For the 62 cases, the radiologists marked a total of 10191 center points on 865 visible coronary artery segments. Results: The computer-segmented vessels overlapped with 83.6% (8520/10191) of the center points. Relative to the 865 radiologist-marked segments, the sensitivity reached 91.9% (795/865) if a true positive is defined as a computer-segmented vessel that overlapped with at least 10% of the reference center points marked on the segment. When the overlap threshold is increased to 50% and 100%, the sensitivities were 86.2% and 53.4%, respectively. For the 62 test cases, a total of 55 FPs were identified by radiologist in 23 of the cases. Conclusions: The authors’ MSCAR-RBG method achieved high sensitivity for coronary artery segmentation and tracking. Studies are underway to further improve the accuracy for the arterial segments affected by motion artifacts, severe calcified and noncalcified soft plaques, and to reduce the false tracking of the veins and other noisy structures. Methods are also being developed to detect coronary artery disease along the tracked vessels.
MRI is highly specific in determining primary cervical versus endometrial cancer when biopsy results are inconclusive.

Aim To evaluate utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining the primary site of endometrial versus cervical tumours when the biopsy results are inconclusive. Material and methods Forty-eight patients who underwent a total hysterectomy for unknown primary adenocarcinoma of the uterus after endometrial and/or endocervical biopsies were included in the study. The 48 available pelvic MRI images were reviewed by two body radiologists independently and jointly to resolve discordance, blinded to any clinical and pathological information. The clinical information and histopathology were reviewed by a radiology fellow and a pathologist specializing is gynaecological oncology. The final surgical pathology was used as the reference standard to confirm the origin of the primary tumour. Results The radiologists correctly identified the primary sites in 85% of the cases (41/48). There was substantial agreement between the two readers (kappa statistics = 0.79). Both radiologists found that T2 and dynamic T1-weighted images (WI) were most helpful in making the diagnosis, and dynamic T1WI helped resolve problematic cases. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting endometrial and cervical cancer on MRI were 88% and 88% and 75% and 93%, respectively. Conclusion MRI has high sensitivity and specificity in determining the origin of the primary endometrial versus cervical tumours when endometrial/endocervical curettage is inconclusive.
A comparison of delay discounting among smokers, substance abusers, and non-dependent controls

Previous studies have shown that smokers and substance-dependent individuals discount rewards that are available after a delay more than individuals without a history of substance dependence. However, it is not clear whether delay discounting is similar among smokers and substance-dependent individuals. Further, the influence of the combination of smoking and other substance dependence on delay discounting remains unknown. The present study compared the performance of four groups of individuals on a delay discounting task. The groups were (a) heavy smokers with comorbid substance dependence, (b) heavy smokers with no history of substance dependence, (c) never smokers with comorbid substance dependence, and (d) never smokers with no history of substance dependence. Analysis revealed that individuals who smoked and/or were dependent on another substance discounted delayed rewards more than individuals with no history of smoking or other substance dependence. No differences in the task performance of heavy smokers and substance-dependent individuals were found. Notably, participants who were dependent on multiple substances did not discount delayed rewards more than those dependent on only one substance. Overall, findings indicate that smoking and other substance dependence are similarly related to delay discounting.
T-matrix analysis of donor fluorescence

Abstract The time dependence of fluorescence in the presence of a small concentration of traps is studied starting from a set of coupled rate equations for the donors. It is assumed that the traps are substitutional impurities distributed at random on the donor lattice. Transfer to the traps can only take place from nearest-neighbor sites. A general expression for the Laplace transfer of the normalized intensity is derived using results based on the average-t-matrix approximation. The time dependence of the decay of fluorescence, at long times, is obtained for simple cubic lattices as well as for lower dimensional systems. A brief comparison is made with results obtained by other techniques.
Released myelin basic protein: the immunogenic factor?

Abstract Calculations are given which indicate that possibly the destruction of myelin in EAA and conceivably in human disease, for example Multiple Sclerosis, is due to activated lymphocyte recognition of released soluble basic protein and not myelin associated protein. This released basic protein accumulates during the proteins normal which is probably initiated by non-enzymatic deamidation.
Filarial Lymphedema Is Characterized by Antigen-Specific Th1 and Th17 Proinflammatory Responses and a Lack of Regulatory T Cells

Background: Lymphatic filariasis can be associated with development of serious pathology in the form of lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis in a subset of infected patients. Methods and Findings: To elucidate the role of CD4+ T cell subsets in the development of lymphatic pathology, we examined specific sets of cytokines in individuals with filarial lymphedema in response to parasite antigen (BmA) and compared them with responses from asymptomatic infected individuals. We also examined expression patterns of Toll-like receptors (TLR1–10) and Nod-like receptors (Nod1, Nod2, and NALP3) in response to BmA. BmA induced significantly higher production of Th1-type cytokines—IFN-c and TNF-a—in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic individuals. Notably, expression of the Th17 family of cytokines—IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-23—was also significantly upregulated by BmA stimulation in lymphedema patients. In contrast, expression of Foxp3, GITR, TGFb, and CTLA-4, known to be expressed by regulatory T cells, was significantly impaired in patients with lymphedema. BmA also induced significantly higher expression of TLR2, 4, 7, and 9 as well Nod1 and 2 mRNA in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic controls. Conclusion: Our findings implicate increased Th1/Th17 responses and decreased regulatory T cells as well as regulation of Toll- and Nod-like receptors in pathogenesis of filarial lymphedema.
Low-Energy K + -Ion Scattering as a Probe of Adsorbate Ordering

Overlayers of C, N, and O on Mo(001) have been studied by 500-eV ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ -ion scattering. The energy distributions and their dependence upon incident angle are found to depend strongly upon coverage and annealing temperature. Enhanced specular scattering is extremely sensitive to changes in adsorbate ordering observed by low-energy electron diffraction. The enhancement is explained by a novel scattering mechanism discovered by computer simulation.
The importance of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase system in octadecenoate metabolism in the Morris hepatoma 7288C.

Abstract The sources of octadecenoic acid (18:1) and the importance of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase system in maintaining elevated levels of this fatty acid in the Morris hepatoma 7288C have been investigated. Sterculic acid, an inhibitor of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase system, when added to the culture medium, inhibited the production of monoenoic fatty acids through de novo synthesis by 90% while the production of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol was unaffected. Sterculic acid also inhibited 18:1 formation through desaturation of exogenous stearate (18:0) by 80%. These results indicate that the stearoyl-CoA desaturase system is responsible for most, if not all, of the 18:1 produced within these cells and that an alternate, sterculic acid-insensitive, pathway for 18:1 biosynthesis is not functioning in this cell line. Measurements of fatty acid synthesis, using 3 H 2 O, show that de novo synthesis accounts for approx. 30% of the cellular 16:1 and 18:1 mass, while contributing 63% and 95% of the stearate and palmitate mass, respectively. Cells grown in the presence of sterculic acid displayed a 50% decrease in 18:1 levels while levels of both palmitate and stearate increased. These effects were maximal at 20–30 μM sterculate. Polyunsaturate levels were unaffected. The 50% decrease in 18:1 levels in treated cells could be completely accounted for by the inhibition of de novo 18:1 biosynthesis and the inhibition of exogenous 18:0 desaturation. This enzyme system, although low in activity when measured in this tissue, is responsible for a major portion of the 18:1 observed in these cells.
Abnormal left ventricular filling: an early finding in mild to moderate systemic hypertension.

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and significance of diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in mild to moderate systemic hypertension. Rest and exercise equilibrium blood pool scintigraphy was performed in 39 hypertensive subjects (mean systolic blood pressure [BP] 156 ± 14 mm Hg [± standard deviation];mean diastolic BP 103 ± 5 mm Hg ) and 11 normal control subjects. These studies were analyzed for ejection fraction (EF), segmental wall motion, peak filling rate (PFR), time to PFR and filling fraction in the first third of diastole normalized for cycle length (first-third filling fraction). EF at rest was similar in the hypertensive patients and control subjects (0.63 ± 0.09 versus 0.65 ± 0.07);only 2 patients had a reduced EF. The EF response to exercise was normal in every hypertensive patient (increasing to a mean of 0.74 ± 0.08);only 1 patient had asynergy. In contrast, even when the 2 patients with abnormal systolic function were excluded, each index of diastolic filling was significantly different from the control group. PFR was lower (2.29 ± 0.49 vs 2.63 ± 0.39 end-diastolic volumes per second [EDV/s], p These findings indicate that diastolic abnormalities may be an early finding in hypertensive heart disease and that they are, at least in part, related to the degree of LV hypertrophy.
Human fibrinogen possesses binding site for staphylococci on Aα and Bβ polypeptide chains

THE fibrinogen molecule, which comprises 5% of plasma proteins, is involved in enzymatic reactions responsible for formation and dissolution of the fibrin clot1. Thereby, fibrinogen is being transformed by thrombin into fibrin, which is cross linked by glutaminyltransamidase (factor XIII), and ultimately degraded by plasmin. The Aα, Bβ and γ polypeptide chains (nomenclature according to the recommendations of the Committee on Nomenclature of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 1971) of fibrinogen involved in these reactions and the sites of enzymatic attack thereon are defined2–8. In addition to being involved in the enzymatic reactions responsible for formation and dissolution of the fibrin clot, fibrinogen exhibits the ability to interact in a non-enzymatic reaction with pathogenic staphylococci to cause their clumping9. Clumping of staphylococci is used to detect fibrinogen and its derivatives in blood and body fluids10,11. This reaction can detect as little as 0.03 µg human fibrinogen or its derivatives. The mechanism through which human fibrinogen interacts with staphylococci is however, unexplained and the localisation of the binding site(s) for staphylococci remains unknown. We therefore studied localisation of the binding site for staphylococci on human fibrinogen. We now report that the binding site for staphylococci is located on Aα and Bβ chains of human fibrinogen.
Dividing at an early age: the hidden digital divide in Ohio elementary schools

Computers are now a ubiquitous part of US elementary school education. With policy reports suggesting that inequities in information and communication technology (ICT) access across US schools are a thing of the past, investigating how such resources and their use may nonetheless continue to vary becomes all that much more important. Through a survey of a statistically representative sample of teachers in Ohio, this research examined computer use among third grade students, including in relation to an array of ICT resources and other key factors. The results indicated that such use was more sophisticated among students in affluent suburban schools when compared to students in all other locations, including various rural and urban locations. These differences were correlated with numerous ICT resource discrepancies. Overall, the discrepancies in ICT use and resources can be understood as not only symptomatic of persistent, broader social inequalities, but also factors that reinforce such inequalities as well.
The Use of Formate-Ricinoleate Broth in Controlling and Preventing Ropy Milk Epidemics

Summary Ropy milk bacteria are present practically everywhere milk is handled. They can be controlled in the plant by proper sanitation and plant methods. Checking plant process samples routinely for ropiness and other defects is more effective than checking producers’ samples. Most ropy milk outbreaks in New York State are caused by members of the Escherichia-Aerobacter group of bacteria. The value of formate-ricinoleate broth in detecting ropy milk bacteria and faulty plant sanitation and methods is pointed out. Plant process samples showing gas in formate-ricinoleate broth may or may not develop rope, but samples showing no gas will not develop rope in most, if not all cases when samples are placed at 60−65° F.
Relationship between disease severity and escape of Pseudoperonospora cubensis sporangia from a cucumber canopy during downy mildew epidemics

Fundamental to the development of models to predict the spread of cucurbit downy mildew is the ability to determine the escape of Pseudoperonospora cubensis sporangia from infected fields. Aerial concentrations of sporangia, C (sporangia m−3), were monitored using Rotorod samplers deployed at 0·5 to 3·0 m above a naturally infected cucumber canopy in two sites in central and eastern North Carolina in 2011, where disease severity ranged from 1 to 40%. Standing crop of sporangia was assessed each morning at 07·00 h EDT and ranged from 320 to 16 170 sporangia m−2. Disease severity and height above the canopy significantly (P < 0·0001) affected C with mean concentration (Cm) being high at moderate disease. Values of Cm decreased rapidly with canopy height and at a height of 2·0 m, Cm was only 7% of values measured at 0·5 m when disease was moderate. Daily total flux (FD) was dependent on disease severity and ranged from 5·9 to 2242·3 sporangia m−2. The fraction of available sporangia that escaped the canopy increased from 0·028 to 0·171 as average wind speed above the canopy for periods of high C increased from 1·7 to 3·6 m s−1. Variations of Cm and FD with increasing disease were well described (P < 0·0001) by a log-normal model with 15% as the threshold above which Cm and FD decreased as disease severity increased. These results indicate that disease severity should be used to adjust sporangia escape in spore transport simulation models that are used to predict the risk of spread of cucurbit downy mildew.
BP's emissions trading system

Abstract Between 1998 and 2001, BP reduced its emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 10%. BP's success in cutting emissions is often equated with its use of an apparently market-based emissions trading program. However no independent study has ever examined the rules and operation of BP's system and the incentives acting on managers to reduce emissions. We use interviews with key managers and with traders in several critical business units to explore the bound of BP's success with emissions trading. No money actually changed hands when permits were traded, and the main effect of the program was to create awareness of money-saving emission controls rather than strong price incentives. We show that the trading system did not operate like a “textbook” cap and trade scheme. Rather, the BP system operated much like a “safety valve” trading system, where managers let the market function until the cost of doing so surpassed what the company was willing to tolerate.
Model-based wireless health system design tool

Well-being and fitness are major focuses pushing the need for a simple and effective method to monitor health. Researchers have pointed out safety, lifetime, and reliability as the key requirements of medical devices. Mismatch between requirements of wearable medical sensor and smart phone and their implementation is one of the major causes of failure. We demonstrate a Wireless Health System (WHS) design tool, which abstracts detail between model and implementation and generates sensor and smart phone code.
Perceptions of depth elicited by occluded and shearing motions of random dots.

A computer-controlled display of random dots was used to study perceptions of depth. In this display, a field of stationary random dots surrounded a rectangular area in which random dots moved with uniform velocity in a single direction. The boundaries of this rectangle did not move. When dot motion was perpendicular to the longer boundary of the rectangle (occluded motion), the rectangle seemed to be behind the stationary background surround. Motion parallel to the longer boundary of the rectangle (shearing motion) made it appear in front of the surround. The relative lengths of the sides of the rectangle determined which effect predominated. Thus, for motion perpendicular to the long axis of the rectangle the occlusion predominated and naive subjects reported that the central area seemed farther away than the surround. For shearing motion parallel to the long axis, the subjects reported that the rectangle was closer than the surround and the strength of both effects also depended on the length-to-width ...
Combined bilateral superior rectus muscle recession and inferior oblique muscle weakening for dissociated vertical deviation

Abstract Purpose: Dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) is a common disorder that is often difficult to treat satisfactorily with extraocular muscle surgery. Weakening both elevators in a single eye is uncommonly performed because of possible severe upgaze deficiency or chin-up head posture postoperatively. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed that yielded 14 patients who had undergone bilateral superior rectus muscle recessions (mean 8.1 mm, range 5–10 mm) and bilateral inferior oblique muscle recession, myectomy, or anterior transposition in the treatment of DVD. Three additional patients with asymmetric inferior oblique muscle overaction or true hypertropia in primary gaze position were identified who had bilateral superior rectus muscle recessions combined with unilateral inferior oblique muscle weakening. Results: Mild-to-moderate elevation deficiencies were common postoperatively but never exceeded −2 up-gaze limitation (scale 0 to −4) except in the immediate postoperative period and were not associated with persistent chin-up head posturing. Cosmetically objectionable upper eyelid retraction occurred in one patient after re-recession of a superior rectus muscle but before inferior oblique muscle surgery. Only three patients undergoing four vertical muscle surgeries had residual DVD >10 PD in primary gaze position, and none exhibited manifest dissociated strabismus warranting further treatment. Conclusion: Bilateral superior rectus muscle recession of up to 10 mm combined with inferior oblique muscle weakening appears to be a safe surgical approach in the management of patients with large angle or recurrent DVD. Our data further suggest that simultaneous four vertical muscle surgery may be preferred in some patients to weakening the superior rectus or inferior oblique muscles alone.
Glycine prevents the induction of apoptosis attributed to mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model.

Abstract Purpose We have previously demonstrated that glycine has a protective effect in mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the cytoprotective action of glycine. Because oxidative stress in I/R injury can lead to apoptosis, we examined the role of glycine in modulating the apoptotic signals in a rat mesenteric I/R injury model. Methods Twenty-four anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 1 hour of mesenteric ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Control animals (n = 6) received normal saline intravenously at the rate of 0.01 mL/g/h during the ischemia and reperfusion period. Treated animals divided in 3 groups (n = 6 in each) received glycine at a dose of either 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 mg/g, infused at the rate of 0.01 mL/g/h during the reperfusion period. Animals were killed at the end of the experiment, and proximal, middle, and distal segments of the small bowel were harvested for histopathology, TUNEL assay, and immunohistochemistry. Expression of apoptosis-related molecules, bcl-2, bax, caspase-3, death receptor, Fas, and death substrate, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were studied. Results In glycine-treated animals, the middle and distal segments of the small intestine were well- preserved and showed better histologic grade and morphometric parameters as compared with saline controls (P Conclusions These data support the concept that I/R causes formation of death- inducing signal complexes, which may activate the sequential cleavage of caspases and death substrates. We have demonstrated that one of the mechanisms of the protective effect of glycine is the downregulation of the death-inducing signals and abrogation of the apoptotic cascade in this I/R injury model.
Negative index materials

The possibility of negative refraction has brought about a reconsideration of many fundamental optical and electromagnetic phenomena. This new degree of freedom has provided a tremendous stimulus for the physics, optics and engineering communities to investigate how these new ideas can be utilized. Many interesting and potentially important effects not possible in positive refracting materials, such as near-fieId refocusing and sub-diffraction limited imaging, have been predicted to occur when the refractive index changes sign. In this talk, I will give a historical appraisal of the field and also review our own work on negative refraction in metamaterials, and describe the possible impact of them as new types of optical elements. In particular, I will present theoretical and experimental results on engineered microstructures designed to have both e and mu negative. Results for different polarizations and propagation directions will be presented. Recent results on microstructures operating at 100-200 THz will be also discussed, and the role of losses will be also examined.