cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentiation between spore-forming and asporogenic bacteria using a PCR and Southern hybridization based method

A set of molecular probes was devised to develop a method for screening for the presence of sequences homologous to three representative genes exclusively involved in endosporulation. Based on known gene sequences, degenerate PCR primers were designed against spo0A and ssp. Experimental conditions were devised under which homologs of both genes were consistently detected in endospore-forming bacteria, but not in asporogenic bacteria. The PCR amplification products and dpaA/B from Bacillus subtilis were used as hybridization probes for Southern blots. Identical conditions were used with the genomic DNA from endospore-forming and asporogenic bacteria. We therefore concluded that the probes specifically detect the targeted sporulation genes and we obtained no indication that genes homologous to ssp, spo0A and dpaA/B are present in asporogenic bacteria. Thus, this assay can potentially be used to detect spore-forming bacteria in various kinds of samples and to distinguish between bacteria containing sporulation genes and those who do not regardless of whether sporulation is observed or not.
CD133 marks a myogenically primitive subpopulation in rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that are relatively chemoresistant but sensitive to mutant HSV

Background Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is characterized by features of skeletal muscle and is comprised of two major histological subtypes, embryonal (E-RMS), and alveolar (A-RMS). Subsets of each RMS subtype demonstrate resistance to multimodal therapy leading to treatment failure. Cancer stem cells or cancer-initiating cells (CIC) represent a theorized population of cells that give rise to tumors and are responsible for treatment resistance. Procedure We investigated the ability of CD133, a putative CIC marker, to distinguish a chemoresistant, myogenically primitive population in alveolar (RH30), and embryonal (RD) RMS cell lines. We tested CD133+/− cells for sensitivity to engineered herpes simplex virus (oHSV). Results Relative to CD133− cells, CD133+ A-RMS, and E-RMS cells demonstrate an enhanced colony-forming ability, are less differentiated myogenically, and are more resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy but equally sensitive to oHSV oncolysis. Compared to CD133− RD cells, CD133+ cells express relatively high levels of genes typically expressed in skeletal muscle progenitor satellite cells including PAX7, c-MET, and the GLI effectors of the hedgehog signaling pathway. In contrast, CD133+ RH30 cells were not associated with enhanced expression of satellite cell markers or Hh targets. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that CD133+ cells from A-RMS and E-RMS cell lines are characterized by a myogenically primitive phenotype. These cells have the capacity to form colonies in vitro and are more resistant to chemotherapy than CD133− cells. CD133 expression may denote a subset of RMS cells with an important role in tumorigenesis and treatment failure. These resistant cells may be effectively targeted by oHSV therapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 45–52. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MO‐F‐108‐10: Implementation of 4Pi Non‐Coplanar Converging (4PiNC) Beams Using a Conical Delivery Geometry

Purpose: To study the feasibility of a proposed conical delivery system for implementing 4PiNC beams. Methods: In the proposed novel 4PiNC beam delivery system, the x‐ray source aims at the isocenter but rotates around a point on the superior‐inferior axis in a conical fashion. Mathematically, each rotation forms a cone where the vertex is the isocenter and the base is the area bounded by the circular trajectory of the x‐ray source. By changing the cone angle (90 ‐ vertex angle), the proposed 4PiNC system allows hundreds of non‐coplanar beams to be delivered without couch rotation. We developed a simple treatment planning system to investigate the dosimetry for an elliptic cylinder phantom. The planning target volume was a sphere inside the phantom. The three‐dimensional dose calculation was calculated using the TMR table, off‐axis ratios and output factors of a 6 x‐ray beam commissioned for radiosurgery cones. Planning parameters (depth, off‐axis distance…) were calculated analytically. The dose grid contained 100×100×100 voxels with a voxel size of 2×2×2 mm^3. Results: Dose distributions were calculated for (A) 263 beams using cone angles 0, ±20, ±40, ±60, ±80 degree, (B) 153 beam using cone angles 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 degree and (C) 179 beams using cone angles 0, ±20, ±40 degree. Highly conformed dose distributions were achieved with conformity indexes 1.12, 1.11 and 1.19 for case (A), (B) and (C), respectively. The dose falloff (80%–20% of the central dose profile) was 8 mm, 8 mm and 11 mm, respectively. Conclusion: We proved in principle that the proposed 4PiNC beam delivery system can provide excellent dose distribution (low conformity index and fast dose falloff) without couch rotation. The proposed system can significantly improve the treatment plan quality and avoid couch‐gantry collisions, a common patient safety concern of c‐arm linear accelerators, when delivering non‐coplanar beams. This work was partially supported by a DOD grant DOD W81XWH1010862.
Feminist Spirituality and Alcohol Treatment

Although there is some evidence that spirituality may play a role in successful resolution of alcohol problems, there are those who assert that traditional androcentric theologies may be detrimental to the healing process among women. Within conventional religious traditions, women have been relegated to positions of diminished status and power and may be subject to expectations of self-abnegation. For these reasons, asserting powerlessness and abdicating control to a male-defined deity may be nontherapeutic. In contrast, feminist spirituality represents a collage of traditions that enable women to identify the divine within and find strength and power through their interpersonal relationships and lived experiences. Together, the foci of feminist spirituality and women’s health care provide new perspectives for alcohol treatment. Nurses need to become aware of these viewpoints and ways in which they can be integrated into their practices.
Finite Element Modeling of Tires on Snow2

Abstract Vehicle movement on unpaved surfaces is important to military, agriculture, forestry, mining, construction, and recreation industries. Because of the complicated nature of vehicle-terrain ...
Phase diagrams for the binary systems CaCl2-KCl and CaCl2-CaCrO4

Abstract Phase diagrams have been determined using differential thermal analysis for the binary systems CaCl 2 -KCl and CaCl 2 -CaCrO 4 . CaCl 2 -KCl phase diagrams have been previously reported but results were not consistent. No prior studies have been reported for the CaCl 2 -CaCrO 4 system. In the CaCl 2 -KCl binary system two eutectics have been located at 24.0 mole % KCl (m.p. 615°C) and 74.3 mole % KCl (m.p. 594°C). A double salt of composition CaKCl3 melting congruently at 741°C has been found. The CaCl 2 -CaCrO 4 system is a simple eutectic system with the eutectic occurring at 23.4 mole % CaCrO 4 and melting at 660°C.
Use of seminar gaming to specify and validate simulation models

Seminar gaming can be a useful method to use in specifying and validating a simulation model. It provides an interactive forum where a real or proposed system associated with a complex problem domain can by systematically studied by a variety of expert participants. It allows the proper integration of various technical, operational, and social/political considerations into the specification of the simulation model. Due to the visibility of the gaming process and the personal involvement of expert participants, a seminar game can contribute to model validation simultaneously with its specification. The method is especially useful in establishing model credibility and acceptability from the outset of its development. This paper describes the seminar gaming process and its application in specifying a simulation model to varying level of detail. The contribution of the process to model validation is outlined.
Electric-field control of a magnetic phase transition in Ni3V2O8

We report on the electric-field tuning of a magnetic phase transition temperature (TL) in multiferroic Ni3V2O8 thin films. The simultaneous magnetic and ferroelectric transition in Ni3V2O8 exhibits a clear dielectric anomaly; we monitored TL under applied electric and magnetic fields using dielectric measurements. The transition temperature increases by 0.2 K±0.05 K when the sample is biased approximately 25 MV/m compared to zero bias. This electric-field control of the magnetic transition can be qualitatively understood using a mean-field model incorporating a tri-linear coupling between the magnetic order parameters and spontaneous polarization. The shape of the electric field-temperature phase boundary is consistent with the proper order parameter for the multiferroic phase in Ni3V2O8 being a linear combination of the magnetic and ferroelectric correlation functions.
Bax is required for increased enterocyte apoptosis after massive small bowel resection.

Abstract Background: Massive small bowel resection (SBR) increases rates of both enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis. Previous studies have demonstrated increased intestinal expression of proapoptotic bax mRNA and protein, as well as the appearance of an 18-kd bax cleavage product within 12 hours of SBR. This study tested the hypothesis that bax is required for postresection increases in enterocyte apoptosis. Methods: Male bax-null and C57Bl/6 (control) mice underwent either a 50% proximal SBR or sham operation. After 3 days, the remnant ileum was harvested and weighed. Apoptotic indexes, proliferation indexes, villus heights, and crypt depths were determined. Results: The usual adaptive increases in ileal wet weight, crypt depth, and rate of proliferation occurred in both the control and bax-null mice. Resection significantly increased the rate of apoptosis in the control mice; however, it failed to alter the apoptotic index in the bax-null mice. Conclusions:Bax is necessary for the increase in apoptosis that occurs after SBR, but its absence has no significant effect on short-term adaptation. These findings suggest that enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis are differentially regulated during intestinal adaptation. (Surgery 2000;128:165-70.)
Effect of alloying on the Fermi surface of magnesium. II. Pseudopotential model

Fermi-surface results in pure Mg, in alloys of Mg with 0.57 at.% Li and with 0.2 at.% In have been fit by a ten-plane-wave nonlocal-pseudopotential model with an accuracy of about 1%. The only adjustable parameter in each alloy is the Fermi level and this is determined by fitting a single de Haas-van Alphen frequency. It is found that changes in the Fermi surface arise from the shift of Fermi level, from lattice-spacing changes and from the effect of explicitly including the solute pseudopotential. Estimates of the Fermi-surface volume enable the hole and electron carrier concentrations in each alloy to be determined and show that the effective valence difference is very close to -1 and +1, respectively, for Li and for In.
Noise generation at the side edges of flaps

The recently observed phenomenon of high noise radiation from the side edges of flaps is investigated by way of a two-dimensional model based upon a physical picture of chordwise boundary layer vorticity being swept around the edge by spanwise flow on the flap. The trajectory and resulting noise radiation for a discrete vortex in such a flow is obtained. Further, a mathematical condition for the vortex to be captured by the flow and swept around the edge is derived. The sound generation depends strongly upon the vortex strength and distance from the edge and can be more intense than trailing edge noise in agreement with experimental observations.
Some results concerning the quality of vertex solutions found by a method for multiple-objective linear programming

The Zionts-Wallenius algorithm for multiple-objective linear programming terminates with an extreme point solution that is locally but not necessary globally optimal. To find the globally optimal solution, a search along the facets of the solution space polyhedron may be required. In this paper we report the results of an experiment to determine how close the local and global optima are. We discuss the concept of closeness and propose one measure. Computer simulation is used to determine, in general, the quality of the solution found by the Zionts-Wallenius method for two types of non-linear utility functions. The merits of a search procedure are discussed in the context of the results.
Brownian motion of elastically deformable bodies

Extensions of the Case and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck treatments of rigid-body Brownian motion to an elastically deformable body in $d$ dimensions are given. The motion of Brownian deformations in a fluid is considered to be locally damped by a retarding friction. To describe the expected fluctuations, velocity and displacement space-time correlation functions of a body are obtained from the relaxationfunction theorem. A general equipartition theorem is obtained without postulating certain fluctuating sources. However, it is possible to exhibit those fluctuating sources which would yield our correlation functions, and thus a generalized Einstein relation between fluctuations and retarding dissipations is obtained, which is proved to be necessary and sufficient. Sum rules and both Green's and scattering functions are given for strings, elastically deformable rods, and viscoelastic gels. Curves for the ensemble-average-square displacements and their integrations over the entire length are given.
Molecular cloning and DNA sequence analysis of a diphtheria tox iron-dependent regulatory element (dtxR) from Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Abstract Although the structural gene for diphtheria toxin, tox, is carried by a family of closely related corynebacteriophages, the regulation of tox expression is controlled, to a large extent, by its bacterial host Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Optimal yields of tox gene products are obtained only when iron becomes the growth-rate-limiting substrate. Previous studies suggest that regulation of tox expression is mediated through an iron-binding aporepressor. To facilitate molecular cloning of the tox regulatory element from genomic libraries of C. diphtheriae, we constructed a tox promoter/operator (toxPO)-lacZ transcriptional fusion in Escherichia coli strain DH5 alpha. We report the molecular cloning and nucleic acid sequence of a diphtheria tox iron-dependent regulatory element, dtxR, and demonstrate that expression of beta-galactosidase from the toxPO-lacZ fusion is regulated by dtxR-encoded protein in an iron-sensitive manner. In addition, we show that expression of the toxPO-lacZ fusion is not affected by the E. coli iron-regulatory protein Fur and that the dtxR protein does not inhibit expression of fur-regulated outer-membrane proteins.
Preliminary results utilizing a new percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheter.

We report our initial experience with a new percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon catheter and compare it to a similar over-the-wire system in a retrospective, nonrandomized fashion. There was no statistical difference in pre-PTCA angiographic indices and post-PTCA angiographic and clinical success rates between the two groups. There was a trend toward a decrease in length of fluoroscopy (P = .08) and a significant decrease in the amount of contrast utilized (P = .007) with the new balloon catheter. Several new construction features of the new catheter account for this improvement and are discussed. The long-term success of this balloon catheter remains to be investigated.
Comparison of skin perfusion response with alternating and constant pressures in people with spinal cord injury.

Comparison of skin perfusion response with alternating and constant pressures in people with spinal cord injury
Deglaciation and Postglacial Vegetation History of the West Mountains, West-central Idaho, U.S.A.

The West Mountains, west-central Idaho, were deglaciated before ca. 11,500 BP, as indicated by radiocarbon ages and Glacier Peak tephra, at several sites in cirques. Pollen analysis of a sediment core, and plant macrofossils from sediments recovered from the cirque at the head of Van Wyck Creek, indicate that a closed spruce-pine forest surrounded the site from ca. 11,500 to 9800 BP. Early in this period, spruce (probably krummholz) was already growing near the present-day altitudinal limit of large upright spruce. Hence, the climate during this period was significantly warmer than before 11,500 BP. Between ca. 9800 and 3200 BP the climate was warmer and drier than present. Pollen data indicate that from ca.
Mitochondrial transcription factor-A induction by redox activation of nuclear respiratory factor-1

The nuclear expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), which is required for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription and replication, must be linked to cellular energy needs. Because respiration generates reactive oxygen species as a side-product, we tested the idea that reactive oxygen species regulate Tfam expression through phosphorylation of nuclear respiratory factor (NRF-1) and binding to the Tfam promoter. In mitochondriarich rat hepatoma cells that overexpress NRF-1, basal and oxidant-induced increases were found in Tfam expression and mtDNA content. Specific binding of NRF-1 to Tfam promoter was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. NRF-1-Tfam binding was augmented under pro-oxidant conditions. NRF-1 gene silencing produced 1:1 knockdown of Tfam expression and decreased mtDNA content. To evaluate oxidation-reduction (redox) regulation of NRF-1 in Tfam expression, blockade of upstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was used to demonstrate loss of oxidant stimulation of NRF-1 phosphorylation and Tfam expression. The oxidant response was also abrogated by specific inhibition of Akt/protein kinase B. Examination of the NRF-1 amino acid sequence revealed an Akt phosphorylation consensus at which site-directed mutagenesis abolished NRF-1 phosphorylation by Akt. Finally, Akt phosphorylation and NRF-1 translocation predictably lacked oxidant regulation in a cancer line having no PTEN tumor suppressor (HCC1937 cells). This study discloses novel redox regulation of NRF-1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate kinase/Akt signaling in controlling Tfam induction by an anti-oxidant pro-survival network.
Biogeochemical Evolution of a Landfill Leachate Plume, Norman, Oklahoma

Leachate from municipal landfills can create groundwater contaminant plumes that may last for decades to centuries. The fate of reactive contaminants in leachate-affected aquifers depends on the sustainability of biogeochemical processes affecting contaminant transport. Temporal variations in the configuration of redox zones downgradient from the Norman Landfill were studied for more than a decade. The leachate plume contained elevated concentrations of nonvolatile dissolved organic carbon (NVDOC) (up to 300 mg/L), methane (16 mg/L), ammonium (650 mg/L as N), iron (23 mg/L), chloride (1030 mg/L), and bicarbonate (4270 mg/L). Chemical and isotopic investigations along a 2D plume transect revealed consumption of solid and aqueous electron acceptors in the aquifer, depleting the natural attenuation capacity. Despite the relative recalcitrance of NVDOC to biodegradation, the center of the plume was depleted in sulfate, which reduces the long-term oxidation capacity of the leachate-affected aquifer. Ammonium and methane were attenuated in the aquifer relative to chloride by different processes: ammonium transport was retarded mainly by physical interaction with aquifer solids, whereas the methane plume was truncated largely by oxidation. Studies near plume boundaries revealed temporal variability in constituent concentrations related in part to hydrologic changes at various time scales. The upper boundary of the plume was a particularly active location where redox reactions responded to recharge events and seasonal water-table fluctuations. Accurately describing the biogeochemical processes that affect the transport of contaminants in this landfill-leachate-affected aquifer required understanding the aquifer's geologic and hydrodynamic framework.
Toward Ethical Review of Health System Transformations

Efforts to transform health systems constitute social experiments on a population. Like clinical research, they deploy measures that are unproven in the context of the reform, and they often impose significant risks on some people in order to achieve a social goal: the improvement of health delivery. The rationale for proactively evaluating clinical experimentation on human subjects also applies to these social experiments. We used the "benchmarks of fairness" methodology to illustrate the elements such an evidence-based review should encompass, leaving open the question of who should perform it. The review must include the ethical objectives of reform, namely, an integrated approach to equity, accountability, and efficiency; the fit between measures taken and these objectives; and the governance of the reform.
Pressure vessel steel embrittlement monitoring by magnetic properties measurements

The magnetic properties of specimens of one heat of A533B nuclear pressure vessel grade steel have been examined in the as-received condition and after neutron irradiation to various fluence levels up to 4 [times] 10[sup 18] cm[sup [minus]2] (E > 0.1 MeV) in the University of Illinois Advanced TRIGA reactor core at two temperatures, approximately 120 and 260[degrees]C. The effect of some heat treatments was also investigated. The magnetic properties were measured by an automated hysteresis curve tracing method using a miniature transformer which incorporated the specimens in its core. Changes in magnetic hysteresis energy loss were correlated with neutron fluence in the case of certain irradiated specimens, and with microhardness measurements in the case of heat treated specimens. At the higher irradiation temperatures, no significant changes in either the magnetic hysteresis properties or the microhardness were noted for the present fluences. The relationship between the observed magnetic properties response and irradiation-induced embrittlement is discussed.
Interconnection Challenges of the 1990's

Silicon device performance has improved dramatically over the past two decades. During that time, the portion of total circuit delay attributable to interconnect wiring has increased to nearly half. Changes in the use of aluminum wiring and silicon oxide insulators must be considered to further improve performance. The generation of ULSI circuitry now under development in the industry depends heavily on innovations in materials and processes to achieve significant improvements in wiring density and circuit performance. The subsequent generation places even greater demands on materials improvements for lower resistivity wiring and a lower dielectric constant insulator. Integrating materials and methods compatible with semiconductor processing while ensuring device reliability will create a significant financial challenge in addition to the technical challenge. This presentation enumerates the interconnection challenges facing the materials scientist and the circuit designer. The ultimate limits in materials improvements are predictable and finite. Further improvements will be derived from design innovations such as treating interconnects as active rather than passive devices. Accurate physical modelling of MLM structures will complement even more complex electrical modelling. Manufacturing sciences will grow in sophistication if implementation is to succeed. The financial burden of these technical challenges will foster collaborations among semiconductor manufacturers, equipment vendors, and research universities.
The Ethics of Advocacy

Nearly everyone is at times an advocate. By professional role, some people act quite regularly as advocates: lawyers, legislators, executives, merchants, and, in many contexts, educators. Lawyers often consider themselves obligated to maintain a special “zeal” toward their clients' interests, and there are many laws and principles of legal ethics that govern advocacy by attorneys. This article concerns the ethics of advocacy, not its legal aspects. Indeed, I cannot even address the full range of moral issues raised by advocacy; I focus mainly on an area rarely addressed by writers in legal ethics and insufficiently examined in the genral literature of ethics. It is the domain of individual conscience, the arena of internal states and processes, such as desires, beliefs, and thoughts. I am particularly interested in how moral standards apply to the use of reasons in the practice of advocacy. My broadest thesis is that advocacy needs an ethics of reasons, and not just of external behavior.
An Integrated Method of Ray Tracing and Genetic Algorithm for Optimizing Coverage in Indoor Wireless Networks

This letter presents a method for determining the required number and locations of transmit antennas to optimize wireless propagation coverage in a given indoor environment. The ray-tracing method is employed to calculate the field distribution due to one or more transmitting antennas and the genetic algorithm (GA) is used to determine the required number and the locations of these antennas to achieve optimized wireless coverage in a given area. In the ray-tracing method, detailed parameters such as thickness, dielectric constant, and the conductivity of individual walls are assigned for realistic field calculations. Obtained simulation results illustrate the feasibility of using the integrated ray-tracing/GA method in determining the optimized coverage of a wireless network.
Participatory user centered design techniques for a large scale ad-hoc health information system

During mass casualty incidents, an enormous amount of data, including the vital signs of the patients, the location of the patients, and the location of the first responders must be gathered and communicated efficiently. The Advanced Health and Disaster Aid Network (AID-N) used participatory design methods to develop an electronic triage system that changed how emergency personnel interacted, collected, and processed data at mass casualty incidents. Through a collaboration between computer scientists, biomedical engineers, usability analysts, paramedics, and medical doctors, AID-N constructed scalable algorithms to monitor a large numbers of patients, an intuitive interface to support overwhelmed responders, and an ad-hoc mesh network that maintained connectivity to patients in ad-hoc, chaotic settings. This paper describes an iterative approach to user-centered design that allows for the collection of a massive amount of data and presents this data in a clear and understandable format to the user.
INCREASED OSMOTIC FRAGILITY OF ERYTHROCYTES IN CHRONICALLY JAUNDICED RATS AFTER PHOTOTHERAPY

Littermate homozygous (jj) and heterozygous (Jj) Gunn rats, were irradiated with blue fluorescent light for 18 hours continuously. The incident irradiance was 1.5 mWatts/cm2 in the 420--480 nm band pass. The influence of the irradiance on circulating erthrocytes was studied by testing their osmotic fragility before and after the irradiance. The non-jaundiced, Jj, animals did not exhibit any increase in the osmotic fragility of their erythrocytes. The osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes from jaundiced, jj, animals was the same as the Jj animals prior irradiance. However, the fragility of the erythrocytes from the jj animals was significantly increased after the 18 hours of irradiance. The results indicated that the photodynamic action of bilirubin may be present in vivo.
Associations of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Schizophrenia and Comparison Groups

Schizophrenia is characterized by physical (mainly metabolic and cardiovascular) comorbidity and shortened lifespan. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammatory marker of hepatic origin linked to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and mortality in the general population, has been reported to be elevated in people with schizophrenia. However, the relationship of hs-CRP to psychiatric and medical risk factors, after controlling for potentially confounding variables such as smoking, is not well established in schizophrenia. We assessed hs-CRP levels along with various demographic, psychiatric, and metabolic measures in 88 clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 71 age epoch-matched comparison subjects with no history of a major psychiatric illness. hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in individuals with schizophrenia than in comparison subjects. Higher hs-CRP levels in the schizophrenia group were associated with female gender, more severe negative symptoms, greater medical comorbidity, and worse metabolic risk factors including BMI, fasting glucose, and hemoglobin A1c levels. hs-CRP was not related to age, race, education, smoking status, antipsychotic dosage, or cognitive impairment. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the relationship between hs-CRP and long-term health outcomes including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in schizophrenia.
B Cell–Specific Loss of Lyn Kinase Leads to Autoimmunity

The Lyn tyrosine kinase regulates inhibitory signaling in B and myeloid cells: loss of Lyn results in a lupus-like autoimmune disease with hyperactive B cells and myeloproliferation. We have characterized the relative contribution of Lyn-regulated signaling pathways in B cells specifically to the development of autoimmunity by crossing the novel lyn(flox/flox) animals with mice carrying the Cre recombinase under the control of the Cd79a promoter, resulting in deletion of Lyn in B cells. The specific deletion of Lyn in B cells is sufficient for the development of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. The B cell-specific Lyn-deficient mice have no defects in early bone marrow B cell development but have reduced numbers of mature B cells with poor germinal centers, as well as increased numbers of plasma and B1a cells, similar to the lyn(-/-) animals. Within 8 mo of life, B cell-specific Lyn mutant mice develop high titers of IgG anti-Smith Ag ribonucleoprotein and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, which deposit in their kidneys, resulting in glomerulonephritis. B cell-specific Lyn mutant mice also develop myeloproliferation, similar to the lyn(-/-) animals. The additional deletion of MyD88 in B cells, achieved by crossing lyn(flox/flox)Cd79a-cre mice with myd88(flox/flox) animals, reversed the autoimmune phenotype observed in B cell-specific Lyn-deficient mice by blocking production of class-switched pathogenic IgG autoantibodies. Our results demonstrate that B cell-intrinsic Lyn-dependent signaling pathways regulate B cell homeostasis and activation, which in concert with B cell-specific MyD88 signaling pathways can drive the development of autoimmune disease.
Acute changes in maternal thyroid hormone induce rapid and transient changes in gene expression in fetal rat brain.

Despite clinical evidence that thyroid hormone is essential for brain development before birth, effects of thyroid hormone on the fetal brain have been largely unexplored. One mechanism of thyroid hormone action is regulation of gene expression, because thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors. We used differential display to identify genes affected by acute T4administration to the dam before the onset of fetal thyroid function. Eight of the 11 genes that we identified were selectively expressed in brain areas known to contain TRs, indicating that these genes were directly regulated by thyroid hormone. Using in situ hybridization, we confirmed that the cortical expression of both neuroendocrine-specific protein (NSP) and Oct-1 was affected by changes in maternal thyroid status. Additionally, we demonstrated that both NSP and Oct-1 were expressed in the adult brain and that their responsiveness to thyroid hormone was retained. These data are the first to identify thyroid hormone-responsive genes in the fetal brain.
Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus

The human pituitary gland has two major parts—the adenohypophysis, which comprises the pars dis-talis, pars intermedia, and pars tuberalis, and the neurohypophysis, which includes the posterior lobe, neural stalk, and infundibulum. The adenohypophysis is derived embryologically from the invagination of the stomodeal ectoderm, Rathke’s pouch, which is the roof of the stomodeum or primitive buccal cavity. The neurohypophysis originates in the floor of the diencephalon. It retains a permanent connection with the brain via the infundibular stalk. The pituitary can be recognized macroscopically by 12 weeks of gestation (30).
CloudBridge: on integrated hardware-software consolidation

Data center consolidation has emerged as an important tool to improve the hardware utilization of data centers and reduce delivery costs. Consolidation has traditionally used virtualization to consolidate multiple workloads as different virtual machines running on a shared physical server. Consolidation leads to reduction in the hardware and the facilities cost (e.g., space and energy) but does not reduce software maintenance cost, which is often proportional to the number of instances of the software. The ever-increasing proportion of software cost (labour and license) in data center operations make software consolidation an important tool in data centers.In this work, we investigate the problem of data center consolidation with the goal of minimizing the total costs in running a data center. We build on existing work on virtualization-driven hardware consolidation and software consolidation to design CloudBridge that reduces total data center cost. CloudBridge uses an algorithm for finding the optimal software consolidation level for workloads consolidated on a physical server. Further, it intelligently optimizes the tradeoff between hardware and software consolidation to identify suitable workloads that should be co-located on a shared physical server. We present both theoretical and experimental evidence that establishes the effectiveness of CloudBridge.
An Empirical Investigation of Affordances and Conventions

There is a debate in the literature concerning whether a distinction between affordances and cultural conventions ought to be drawn. It is possible that in the absence of affordances users develop conventions to resolve interaction ambiguity. We explored whether a difference between affordances and conventions existed through a button pressing task. Our results show that affordances exist when the spatial button configuration is congruent with directional cues. When affordances were not available, most participants demonstrated consistent button-to-action mapping that sometimes represented a convention. Additionally, there was no difference in response time in the affordance and convention conditions.
Global and dynamic round-robin scheduler for terabit routers

In this paper we propose a mew greatly scheduling algorithm for crossbar terabit routers with virtual output queuing (VOQ) at input ports. The proposed global and dynamic round-robin (GDRR) scheduler is pipelined scheduler. Our empirical studies show that: 1) the scheduler provides minimum service rate (MSR) guarantees for high-priority confirming traffic, 2) by using the global round-robin method available bandwidth at any output port is fairly shared among input ports (the input port fairness), and 3) by using the dynamic round-robin method available bandwidth at any input port is fairly shared among VOQs (the output port fairness). Increasing the number of scheduling modules linearly increases the latency of the scheduler, while increasing the number of supported traffic classes does not affect its design.
Trail-following behavior in the German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae).

The trail-following behavior of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), was evaluated by comparing the distance between cockroach movement paths and preapplied “trails” of fecal extract. For each cockroach group tested (adult males, females, gravid females, and late instars), the mean perpendicular distance of the cockroach from the trail was significantly less than the distance from a control trail. The results indicated that the German cockroaches did exhibit trail-following behavior. Trail- following accuracy varied among the cockroach groups. The mean distance from the fecal trail ranged from 18.45 to 110.05 cm with adult males ≤ adult females ≤ late instars < gravid females. Very dilute fecal extract could still induce trail-following behavior in adult male cockroaches. A 5.6% concentration of fecal extract in methanol was able to induce trail-following behavior in 50% of the cockroaches. Although German cockroaches have demonstrated trail-following behavior, fecal trails are still not thought to be actively deposited. Rather, the passive distribution of fecal material within the home range results in the accumulation of trails along frequently traveled routes (i.e., between resources and the cockroach harborage).
Neutron Spectroscopy with Scintillation Detectors using Wavelets

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v DEDICATION vi LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Project Motivation and Objectives 1 1.2 Radiation Detection 3 1.3 Scintillators 4 1.3 Spectrum Unfolding 9 1.4 Wavelets 12 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW 15 2.1 Background 15 2.1 Regularization Methods 15 2.2 Least Squares Methods 18 2.3 Maximum Entropy Method 20 2.4 Iterative Unfolding Methods 21 2.5 Stochastic Methods 22 CHAPTER 3 NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE 25
Beyond Feminism and Islamism. Gender and equality in North Africa

Doris Gray's Beyond Feminism and Islamism. Gender and equality in North Africa explores the intersection of Islamism and Feminism on the issue of women's rights promotion in the Kingdom of Morocco....
Influence of dietary forage and feed intake on carbohydrase activities and small intestinal morphology of calves.

Twenty (12 Holstein, 8 Longhorn cross) calves (198 kg and 7 mo old) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of dietary forage concentration and feed intake on carbohydrase activities and small intestinal (SI) morphology. Calves were individually fed 90% forage (alfalfa) or a 90% concentrate (50% sorghum: 50% wheat) diet at either one or two times NEm for 140 d and slaughtered; tissues and small intestinal digesta were collected. Increased feed intake increased (P less than .05) pancreatic weight, alpha-amylase and glucoamylase activities in the pancreas, SI length and SI digesta weight. Forage-fed calves gained faster (P less than .01) and had greater (P less than .05) pancreatic protein concentrations, alpha-amylase and glucoamylase activities in the pancreas and greater SI digesta alpha-amylase activities than grain-fed calves did. Increased feed intake increased (P less than .01) mucosal weight/cm small intestine only in forage-fed calves and increased (P less than .05) SI surface/volume only in grain-fed calves. Mucosal weight was greatest (P less than .05) at the terminal ileum, surface/volume was greatest (P less than .05) in the duodenum, and mucosal protein concentration was highest (P less than .05) in the SI mid-section. Mucosal lactase was higher (P less than .05) in proximal segments, whereas mucosal isomaltase was higher in middle and distal segments of the small intestine. For mucosal maltase activity, there was a feed intake x SI sampling site interaction (P less than .05) and for trehalase, a diet x feed intake x SI sampling site interaction (P less than .05). The SI distribution patterns of maltase and isomaltase were similar, as were those of trehalase and lactase. The alpha-amylase activity in the pancreas and SI morphology were influenced greatly by diet composition and feed intake by calves.
Triple Therapy. Can We Replace More With Better

Triple therapy, or the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in addition to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), is common among patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and have concurrent indications for anticoagulation, such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or mechanical valve
An opinionated guide to the proper care and feeding of your transcriptome

Characterizing transcriptomes in both model and non-model organisms has resulted in a massive increase in our understanding of biological phenomena. This boon, largely made possible via high-throughput sequencing, means that studies of functional, evolutionary and population genomics are now being done by hundreds or even thousands of labs around the world. For many, these studies begin with a de novo transcriptome assembly, which is a technically complicated process involving several discrete steps. Each step may be accomplished in one of several different ways, using different software packages, each producing different results. This analytical complexity begs the question -- Which method(s) are optimal? Using reference and non-reference based evaluative methods, I propose a set of guidelines that aim to standardize and facilitate the process of transcriptome assembly. These recommendations include the generation of between 20 million and 40 million sequencing reads from single individual where possible, error correction of reads, gentle quality trimming, assembly filtering using Transrate and/or gene expression, annotation using dammit, and appropriate reporting. These recommendations have been extensively benchmarked and applied to publicly available transcriptomes, resulting in improvements in both content and contiguity. To facilitate the implementation of the proposed standardized methods, I have released a set of version controlled open-sourced code, The Oyster River Protocol for Transcriptome Assembly, available at http://oyster-river-protocol.rtfd.org/.
Image-derived input function derived from a supervised clustering algorithm: Methodology and validation in a clinical protocol using [11C](R)-rolipram

316 Objectives Image-derived input function (IDIF) obtained by manually drawing carotid arteries (manual-IDIF) can be reliably used in [11C](R)-rolipram PET scans. However, manual-IDIF is time consuming and subject to operator variability. To overcome this limitation, we developed a fully automated technique for deriving IDIF with a supervised clustering algorithm (SVCA). Methods 25 healthy controls and 26 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) underwent a 90-minute [11C](R)-rolipram PET scan. For each subject, metabolite-corrected input function was measured from the radial artery. SVCA templates were obtained from 10 additional healthy subjects who underwent the same MRI and PET procedures. Cluster-IDIF was obtained as follows: 1) template mask images were created for carotid and surrounding tissue; 2) parametric image of weights for blood were created using SVCA; 3) mask images to the individual PET image were inversely normalized; 4) carotid and surrounding tissue time activity curves (TACs) were obtained from weighted and unweighted averages of each voxel activity in each mask, respectively; 5) partial volume effects and radiometabolites were corrected using arterial data at four points. Results Logan-distribution volume (VT/fP) values obtained by cluster-IDIF were similar to reference results obtained using arterial data, as well as those obtained using manual-IDIF; 39 of 51 subjects had a VT/fP error of 10%. With automatic voxel selection, cluster-IDIF curves were less noisy than manual-IDIF and free of operator-related variability. Cluster-IDIF showed widespread decrease of about 20% [11C](R)-rolipram binding in the MDD group. Conclusions Cluster-IDIF is a good alternative to full arterial input function for estimating Logan-VT/fP in [11C](R)-rolipram PET clinical scans. This technique enables fully automated extraction of IDIF and can be applied to other radiotracers with similar kinetics.
Design of Potent and Controllable Anticoagulants Using DNA Aptamers and Nanostructures

The regulation of thrombin activity offers an opportunity to regulate blood clotting because of the central role played by this molecule in the coagulation cascade. Thrombin-binding DNA aptamers have been used to inhibit thrombin activity. In the past, to address the low efficacy reported for these aptamers during clinical trials, multiple aptamers have been linked using DNA nanostructures. Here, we modify that strategy by linking multiple copies of various thrombin-binding aptamers using DNA weave tiles. The resulting constructs have very high anticoagulant activity in functional assays owing to their improved cooperative binding affinity to thrombin due to optimized spacing, orientation, and the high local concentration of aptamers. We also report the results of molecular dynamics simulations to gain insight into the solution conformations of the tiles. Moreover, by using DNA strand displacement, we were able to turn the coagulation cascade off and on as desired, thereby enabling significantly better control over blood coagulation.
Lust, Attraction, Attachment: Biology and Evolution of the Three Primary Emotion Systems for Mating, Reproduction, and Parenting

Humans and other mammals have evolved three primary emotion systems for mating, reproduction, and parenting: the sex drive, or lust, characterized by the craving for sexual gratification; attraction, characterized by increased energy and focused attention on one or more potential mates, accompanied in humans by exhilaration, intrusive thinking, and craving for emotional union; and attachment, characterized by close social contact and feelings of calm, comfort, and emotional union. Each emotion system is associated with a discrete constellation of brain circuits, and each evolved to direct a specific aspect of mating and reproduction. The psychophysiological properties of romantic attraction suggest that this emotion system is associated with increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine and decreased levels of serotonin in the brain; a study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is in progress to investigate the neural architecture of this primary emotion system. During the course of homini...
Choosing a Value Discipline for Marketing Online Education

This paper addresses the strategy alignment of online programs. In response to learner demand and research indicating the effectiveness and flexibility of online education, recent years have seen a proliferation of these offerings at academic institutions. Not all of these programs will survive the competition. We propose that, in order to succeed, institutions will need to distinguish their online programs along one of three value disciplines: customer intimacy, operational excellence, or product leadership.
Upgrading pine sawdust pyrolysis oil to green biofuels by HDO over zinc-assisted Pd/C catalyst

Abstract Upgrading pyrolysis oil by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a promising route for the production of advanced biofuels. The proper reaction conditions and catalysts are important for the success of this process. Previously our research group investigated the ratio of Zn and Pd on the synergistic effect for HDO bio-oil upgrading. This present research focuses on determining the optimal reaction conditions for HDO conversion of pyrolysis oil produced from pine sawdust. Temperatures of 150, 200 and 250 °C and hydrogen pressures of 1.38, 2.76 and 4.14 MPa were evaluated. Syngas, liquids and coke were the primary products evaluated. Syngas was characterized using a Gas chromatography (GC). The liquids were characterized using a Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Increasing reaction temperature resulted in increased coke yields. Treatment at 250 °C and 1.38 MPa resulted in the highest hydrocarbon content (6.06%). The treatment at 200 °C and 1.38 MPa produced the largest amounts of hydrocarbons in C6–C12 range (5.07%). The physicochemical characterizations further support the GCMS results. Syngas analysis revealed that higher hydrogen pressure leads to increased hydrogen consumption and results in more oxy-compounds conversion to hydrocarbons. The syngas analysis also supports the liquid analysis result.