cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CD8 T cell quiescence revisited

Naive T cells are typically considered to be in a default state of quiescence, whereas memory T cells undergo basal proliferation and quickly exhibit effector responses when stimulated. Over the past few years, however, a more complex picture has emerged, with evidence that naive T cell quiescence is actively enforced, and that heterogeneity among naive T cells influences their capacity to escape quiescence in response to homeostatic cues. Furthermore, the active state of memory T cells may also be instructed, requiring contact with dendritic cells to avoid reversion to quiescence. Here, we discuss these new findings and propose that there is much more flexibility in the quiescent state of naive and memory T cells than previously thought.
Does god play dice? Insights from the fractal geometry of nature

Abstract Albert Einstein and Huston Smith reflect the old metaphor that chaos and randomness are bad. Scientists recently have discovered that many phenomena, from the fluctuations of the stock market to variations in our weather, have the same underlying order. Natural beauty from plants to snowflakes is described by fractal geometry; tree branching from trunks to twigs has the same fractal scaling as our lungs, from trachea to bronchi. Algorithms for drawing fractals have both randomness and global determinism. Fractal statistics is like picking a card from a stacked deck rather than from one that is shuffled to be truly random. The polarity of randomness (or freedom) and law characterizes the self-creating natural world. Polarity is in consonance with Taoism and contemporary theologians such as Paul Tillich, Alfred North Whitehead, Gordon Kaufman, Philip Hefner, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Joseph Ford's new metaphor is replacing the old: “God plays dice with the universe, but they're loaded dice.”
Development of a fluorescence internal quenching correction factor to correct botulinum neurotoxin type A endopeptidase kinetics using SNAPtide.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), which are highly toxic proteins responsible for botulism, are produced by different strains of Clostridium botulinum. These various strains of bacteria produce seven distinct serotypes, labeled A–G. Once inside cells, the zinc-dependent proteolytic light chain (LC) degrades specific proteins involved in acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions causing flaccid paralysis, specifically synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) for botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A). BoNT endopeptidase assays using short substrate homologues have been widely used and developed because of their ease of synthesis, detection limits, and cost. SNAPtide, a 13-amino acid fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide, was used in this study as a SNAP-25 homologue for the endopeptidase kinetics study of BoNT/A LC. SNAPtide uses a fluorescein isothiocyanate/4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo) benzoic acid (FITC/DABCYL) FRET pair to produce a signal upon substrate cleavage. Signal quench...
Coordination chemistry of 2,4′-bipyridine. Synthesis and structures of Co(2,4′-bipyridine)2(NO3)2(H2O) and Cd(2,4′-bipyridine)2(NO3)2(H2O)2

Synthesis and characterization of two coordination complexes of 2,4′-bipyridine, Co(2,4′-bipyridine) 2 (NO 3 ) 2 (H 2 O) ( 1 ), and Cd(2,4′-bipyridine) 2 (NO 3 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ( 2 ), are described. Complex 1 was obtained by reacting Co(NO 3 ) 2 · 6H 2 O and 2,4′-bipyridine in a mixture of water and ethanol at room temperature, while 2 was synthesized from Cd(NO 3 ) 2 · 4H 2 O and 2,4′-bipyridine under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions at 90°C. In both complexes the metal centers only coordinate to the 4-pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the 2,4′-bipyridine ligands, with the rest of the coordination sites occupied by nitrate groups and water molecules. In 1 , the 2-pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the 2,4′-bipyridine ligands form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with both hydrogen atoms of the coordinated water molecule, resulting in a two-dimensional (2-D) polymeric network. In 2 , all the hydrogen atoms of the two coordinated water molecules are engaged in intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the 2-pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the 2,4′-bipyridine ligands and the oxygen atoms of the coordinated nitrate group; a 2-D hydrogen-bonded polymeric network is also obtained. Complexes 1 and 2 are the first coordination complexes of 2,4′-bipyridine to be characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Effect of Gibberellin and Other Treatments on the Germination and Subsequent Biogenesis of Alkaloids in Datura stramonium Linné

Stramonium seeds were subjected to two "cold treatments," to treatment with gib-berellic acid (GA) and with concentrated sulfuric acid (SA). The rate and percentage of germination were markedly reduced by the cold treatments, whereas they were significantly increased by the GA and SA treatments. A threefold increase in germination percentage was noted in the former group and a twofold increase in the latter. Plants from the GA, SA, and control groups were allowed to grow to maturity. Characteristic gibberellin effects were not noted in plants receiving a gib-berellin-seed treatment. However, the early growth of this group was markedly reduced. At the final harvest total plant weight was slightly less than controls. Fluctuations in the alkaloid concentration of the plant organs were noted. At the final harvest the total content of alkaloids was about 87 per cent of controls. The growth rate of the SA group was considerably lower than controls initially, but, the total dry weight at the final harvest approximated the controls. Both decreases and increases in the concentration of alkaloids in the plant organs were observed. The total plant alkaloids of this group at the final harvest were about the same as controls.
Observation of Ultra-Slow Translational Diffusion in Metallic Lithium by Magnetic Resonance

The theory of a new magnetic-resonance technique for studying the ultra slow motion of atoms was presented in a previous paper. In this paper, we present its experimental confirmation for the case of translational diffusion in lithium metal. By this technique the mean time between atomic jumps $\ensuremath{\tau}$ can be measured provided that $\ensuremath{\tau}$ is less than the spin-lattice relaxation time ${T}_{1}$, permitting study of much slower rates of motion than previously has been possible using magnetic resonance. For lithium metal we have measured over nine orders of magnitude from $\ensuremath{\tau}={10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ sec to $\ensuremath{\tau}=1$ sec, thereby extending by nearly five decades the results previously obtained by Holcomb and Norberg using conventional techniques. We have applied a new spin-temperature theory to the analysis of our low-temperature results in the range of its validity, ${T}_{1}g\ensuremath{\tau}g{T}_{2}$. By studying the variation of our relaxation time with the rf field strength ${H}_{1}$, we have unambiguously demonstrated the validity of the spin-temperature theory and the invalidity of perturbation theories in describing relaxation due to infrequent atomic motions in weak applied fields.
Radiation therapy, cardiac risk factors, and cardiac toxicity in early-stage breast cancer patients

Purpose The benefits of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer may be counterbalanced by the risk of cardiac toxicity. We studied the cardiac effects of RT and the impact of pre-existing cardiac risk factors (CRFs) in a population-based sample of older patients with breast cancer. Methods and Materials In the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER)–Medicare database of women ≥65 years diagnosed with Stages I to III breast cancer from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 2000, we used multivariable logistic regression to model the associations of demographic and clinical variables with postmastectomy and postlumpectomy RT. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we then modeled the association between treatment and myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemia in the 10 or more years after diagnosis, taking the predictors of treatment into account. Results Among 48,353 women with breast cancer; 19,897 (42%) were treated with lumpectomy and 26,534 (55%) with mastectomy; the remainder had unknown surgery type (3%). Receipt of RT was associated with later year of diagnosis, younger age, fewer comorbidities, nonrural residence, and chemotherapy. Postlumpectomy RT was also associated with white ethnicity and no prior history of heart disease (HD). The RT did not increase the risk of MI. Presence of MI was associated with age, African American ethnicity, advanced stage, nonrural residence, more than one comorbid condition, a hormone receptor-negative tumor, CRFs and HD. Among patients who received RT, tumor laterality was not associated with MI outcome. The effect of RT on the heart was not influenced by HD or CRFs. Conclusion It appears unlikely that RT would increase the risk of MI in elderly women with breast cancer, regardless of type of surgery, tumor laterality, or history of CRFs or HD, for at least 10 years.
Advanced neuroblastoma impairs dendritic cell function in adoptive immunotherapy.

Abstract Background/purpose The authors previously described the complete regression of established neuroblastoma (NB) by the adoptive transfer of syngeneic interleukin-12 transduced dendritic cells (DC) from naive mice. However, some malignancies, like NB, abrogate DC immunostimulation. The authors hypothesize that IL-12 transduction of DC from NB-bearing mice will have the same antitumor properties. Methods A/J mice (n = 32) with established NB received peritumoral injection of 1 × 10 6 DC (DC, IL-12 DC, day 7 IL-12 DC or day 14 IL-12 DC) on day 7. Tumor growth, phenotype, and ability to induce NK and T cell activity were measured. Results Vaccination with naive admIL-12 DC resulted in 100% tumor regression and prolonged survival. Transduced DC induced only partial responses in 75% (day 7) and 25% (day 14) of animals. No differences in phenotype or effector cell activation were noted between admIL-12DC in tumor-bearing or naive mice. Conclusions IL-12 DC from tumor-bearing animals have a decreased ability to induce antitumor activity against established murine NB. This decreased capacity appears to be related to the duration of exposure to tumor because day 14 transduced DC had less of an effect than day 7 DC, despite similar phenotypes and ability to activate immune effector cells.
Comparative measurements of temperature in liver, lung, and rectum of the rabbit.

SummaryIn a series of 7 normothermic rabbits the liver temperature was consistently higher than either the lung or rectal temperatures. The lung temperature was usually, but not consistently, higher than the rectal temperature. The mean differences were as follows: a) The liver temperature averaged 0.18°C higher than the lung temperature, b) The liver temperature averaged 0.29°C higher than the rectal temperature, c) The lung temperature averaged 0.11°C higher than the rectal temperature.
Planar packing of tetrachlorodicyanobenzene isomers

Ortho-, meta- and para-tetrachlorodicyanobenzene (TBD, tetrachlorobenzenedicarbonitrile) form 1/1 complexes with hexamethylbenzene (HMB). Seven polymorphic forms of the crystals, one of o-TDB, two of m-TDB and four of p-TBD, have been found. All of the complexes involve layers of two-dimensional arrays, and in six of the complexes the layers are homogeneous, alternate layers being entirely TDB or entirely HMB. The layers can be described in terms of an hexagonal tiling and in five of the homogeneous layers the TDB are ordered so that one CN and two Cl come together at each corner of the tiles. In the sixth the m-TDB is disordered, but a plausible arrangement can still be found with one CN and two Cl coming together in the same fashion.
Prediction of postdischarge complications by predischarge event recordings in infants with apnea of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether predischarge event recording (PDER) can accurately identify preterm infants with resolving apnea of prematurity (AOP) at risk for postdischarge complications. DESIGN: PDER was performed on infants with resolving AOP on caffeine, ready for discharge. The outcome of infants with normal recordings was compared with that of infants with abnormal recordings. Follow-up data were obtained for outcome. RESULTS: Of the 106 infants, 74 had a normal PDER and 32 had an abnormal PDER (apneas lasting for >20 seconds and/or a heart rate of 5 seconds). Birth weight, gestational age at birth, length of stay, discharge weight, and duration of caffeine treatment after discharge were no different between groups. None of the normal PDER infants (0 of 74) had postdischarge complications, whereas 4 of 32 infants with an abnormal PDER had complications (p < 0.05, power = 0.7). The positive predictive value of a normal PDER and no postdischarge complications was 100%. The positive predictive value of an abnormal PDER and an adverse outcome was 12.5%. CONCLUSION: Normal PDER accurately identifies infants at low risk for an adverse outcome.
Educating to Combat Racism: The Civic Role of Anthropology

The anthropological community was taken by surprise by the recent publication and success of several works alleging genetic inferiority of some populations in the United States today. For most anthropologists, the specter of racism and arguments focusing on the heritability of intelligence are behind us. Yet the resurgence of conservative political agendas rationalized by purported differences among “classes,” “races,” and “ethnicities” has raised questions about the contributions and civic role of anthropology in the United States today.
A knowledge-based system for sensor selection

Abstract This paper presents a Knowledge-based system (KBS) developed to allow users, who may not be knowledgeable about sensors, to select sensors suitable for their specific needs. The KBS runs on a micro-computer. The selection criteria are user specified and are based on the desired measurement parameters. The system output includes all of the operational and dimensional parameters of the recommended sensor, price, and vendor information.
Theory of staircase voltammetry

Abstract The theoretical relationships for voltammetry with a staircase potential function are developed for a reversible electrode reaction and are shown to be in accord with experiment. Current-potential curves are calculated and tabulated.
Spatial deconvolution of 3-D diffuse optical tomographic image time series: Influence of background medium heterogeneity

The ability of a spatial deconvolution algorithm to enhance reconstructed optical tomographic image quality was previously demonstrated. Here, additional computational studies show that introduction of complex medium geometry actually can improve the method's performance.
Microvascular fluid and protein flux in pulmonary and systemic circulations after thermal injury.

Abstract The local and generalized microvascular response to thermal injury, monitoring transvascular fluid flux and protein permeability in burned and nonburned soft tissue and in the lung, was studied. Chronic lymph fistulas were produced in lung and soft tissue in adult sheep. Lymph flux ( L ) and the lymph-to-plasma ( L P ) protein ratio for four protein fractions separated by gel electrophoresis, were used to monitor fluid flux and protein permeability before and for 72 hr after a 25% full-thickness skin burn. There was a marked increase in both ( L ) and the L P ratio for proteins ranging from 35- to 108-A radius in burn tissue for the entire 72-hr period, indicating an increased protein permeability. There was a transient increase in ( L ) and L P for proteins 58 A and less in nonburn tissue, with the permeability change lasting about 12 hr. Fluid flux was significantly increased in the lung for 24–36 hr, but protein sieving was normal as demonstrated by a decrease in L P ratio for all protein fractions, indicating the increase in ( L ) to be due to an increase in microvascular hydrostatic pressure.
On the spatial formulation of discontinuous Galerkin methods for finite elastoplasticity

Abstract In this paper, we present a consistent spatial formulation for discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods applied to solid mechanics problems with finite deformation. This spatial formulation provides a general, accurate, and efficient DG finite element computational framework for modeling nonlinear solid mechanics problems. To obtain a consistent formulation, we employ the Incomplete Interior Penalty Galerkin (IIPG) method. Another requirement for achieving a fast convergence rate for Newton’s iterations is the consistent formulation of material integrators. We show that material integrators that are well developed and tested in continuous Galerkin (CG) methods can be fully exploited for DG methods by additionally performing stress returning on element interfaces. Finally, for problems with pressure or follower loading, stiffness contributed from loaded surfaces must also be consistently incorporated. In this work, we propose the Truesdell objective stress rate for both hypoelastoplastic and hyperelastoplastic problems. Two formulations based on the co-rotational and multiplicative decomposition-based frameworks are implemented for hypoelastoplasticity and hyperelastoplasticity, respectively. Two new terminologies, the so-called standard surface geometry stiffness and the penalty surface geometry stiffness, are introduced and derived through consistently linearizing the virtual work contributed from interior surface integrals. The performance of our DG formulation has been demonstrated through solving a cantilever beam problem undergoing large rotations, as well as a bipolar void coalescence problem where the voids grow up to several hundred times of their original volumes. Fast convergence rates for Newton’s iterations have been achieved in our IIPG implementation.
Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years

Golembiewski, D. (2008). Milwaukee television history: The analog years. Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press. 510 pages. This is an unusual book, part coffee table book, part heavily detailed...
A framework for learning semantic maps from grounded natural language descriptions

This paper describes a framework that enables robots to efficiently learn human-centric models of their environment from natural language descriptions. Typical semantic mapping approaches are limited to augmenting metric maps with higher-level properties of the robot's surroundings (e.g. place type, object locations) that can be inferred from the robot's sensor data, but do not use this information to improve the metric map. The novelty of our algorithm lies in fusing high-level knowledge that people can uniquely provide through speech with metric information from the robot's low-level sensor streams. Our method jointly estimates a hybrid metric, topological, and semantic representation of the environment. This semantic graph provides a common framework in which we integrate information that the user communicates (e.g. labels and spatial relations) with metric observations from low-level sensors. Our algorithm efficiently maintains a factored distribution over semantic graphs based upon the stream of natural language and low-level sensor information. We detail the means by which the framework incorporates knowledge conveyed by the user's descriptions, including the ability to reason over expressions that reference yet unknown regions in the environment. We evaluate the algorithm's ability to learn human-centric maps of several different environments and analyze the knowledge inferred from language and the utility of the learned maps. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of information from free-form descriptions increases the metric, topological, and semantic accuracy of the recovered environment model.
Effect of commitment, job involvement and teams on customer satisfaction and profit

Purpose – This study seeks to examine customer satisfaction (CS), productivity, and profitability in terms of the organizational commitment (OC) and job involvement (JI) of company customer contact personnel. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the relationship between the OC and JI of customer contact personnel in team and non‐team structures.Design/methodology/approach – A field design is used for testing the study's four hypotheses and for examining the relationships between the independent variables and organizational profit and productivity. The study uses the service departments of 40 geographically diverse franchised automobile dealerships from one original equipment manufacturer.Findings – The OC of customer contact personnel was significantly correlated with CS but not profit and productivity. On the other hand, the JI of customer contact personnel was significantly correlated with CS, profit and productivity. There was a significant difference between the team and non‐team structures for...
An Evaluation of Postdoctoral Research Training and Trainees Supported by the National Institutes of Health in the Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases

Abstract The interest of young MDs and PhDs in research careers was assessed by determining the number of former trainees who applied for and (or) received research support from the Public Health Service. Thirty-two percent of trainees supported by Institutional Training Grants between 1977 and 1981 made a subsequent application. Seventy-six percent of all those who submitted applications to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research project support received awards. Examination of the success rate for individual applications submitted by former trainees showed that 56% of all applications submitted by MD scientists were awarded, and 57% of all applications submitted by PhD scientists were awarded. This compares to an NIH-wide average of 33.3% for the same period. The number of appointments made to Institutional Training Grants for a full year remained fairly constant over a 6year period, as did the number appointed to individual fellowships over an 8-year period. The dollars expended on Institutional Training Grants increased 33% from 1982 to 1986 for a similar number of trainees, and increased 30% from 1981 to 1988 for a similar number of individual fellowships. The number of Research Career Development Award (RCDA) applications declined by 66% for MDs and by 53% for PhDs, accounting for a 32% reduction in the number of active RCDAs held by MDs and a 60% reduction in active RCDAs held by PhDs from 1985 to 1988. MD scientists submitted more applications, had higher award rates, and received more RCDA awards than did PhD scientists. Currently, 42% of all who received training through an Institutional Training Grant in the Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases (DKUHD) are engaged in research activities. In summary, applicants who were former trainees supported by an Institutional Training Grant in DKUHD had higher success rates than other applicants assigned to the DKUHD ( P
509. Adeno-Associated Vector Mediated Delivery of Anti-HIV Genes

Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV-2) vectors are being widely used for gene therapy applications. These vectors offer certain advantages for HIV gene therapy since the anti-HIV genes introduced into the vector will not interfere with the vector production as is the case seen with the production of some lentiviral vectors carrying HIV inhibitory genes. In our current studies we introduced three different HIV inhibitory genes with different mechanisms of action into the rAAV vectors and tested their efficacy. These consist of an anti-CCR5 siRNA targeted to the HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 involved in viral entry, rhesus TRIM5a mediating innate resistance and murine APOBEC that can cause lethal hypermutations in viral genome. These transgenes were introduced into rAAV-2 vectors (Stratagene's helper free system) together with an EGFP reporter. Concentrated vectors were used to transduce a MAGI-CCR5 cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's). Transduced cells were sorted for enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) expression and cultured. Down regulation of the CCR5 coreceptor was confirmed by FACS. Expression of TRIM5aRh and murine APOBEC was determined by western blots. The transgenic cells were challenged with HIV-1 to determine viral resistance. Preliminary results showed varying levels of protection with these constructs. The best protection conferred in transduced MAGI-CCR5 cells was seen with murine APOBEC followed by rhesus TRIM5a and then CCR5 shRNA. In PBMC challenges, both murine APOBEC and rhesus TRIM5a showed relatively higher levels of protection compared to that shown by CCR5 shRNA. These results showed the utility of rAAV vectors for gene transduction of different anti-HIV constructs for AIDS gene therapy.
Multiresolution tetrahedral framework for visualizing regular volume data

The authors present a multiresolution framework, called Multi-Tetra framework, that approximates volume data with different levels-of-detail tetrahedra. The framework is generated through a recursive subdivision of the volume data and is represented by binary trees. Instead of using a certain level of the Multi-Tetra framework for approximation, an error-based model (EBM) is generated by recursively fusing a sequence of tetrahedra from different levels of the Multi-Tetra framework. The EBM significantly reduces the number of voxels required to model an object, while preserving the original topology. The approach provides continuous distribution of rendered intensity or generated isosurfaces along boundaries of different levels-of-detail thus solving the crack problem. The model supports typical rendering approaches, such as marching cubes, direct volume projection, and splatting. Experimental results demonstrate the strengths of the approach.
Quantitative megavoltage radiation therapy dosimetry using the storage phosphor KCl: Eu2+.

This work, for the first time, reports the use of europium doped potassium chloride ( K Cl : Eu 2 + ) storage phosphor for quantitative megavoltage radiation therapydosimetry. In principle, K Cl : Eu 2 + functions using the same photostimulatated luminescence (PSL) mechanism as commercially available Ba F Br 0.85 I 0.15 : Eu 2 + material that is used for computed radiography(CR) but features a significantly smaller effective atomic number—18 versus 49—making it a potentially useful material for nearly tissue-equivalent radiationdosimetry. Cylindrical K Cl : Eu 2 + dosimeters, 7 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick, were fabricated in-house. Dosimetricproperties, including radiationhardness, response linearity, signal fading, dose rate sensitivity, and energy dependence, were studied with a laboratory optical reader after irradiation by a linear accelerator. The overall experimental uncertainty was estimated to be within ± 2.5 % . The findings were (1) K Cl : Eu 2 + showed satisfactory radiationhardness. There was no significant change in the stimulation spectra after irradiation up to 200 Gy when compared to a fresh dosimeter, indicating that this material could be reused at least 100 times if 2 Gy per use was assumed, e.g., for patient-specific IMRT QA. (2) K Cl : Eu 2 + exhibited supralinear response to dose after irradiation from 0 to 800 cGy . (3) After x ray irradiation, the PSL signal faded with time and eventually reached a fading rate of about 0.1 % ∕ h after 12 h . (4) The sensitivity of the dosimeter was independent of the dose rate ranging from 15 to 1000 cGy ∕ min . (5) The sensitivity showed no beam energy dependence for either open x ray or megavoltage electron fields. (6) Over-response to low-energy scattered photons was comparable to radiographic film, e.g., Kodak EDR2 film. By sandwiching dosimeters between low-energy photon filters ( 0.3 mm thick lead foils) during irradiation, the over-response was reduced. The authors have demonstrated that K Cl : Eu 2 + dosimeters have many desirable dosimetriccharacteristics that make the material conducive to radiation therapydosimetry. In the future, a large-area K Cl : Eu 2 + -based CR plate with a thickness of the order of a few microns, created using modern thin film techniques, could provide a reusable, quantitative, high-resolution two-dimensional dosimeter with minimal energy dependence.
Prospects for content retrieval from government documents

Abstract This article describes a new way to retrieve data from government documents in digital form; it is assumed that the Government Printing Office (GPO) will be extensively employing electronic publishing in the foreseeable future. The section following this introduction will list assumptions on which the presentation is based. The third section will assert a new purpose, benefits, and design and activities of future online libraries of information. Finally, the types of institutions that may be providing services from online information collections will be explored.
Hereditarily quadratically closed fields

Let K/F be a field extension of transcendence degree n. The theorem of Tsen-Lang (cf. [G, p. 221) says that if F is an algebraically closed field then K is a C,-field, i.e., any homogeneous polynomial of degree d over K with more than d” variables has a non-trivial solution in K. This can be restated by saying that whenever F is either a real closed field or an algebraically closed field then K(n) is a C,-field. For quadratic forms this says precisely that u( K( fi)) := @l= i (1, a,). If Z”F contains no anisotropic n-fold Pfister forms having zero signature in each real closure of F then we say that F satisfies property A,. This property is important
A comparative study of non-parametric spectral estimators for application in machine vibration analysis

Abstract The vibration of a machine carries important information about the health of its internal components; this information, if properly extracted, can be extremely useful in the detection of developing faults within the machine. One of the most effective methods to extract this information is the computation of the vibration power spectrum, but since the statistical properties of the vibration signal are generally unknown, the power spectrum has to be estimated from the available finite-length data. A number of methods have been proposed for vibration spectral estimation, each presenting advantages and disadvantages. In each specific application, it is often necessary to evaluate and choose the optimum spectral estimation method. This paper presents an analysis of four widely accepted non-parametric spectral estimation methods: Periodogram, Blackman-Tukey, Welch, and Nuttall-Carter. It compares them based on their mean, variance, resolution, and computational requirements. It is found that all methods, except the Periodogram, can achieve the same mean, variance, and resolution but differ in leakage suppression and computational complexity. The Welch method has the best leakage suppression and the Nuttall-Carter method has the lowest computational burden in most cases.
A neutron diffraction investigation of the sinusoidal atomic displacement wave in pure chromium

A neutron diffraction investigation on a single crystal of chromium, which is approximately single-Q, confirms the existence of a sinusoidal atomic displacement wave in the antiferromagnetic state. The wave is observed to be polarized parallel to the spin density wave (SDW) wavevector, Q, and to have a wavevector 2Q in both the transversely and longitudinally polarized SDW phases. The amplitude of the displacement wave is found to be proportional to the square of the amplitude of the SDW. We obtain for the displacement wave amplitude (0.0017 ± 0.0002)a at 130 K, where a is the lattice parameter.
Swift: A language for distributed parallel scripting

Scientists, engineers, and statisticians must execute domain-specific application programs many times on large collections of file-based data. This activity requires complex orchestration and data management as data is passed to, from, and among application invocations. Distributed and parallel computing resources can accelerate such processing, but their use further increases programming complexity. The Swift parallel scripting language reduces these complexities by making file system structures accessible via language constructs and by allowing ordinary application programs to be composed into powerful parallel scripts that can efficiently utilize parallel and distributed resources. We present Swift's implicitly parallel and deterministic programming model, which applies external applications to file collections using a functional style that abstracts and simplifies distributed parallel execution.
A new active cavitation mapping technique for pulsed HIFU applications-bubble doppler

In this work, a new active cavitation mapping technique for pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) applications termed bubble Doppler is proposed and its feasibility is tested in tissue-mimicking gel phantoms. pHIFU therapy uses short pulses, delivered at low pulse repetition frequency, to cause transient bubble activity that has been shown to enhance drug and gene delivery to tissues. The current gold standard for detecting and monitoring cavitation activity during pHIFU treatments is passive cavitation detection (PCD), which provides minimal information on the spatial distribution of the bubbles. B-mode imaging can detect hyperecho formation, but has very limited sensitivity, especially to small, transient microbubbles. The bubble Doppler method proposed here is based on a fusion of the adaptations of three Doppler techniques that had been previously developed for imaging of ultrasound contrast agents-color Doppler, pulse-inversion Doppler, and decorrelation Doppler. Doppler ensemble pulses were interleaved with therapeutic pHIFU pulses using three different pulse sequences and standard Doppler processing was applied to the received echoes. The information yielded by each of the techniques on the distribution and characteristics of pHIFU-induced cavitation bubbles was evaluated separately, and found to be complementary. The unified approach-bubble Doppler-was then proposed to both spatially map the presence of transient bubbles and to estimate their sizes and the degree of nonlinearity.
Mean-square convergence of least-squares identification of white-noise-driven time-series models

The paper extends previous p-lim convergence results for identification of time-series models based on a convergence-in-Lt version of Markoff's theorem to a stronger mean-aquare convergence result. The models considered may be stable or unstable, and are driven by white noise of constant variance and of bounded fourth moment, without further restriction on distribution or on the behaviour of the fourth moment.
The UN space treaties and the common heritage principle

Abstract The Moon Treaty, adopted by the UN's Outer Space Committee by consensus in 1979, has never been ratified by the major space powers — although it is essentially only an elaboration of the non-controversial Outer-Space Treaty. The author discusses the international political and economic climate of the time to explain the West's apparent withdrawal into self-interest. The controversy over the exploitation of lunar resources is preventing agreement on the other, more important issues covered by the Moon Treaty. The author argues that the successful INMARSAT organization could serve as a model for cooperation in exploiting the Moon's resources. A greater degree of understanding, humility, realism and generosity is needed before the problems can be resolved.
MEN Providing Care to Older Adults in the Home

Men are important providers of care to older adults who are functionally impaired in the home setting. Some results from research studies suggest that the male caregiver may provide different types of care and have different responses to caregiving than female caregivers. This article provides an overview of research related to the role of the male caregiver and discusses implications for supportive interventions. The need for more research related to the needs of the male caregivers and the value of traditional interventions for this group are addressed.
Steady-state forced vibrations

Abstract The following concepts are defined: (i) periodic functions possessing an amplitude, (ii) cosine-like functions, (iii) steady-state forced vibrations. The following theorems are proved: 1. I. If, in x +f(x) = P g(t + T) , x(O) = X ≠ 0, 0 , g ( t ) is cosine-like, a necessary condition for the existence of steady-state forced vibrations is that f ( x ) be everywhere analytic, odd, monotonely increasing with x , and xf ( x ) > 0, ( x ≠ 0). 2. II. Response curves of steady-state forced vibrations T = T ( X , P ) satisfy a first order differential equation that has precisely one singularity at [ X = 0, T = T 0 (0) = T (0,0); it is a saddle point. The topological portrait of the response curves is constructed.
Self-assessment in simulation-based surgical skills training

Abstract Background Simulation-based training provides minimal feedback and relies heavily on self-assessment. Research has shown medical trainees are poor self-assessors. The purpose of this study was to examine trainees' ability to self-assess technical skills using a simulation-trainer. Methods Twenty-one medical students performed 10 repetitions of a simulated task. After each repetition they estimated their time and errors made. These were compared with the simulator data. Results Task time ( P P P P = 0.26) but error estimation did ( P = 0.01) when compared with actual performance. Conclusions Novices demonstrated improved skill acquisition using simulation. Their estimates of performance and accuracy of error estimation improved with repetition. Clearly, practice enhances technical skill self-assessment. These results support the notion of self-directed skills training and could have significant implications for residency training programs.
Modification of photochemical reactivity by zeolites: Cation controlled photodimerisation of acenaphthylene within faujasites

Abstract Photolyses of acenaphthylene included in M + Y zeolites gave the corresponding cis and trans dimers. The ratio of the dimers formed depends on the type of cation present in the supercage. Dimerization is believed to originate from the excited singlet state in the case of lower atomic weight cations and from the triplet state in the case of higher atomic weight cation exchanged zeolites. Dimerization provides insight into the distribution and migration of molecules within the zeolite internal structures.
Dendritic Cells in Antifungal Immunity and Vaccine Design

Life-threatening fungal infections have increased in recent years while treatment options remain limited. The development of vaccines against fungal pathogens represents a key advance sorely needed to combat the increasing fungal disease threat. Dendritic cells (DC) are uniquely able to shape antifungal immunity by initiating and modulating naive T cell responses. Targeting DC may allow for the generation of potent vaccines against fungal pathogens. In the context of antifungal vaccine design, we describe the characteristics of the varied DC subsets, how DC recognize fungi, their function in immunity against fungal pathogens, and how DC can be targeted in order to create new antifungal vaccines. Ongoing studies continue to highlight the critical role of DC in antifungal immunity and will help guide DC-based vaccine strategies.
The action of waving cylindrical rings in a viscous fluid

Dinoflagellates ( Pfisteria piscicida ) are unicellular micro-organisms that swim due to the action of two eucaryotic flagella: a trailing, longitudinal flagellum that propagates planar waves and a transverse flagellum that propagates helical waves. Motivated by the wish to understand the role of the transverse flagellum in dinoflagellate motility, we study the fundamental fluid dynamics of a waving cylindrical tube wrapped into a closed helix. Given an imposed travelling wave on the structure, we determine that the helical ring propels itself in the direction normal to the plane of the circular axis of the helix. The magnitude of this translational velocity is proportional to the square of the helix amplitude. Additionally, the helical ring exhibits rotational motion tangential to its axis. These calculated swimming velocities are consistent when using the method of regularized Stokeslets with prescribed wave kinematics, regularized Stokeslets with dynamic forcing and Lighthill's slender-body theory, except in cases where the slenderness parameter is not small. The translational velocity results are nearly indistinguishable using the three approaches, leading to the conjecture that the main contribution to this velocity at a cross-section is the far-field flow generated by the portion on the opposite side of the ring. The largest contribution to the rotational velocity at a cross-section comes from the cross-section itself and others nearby, thus the geometric details of the slender body have a larger effect on the results.
Phosphopeptides of Enamel Matrix

Although the tripeptides Glu-O-Phosphoserine-Tyr and Glu-O-Phosphoserine-Leu have been identified in embryonic bovine enamel proteins, 1, 2 the issue of whether both sequences occur in each of the phosphopeptides, or whether certain sequences occur in specific peptides only, has recently been resolved by isolating homogeneous samples of E33 and E44. All three of the Ser residues of both peptides are phosphorylated. All three in E3 are in the sequence Glu-O-Phosphoserine-Leu, and all three in E4 are in the sequence Glu-O-Phosphoserine-Tyr. It was not possible to sequence either of the polypeptide chains directly by automatic peptide sequencing. However, a partial sequence of E4 was constructed from data derived from peptides isolated after cyanogen bromide, trypsin and chymotrypsin digestions. The presence of Glu, Tyr and Leu adjacent to and near the O-Phosphoserine [Ser(L)] residues and the 2 degrees, 3 degrees and higher ordered structures of the enamel phosphopeptides may be important in calcium binding and mineralization.
Child-spanking at age 5 may have a detrimental effect on child externalising behaviour and cognitive development at age 9.

Commentary on: Mackenzie MJ, Nicklas E, Waldfogel J, et al. Spanking and child development across the first decade of life. Pediatrics 2013;132:e1118–25.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] The use of corporal punishment, despite repeated caution from health professionals and developmental researchers, persists as a widespread parenting strategy in the USA.1 As Mackenzie and colleagues note, the prevalence of spanking by American parents appears surprising when one considers the litany of studies linking corporal punishment with deleterious outcomes across the life course. Mackenzie and colleagues extended this body of research by examining … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1542%252Fpeds.2013-1227%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24144718%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=pediatrics&resid=132/5/e1118&atom=%2Febnurs%2F17%2F4%2F114.atom
Black Parents’ Beliefs, Attitudes, and HPV Vaccine Intentions

This study examined the determinants of Black parents' intention to have their daughters receive the HPV vaccine. Relationships between behavioral beliefs regarding the HPV vaccine, HPV vaccine attitudes, and HPV vaccine intentions among Black parents were explored. A descriptive correlational design and mediation model were used to explain the hypothesized relationships. HPV parental attitudes were significantly related to vaccine intention (r = .865, p < .001). A significant relationship between HPV vaccine behavioral beliefs and HPV vaccine attitudes was found among Black parents (r = .239, p < .001). Parental vaccine attitudes completely mediated the relationship between HPV vaccine behavioral beliefs and parental HPV vaccine intention. Understanding relevant factors associated with parental intent to have their daughters vaccinated are essential to reducing opposition to the HPV vaccine and increase vaccination rates among Black female adolescents.
Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons: Working with Adolescents in Individual, Family, and Group Contexts

One can hear it said that adolescence is a neglected period, a stepchild where analytic thinking is concerned [A. Freud, 1958, p. 255].
Genomic patterns of nucleotide diversity in divergent populations of U.S. weedy rice

Weedy rice (red rice), a conspecific weed of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), is a significant problem throughout the world and an emerging threat in regions where it was previously absent. Despite belonging to the same species complex as domesticated rice and its wild relatives, the evolutionary origins of weedy rice remain unclear. We use genome-wide patterns of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation in a broad geographic sample of weedy, domesticated, and wild Oryza samples to infer the origin and demographic processes influencing U.S. weedy rice evolution. We find greater population structure than has been previously reported for U.S. weedy rice, and that the multiple, genetically divergent populations have separate origins. The two main U.S. weedy rice populations share genetic backgrounds with cultivated O. sativa varietal groups not grown commercially in the U.S., suggesting weed origins from domesticated ancestors. Hybridization between weedy groups and between weedy rice and local crops has also led to the evolution of distinct U.S. weedy rice populations. Demographic simulations indicate differences among the main weedy groups in the impact of bottlenecks on their establishment in the U.S., and in the timing of divergence from their cultivated relatives. Unlike prior research, we did not find unambiguous evidence for U.S. weedy rice originating via hybridization between cultivated and wild Oryza species. Our results demonstrate the potential for weedy life-histories to evolve directly from within domesticated lineages. The diverse origins of U.S. weedy rice populations demonstrate the multiplicity of evolutionary forces that can influence the emergence of weeds from a single species complex.
Using the Tet-On system to develop a procedure for extracting transcription factor activation dynamics

The regulation of gene expression by transcription factors through different expression and activation dynamics is an important aspect of genomics and systems biology. Reporter systems using green fluorescent protein (GFP) or luciferase are often used to infer transcription factor dynamics. We recently used an inverse problem solution of GFP reporter profiles to demonstrate that the activation dynamics of a model transcription actor (NF-κB) can be reconstructed from GFP data. This approach assumes that the general nature of the transcription factor dynamics is known; however, it is non-trivial to determine the exact nature of the transcription factor dynamics as it often depends upon the cell type and the stimulus used to activate the transcription factor. This, in turn, limits the determination of accurate transcription factor dynamics from reporter data, especially since the model used for solution of an inverse problem needs to be verified. To address this point, we developed a reporter cell line for expressing GFP using an inducible, artificial transcription factor (tTA) and minimal promoter system. The artificial transcription factor can be activated independent of the cellular regulatory machinery through addition of doxycycline. This allows us to directly control the dynamics of the artificial transcription factor, and thereby, develop a model describing its activation dynamics from reporter data. Our experimental data and model predictions are in good agreement, and illustrate the utility of our approach. Future work will focus on using the developed approach, i.e. solution of an inverse problem involving the model describing expression of GFP, to extract the dynamics of transcription factors that are currently uncharacterized.