cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of ocean phytoplankton community structure to climate change over the 21st century: partitioning the effects of nutrients, temperature and light

Abstract. The response of ocean phytoplankton community structure to climate change depends, among other factors, upon species competition for nutrients and light, as well as the increase in surface ocean temperature. We propose an analytical framework linking changes in nutrients, temperature and light with changes in phytoplankton growth rates, and we assess our theoretical considerations against model projections (1980–2100) from a global Earth System model. Our proposed "critical nutrient hypothesis" stipulates the existence of a critical nutrient threshold below (above) which a nutrient change will affect small phytoplankton biomass more (less) than diatom biomass, i.e. the phytoplankton with lower half-saturation coefficient K are influenced more strongly in low nutrient environments. This nutrient threshold broadly corresponds to 45° S and 45° N, poleward of which high vertical mixing and inefficient biology maintain higher surface nutrient concentrations and equatorward of which reduced vertical mixing and more efficient biology maintain lower surface nutrients. In the 45° S–45° N low nutrient region, decreases in limiting nutrients – associated with increased stratification under climate change – are predicted analytically to decrease more strongly the specific growth of small phytoplankton than the growth of diatoms. In high latitudes, the impact of nutrient decrease on phytoplankton biomass is more significant for diatoms than small phytoplankton, and contributes to diatom declines in the northern marginal sea ice and subpolar biomes. In the context of our model, climate driven increases in surface temperature and changes in light are predicted to have a stronger impact on small phytoplankton than on diatom biomass in all ocean domains. Our analytical predictions explain reasonably well the shifts in community structure under a modeled climate-warming scenario. Climate driven changes in nutrients, temperature and light have regionally varying and sometimes counterbalancing impacts on phytoplankton biomass and structure, with nutrients and temperature dominant in the 45° S–45° N band and light-temperature effects dominant in the marginal sea-ice and subpolar regions. As predicted, decreases in nutrients inside the 45° S–45° N "critical nutrient" band result in diatom biomass decreasing more than small phytoplankton biomass. Further stratification from global warming could result in geographical shifts in the "critical nutrient" threshold and additional changes in ecology.
Stepping forward or shrinking back: Psychological factors in bystanders’ decisions to act (or not)

Salience and ambiguity • All other things being equal, the more salient and the less ambiguous an emergency event is, the more likely it is that bystanders will help. Circumstances such as viewing the emergency from the beginning, rather than arriving while it is in progress, hearing cries for help or seeing obvious signs of injury, can all increase salience and reduce ambiguity of the situation as an emergency. 6-9 • The reactions of others at the scene also influence ambiguity and helping, even to the extent of cancelling other bystander effects. 10
Isotropic-Nematic Transition: Landau-de Gennes vs Molecular Theory

Abstract Landau-de Gennes and molecular mean-field descriptions of the isotropic-nematic transition are compared. We use two methods to calculate the order parameter correlation function and show that corrections due to cubic and quartic terms in the Landau expansion are non-negligible. In the first method we apply lowest order diagrammatic perturbation theory using as perturbation both cubic and quartic terms. The second method essentially treats the cubic term to all orders and the quartic term to leading order. A comparison of the results with experiment indicates only qualitative agreement. It is also found that the supercooling temperature T* is different from Tζ, the temperature at which the correlation length diverges. The fact that the corrections are not small and that the results obtained by the two different methods are inconsistent cast grave doubt on the quantitative validity of the Landau-de Gennes approach in its present form. We propose a numerical way to establish contact between the mean...
An Interview with Rex Stockton: Past, Present, and Future Reflections

ABSTRACT Rex Stockton reflects on group work as it was during his early career in the 1960s and 1970s and as it is today. He comments on his service to the group work field, his research on feedback exchange and leader training, and future trends and directions in group work. Additionally, he discusses some of his interests and contributions outside of the group work field.
Lindemann Law and Lattice Dynamics

Using lattice dynamics, the Lindemann law of melting has been tested for five body-centered and six face-centered metallic elements. The law is obeyed by all five of the bcc alkali metals; the average Lindemann parameter is 0.113. Four of the six fcc metals, Al, Cu, Ag, and Au, also obey the law with an average value for the Lindemann parameter of 0.071. Explanations are proposed why the agreement of Ni and Pb with the fcc value is not as good. The improvements are obtained by the use of spectral moments and data, where available, on physical properties at high temperature. The slopes of the melting curves have been calculated and are found to be consistently lower than the values experimentally determined, probably because of the unavailability of data on properties at high temperature.
USING MULTIPLE DECREMENT MODELS TO ESTIMATE RISK AND MORBIDITY FROM SPECIFIC AIDS ILLNESSES

A simple non-parametric approach is developed to simultaneously estimate net incidence and morbidity time from specific AIDS illnesses in populations at high risk for death from these illnesses and other causes. The disease-death process has four-stages that can be recast as two sandwiching three-state multiple decrement processes. Non-parametric estimation of net incidence and morbidity time with error bounds are achieved from these sandwiching models through modification of methods from Aalen and Greenwood, and bootstrapping. An application to immunosuppressed HIV-1 infected homosexual men reveals that cytomegalovirus disease, Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia are likely to occur and cause significant morbidity time.
Experiences with optimizing two stream-based applications for cluster execution

We explore optimization strategies and resulting performance of two stream-based video applications, video texture and color tracker, on a cluster of SMPs. The two applications are representative of a class of emerging applications, which we call ''stream-based applications'', that are sensitive to both latency of individual results and overall throughput. Such applications require non-trivial parallelization techniques in order to improve both latency and throughput, given that the stream data emanates from a limited set of sources (exactly one in the two applications studied) and that the distribution of the data cannot be done a priori. We suggest techniques that address in a coordinated fashion the problems of data distribution and work partitioning. We believe the two problems are related and need to be addressed together. We have parallelized two applications using the Stampede cluster programming system that provides abstractions for implementing time- and throughput-sensitive applications elegantly and efficiently. For the Video Textures application we show that we can achieve a speedup of 24.26 on a 112 processor cluster. For the Color Tracker application, where latency is more crucial, we identify the extent of data parallelism that ensures that the slowest member of the pipeline is no longer the bottleneck for achieving a decent frame rate.
Regulation of SRF/CArG‐dependent gene transcription during chronic partial obstruction of murine small intestine

Intestinal obstructions lead to a variety of motility disorders. Small intestine smooth muscles undergo dramatic phenotypic changes in response to obstruction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Using RT-PCR, ChIP, Re-ChIP, and Western blots, we examined the effect of small bowel mechanical obstruction on smooth muscle gene expression. Obstruction caused a transient hyperplasia, followed by a prolonged hypertrophic response of small intestine smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC), alpha-actin, and gamma-actin expression decreased initially, and then increased as hypertrophy developed. Myocardin expression decreased initially and then increased, while kruppel-like factors (KLF)4 and KLF5 expression increased initially, and then decreased. Serum response factor (SRF) expression decreased initially, and then recovered to sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. SRF binding to smooth muscle MHC and alpha-actin promoters decreased initially, but then increased above sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. Elk-1 binding to smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and alpha-actin promoters increased initially, and then decreased to sham-operated levels as hypertrophy developed. c-fos expression increased initially, which was associated with increased SRF/Elk-1 binding to the c-fos promoter. The Elk-1 phosphorylation inhibitor U-0126 inhibited the increase in c-fos expression. These findings indicate a dynamic response of small intestine smooth muscles to bowel obstruction involving switching between differentiated, proliferative, and hypertrophic phenotypes. These results suggest that changes in the expression and interactions between SRF, myocardin, Elk-1, and c-fos play key roles in the phenotypic switching of small intestine smooth muscles in response to mechanical obstruction.
Some principles in the peptide field.

Summary Several principles that have evolved from work with peptides during the last two decades have been discussed. These include the multiple actions of each peptide, the disparity between central actions and pharmacokinetics in blood, their permeation throughout the body, their long-term effects after perinatal administration, their inverted U-shaped dose-response curve, the form in which they circulate, the importance of their entire structure, their opposing actions on the same system, and the dangers inherent in their name and popularity. Although principles were selected from our work with peptides specifically involved with the brain, it is believed that these principles are general enough to be applicable, either directly or with suitable modification, to work with peptides in other fields such as immunology.
Negative reactions to depressive behaviors: a communication theories analysis

Interpersonal aspects of depression have received considerable research attention in the past 2 decades. This work often has been guided by J. C. Coyne's (1976b) interactional model of depression or P. M. Lewinsohn's (1974) social skill deficit theory of depression. A review of this research indicates that depressed people reliably experience rejection from those in their social environment and that depression generally is associated with impairments in social behavior. However, this research does not explain exactly what depressed people do to elicit rejection, or exactly why others react negatively to them. Research derived from communication theories on responsiveness, politeness, and expectations for nonverbal involvement illuminates the interpersonal cycle in depression. The role of these impairments in the cause, symptoms, course, subtypes, and therapy of depression is discussed.
Adatom diffusion on W(211): Re, W, Mo, Ir, and Rh

Published values of the prefactor D0 for the diffusion of different metal atoms on W(211) differ by five orders of magnitude, raising the possibility that very different jump processes may be operating. To explore such chemical specificities in atomic jumps over the surface we have carried out extensive observations of surface diffusion, with special attention to internal consistency in the measurements, on single atoms of Re, W, Mo, Ir, and Rh on W(211). Despite widely different activation energies, the prefacters for all of the atoms examined are found to be much the same and close to the generally expected value of 10−3 cm2/s. There is no indication of any anomaly in the dynamics of diffusion.
Interpersonal Consequences of Seeking Self-Esteem

This study examines the interactive effects of self-esteem, contingencies of self-worth, and ego threat on supportiveness and liking. Targets high or low in self-esteem and academic contingency receive failure test feedback or no evaluative feedback. Then, targets interact with another participant who discloses a personal problem; afterward, both participants complete questionnaires assessing targets' supportiveness and liking. High self-esteem, highly contingent targets feel less supportive and like partners less after interacting under threat than under no threat. Partners, in turn, perceive these targets to be less supportive and less likeable. Low self-esteem, highly contingent targets show the reverse pattern, although these findings do not reach statistical significance. Further analyses reveal that the interpersonal effects of ego threat were caused by threats in a specific domain of contingency (e.g., academics) rather than being a contingent person in general or having external or internal contingent self-worth. Implications for self-esteem and interpersonal processes are discussed.
An approach to measurement

We present a new approach to measurement theory. Our definition of measurement is motivated by direct laboratory procedures as they are carried out in practice. The theory is developed within the quantum logic framework. This work clarifies an important problem in the quantum logic approach; namely, where the Hilbert space comes from. We consider the relationship between measurements and observables, and present a Hilbert space embedding theorem. We conclude with a discussion of charge systems.
Kinetic studies in mass spectrometry—VI: The [M CH3] reaction in substituted ethylbenzenes†

The [M] → [M CH3] reaction in a series of m- and p-X substituted ethylbenzenes has been studied by wide range electron energy kinetics and metastable ion characteristics techniques. By this approach, qualitative measures of activation evergy differences between [XC6H4CH2]+ ions derived from m- and p-X isomer substrates have been secured, for both their formation and further decomposition. These evergy differences are consistent with (but do not prove) ion structures that have been suggested by previous work in this area, involving the use of isotope labeling, and ionization and appearance potential methods.
The contraceptive potential of early versus delayed insertion of the intrauterine device

One argument for a postpartum program of contraception is minimizing chances that the mother will conceive again before she can accept contraception. However early insertion increases the extent of overlap between retention of the device and anovulation when the woman is protected anyway while at the same time reducing the average span of wearing time coinciding with fecundable months when protection is needed. Thus it is not clear that early insertion yields the maximal postponement of next conception. Delaying insertion three or even six months might accomplish more. To investigate this matter, a model has been developed which incorporates the following factors: time of insertion, distribution of anovulatory length, natural fecundability and rates of effectiveness and continuation of IUD. It turns out that predicated upon the distribution of anovulatory length regarded as most realistic, the penalty of early insertion in terms of reduced postponement of next conception proves consistently small.
Large Superconducting Magnet Designs for Fusion Reactors

Fusion technology will require superconducting fields of larger working volume and higher field strengths than heretofore Designed. The forces that will result are so large that novel approaches to magnet design must be developed. This paper describes two complementary approaches that may he combined to yield a satisfactory design for very high field toroidal magnets. The first provides a cylindrical load-bearing, element in compression combined with return conductors in pure tension. The second follows the design techniques that have been developed in the studies of force-free toroidal magnets.
The far-reaching effects of believing people can change: Implicit theories of personality shape stress, health, and achievement during adolescence.

The belief that personality is fixed (an entity theory of personality) can give rise to negative reactions to social adversities. Three studies showed that when social adversity is common-at the transition to high school--an entity theory can affect overall stress, health, and achievement. Study 1 showed that an entity theory of personality, measured during the 1st month of 9th grade, predicted more negative immediate reactions to social adversity and, at the end of the year, greater stress, poorer health, and lower grades in school. Studies 2 and 3, both experiments, tested a brief intervention that taught a malleable (incremental) theory of personality--the belief that people can change. The incremental theory group showed less negative reactions to an immediate experience of social adversity and, 8 months later, reported lower overall stress and physical illness. They also achieved better academic performance over the year. Discussion centers on the power of targeted psychological interventions to effect far-reaching and long-term change by shifting interpretations of recurring adversities during developmental transitions.
Possible requiem: trial-and-error warfarin

Integration of rapid turnaround generic testing with clinical information may revolutionize the way we dose warfarin.
Manager education and mutual fund performance

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between manager education and mutual fund performance, following Chevalier and Ellison [Chevalier, Judith, Ellison, Glenn, 1999. Are some mutual fund managers better than others? Cross-sectional patterns in behavior and performance. Journal of Finance 54, 3, 875–899]. We refine their analysis by investigating if the quality of the MBA program, as measured by the mean GMAT score and Business Week ranking, has any effect on performance. We find that the mean GMAT score of the MBA program is positively and significantly related to fund performance. Managers who hold MBAs from schools ranked in the top 30 of the Business Week rankings of MBA programs exhibit performance superior to the performance of both managers without MBA degrees and managers holding MBAs from unranked programs. We also find that other education variables, such as whether the manager attained a CFA designation or holds either a non-MBA masters-level graduate degree or Ph.D., are generally unrelated to mutual fund performance.
Increased 12-HETE production in bovine lymphocytes during selenium deficiency

When peripheral blood lymphocytes were incubated with arachidonic acid in the presence of Ca++ ionophore (A23187), the cells from the selenium-deficient dairy cows produced significantly greater quantities of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) than the cells from the selenium-supplemented animals. The major product of reaction was verified as 12-HETE by cochromatography with a 12-HETE standard on an HPLC and structural analysis by GC-MS. Additionally, concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in cells from the Se-deficient cows. Furthermore, 12-HETE generated by the A23187-stimulated lymphocytes inhibited lymphocyte proliferation when added to Se-supplemented cell cultures. These observations suggest that self-regulation of lymphocyte proliferation might be mediated by 12-HETE production, especially during an altered nutritional state such as Se deficiency.
Specific Single or Double Proline Substitutions in the “Spring-loaded” Coiled-Coil Region of the Influenza Hemagglutinin Impair or Abolish Membrane Fusion Activity

We tested the role of the “spring-loaded” conformational change in the fusion mechanism of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) by assessing the effects of 10 point mutants in the region of high coiled-coil propensity, HA2 54–81. The mutants included proline substitutions at HA2 55, 71, and 80, as well as a double proline substitution at residues 55 and 71. Mutants were expressed in COS or 293T cells and assayed for cell surface expression and structural features as well as for their ability to change conformation and induce fusion at low pH. We found the following: Specific mutations affected the precise carbohydrate structure and folding of the HA trimer. All of the mutants, however, formed trimers that could be expressed at the cell surface in a form that could be proteolytically cleaved from the precursor, HA0, to the fusion-permissive form, HA1-S-S-HA2. All mutants reacted with an antibody against the major antigenic site and bound red blood cells. Seven out of ten mutants displayed a wild-type (wt) or moderately elevated pH dependence for the conformational change. V55P displayed a substantial reduction (∼60– 80%) in the initial rate of lipid mixing. The other single mutants displayed efficient fusion with the same pH dependence as wt-HA. The double proline mutant V55P/ S71P displayed no fusion activity despite being well expressed at the cell surface as a proteolytically cleaved trimer that could bind red blood cells and change conformation at low pH. The impairment in fusion for both V55P and V55P/S71P was at the level of outer leaflet lipid mixing. We interpret our results in support of the hypothesis that the spring-loaded conformational change is required for fusion. An alternate model is discussed.
PTENtiating autoimmunity through Treg cell deregulation.

Regulatory T cells require the phosphatase PTEN to maintain suppressive function in homeostatic conditions through preserved expression of CD25 and the transcription factor Foxp3.
Application of periodic backpulsing to reduce membrane fouling during ultrafiltration of plasmid DNA

Abstract There is considerable interest in using ultrafiltration for the purification of plasmid DNA, but membrane fouling remains an issue. The objective of this work was to examine the use of periodic backpulsing to reduce fouling during plasmid ultrafiltration by “releasing” previously trapped plasmids from the membrane pores. Experiments were performed using hollow fiber ultrafiltration membranes over a range of backpulse frequency, amplitude, and duration. Plasmid removal under typical conditions was dominated by the shear / drag associated with the tangential flow, with good recovery of plasmid transmission obtained by periodically closing the permeate exit line (without any backpressure). Data were analyzed using a simple fouling model that accounts for the partial blockage of pores by trapped plasmids that are then released during backpulsing. The results clearly demonstrate that this type of pulsed operation can provide much greater plasmid recovery in the permeate solution with a nearly constant filtrate flux during a diafiltration process.
Preoperative evaluation of the pulmonary patient undergoing nonpulmonary surgery

As the human population continues to live longer, patients with chronicpulmonary disease are increasingly presenting for surgical treatment. The influences of general anesthesia and an operative procedure are well known to negatively impact pulmonary gas exchange. Pulmonary-compromised patients are at high risk for the development of perioperative complications as a consequence of not only their pulmonary disease but of associated comorbid disease processes. Certain risk factors associated with preexisting pulmonary conditions are known to increase the likelihood of intraoperative or postoperative complications. Essential components in the comprehensive care of these patients are the identification of these high-risk patients and the implementation of an inclusive perianesthetic care regimen designed to decrease pulmonary complications. This article will familiarize the perianesthetic nurse with pertinent skills required to effectively assess and prepare patients with pulmonary disease for their upcoming surgery.
BLACK, TRIGUEÑO, WHITE … ? Shifting Racial Identification among Puerto Ricans

The use of U.S.-oriented racial categories in the 2000 decennial census conducted by the Census Bureau in Puerto Rico provided results that may not accurately reflect social dynamics in Puerto Rico, more generally, and inequality based on race, in particular. This work explores how variations in racial typologies used for the collection of data in Puerto Rico and the methodology used to collect such data produce widely ranging results on racial identification that in turn affect the measurement of the impact of “race” on social outcomes. Specifically, the analysis focuses on how the omission of locally based and meaningful racial terminology from census questionnaires leads to results on racial identification that differ markedly from those found in survey data that include such terminology. In addition, differing strategies to record the racial identification of Puerto Ricans on the island (i.e., self-identification versus identification by others), lead to variations that highlight the changing effect of race on socioeconomic status. Who identifies a person's race affects analyses of how race affects the life chances of individuals in Puerto Rico.
Fiber Optic Interferometric Displacement Sensors for Vibration Measurements

In this paper we report on the basic principles of dynamic displacement sensors and specifically on a compact, high sensitivity FO displacement sensor that is light weight and has a broad frequency and flat phase response. Results of laboratory tests and field calibrations are presented. Arrays of sensors of this type would be useful for instrumenting engineering structures where direct measurements of dynamic displacements is important.
Review: Statins reduce mortality and cardiovascular events in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease

Source Citation Brugts JJ, Yetgin T, Hoeks SE, et al. The benefits of statins in people without established cardiovascular disease but with cardiovascular risk factors: meta-analysis of randomised ...
A dose-response study of forskolin, stimulatory hormone, and guanosine triphosphate analog on adenylate cyclase from several sources.

Abstract We have described relationships involving forskolin stimulation of adenylate cyclase (AC) from a variety of sources and the potentiation of forskolin effects by stimulatory hormones (glucagon, ACTH, and epinephrine) and β,γ-imidoguanosine 5′-triphosphate (Gpp(NH)p). The effects on AC were examined using membrane preparations of rabbit adipocytes, rat adipocytes, rat erythrocytes, and rat liver. Also examined was the AC of liver membranes of rat pretreated with pertussis toxin as well as that solubilized from rat liver membranes. Maximal forskolin stimulation of AC in all preparations studied revealed a consistent 10-fold increase in AC activity. The EC 50 for forskolin was 10 μ m for rat liver, 15 μ m for rabbit and rat adipocytes and 17 μ m for rat erythrocyte AC stimulation. In all cases the AC activity attained by forskolin stimulation was further enhanced by stimulatory hormones in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a combination of all three activators (forskolin, stimulatory hormone, and Gpp(NH)p) resulted in an even greater overall stimulation to levels ranging from 25- to 30-fold over unstimulated activity levels. In the presence of saturating levels of each stimulatory hormone and Gpp(NH)p, the EC 50 for forskolin diminished markedly to the range of 0.5 to 4.0 μ m . In the absence of any apparent tissue specificity for forskolin stimulation, the general pattern of these results further implicates the catalytic site of the AC complex as the site of forskolin activation. Furthermore, activation of additional components of the complex by Gpp(NH)p and tissue specific hormones may further influence the AC activity and thereby potentiate the stimulation by forskolin.
The Science of Sex Appeal: An Evolutionary Perspective

Growing evidence shows that features we find attractive in members of the opposite sex signal important underlying dimensions of health and reproductive viability. It has been discovered that men w...
Fluorescence and thermodynamics studies of the interaction of the local anesthetic dibucaine with model membranes

The interaction of dibucaine with model membrane systems has been studied using both equilibrium dialysis and time-resolved fluorescence methods. Binding isotherms, for the interaction of dibucaine with unilamellar phospholipid vesicles, were obtained as a function of ionic strength and as a function of initial surface charge on the vesicles. The binding of dibucaine is shown to be significantly influenced by electrostatic interactions; binding isotherms were fitted with a Guoy-Chapman-Stern model in terms of an intrinsic dissociation constant of 2.9 mM and a maximum extent of binding of approximately one drug molecule per phospholipid molecule. Various state steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies were performed to characterize the topography and dynamics of dibucaine molecules which are bound to the phospholipid vesicles. Quenching studies with KI show bound dibucaine to be protected from the anionic quencher. The fluorescence lifetime of free and vesicles-bound dibucaine is found to be 3.3 and approximately 2.6 ns, respectively. Anisotropy decay measurements indicate that the effective rotational correlation time of bound dibucaine is increased to approximately 4 ns, as compared to a value of 0.06 ns for free dibucaine. An infinitely long rotational correlation time (or a r(infinity )) was not observed for bound dibucaine, indicating that the rotational motion of bound dibucaine is isotropic.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sport-Fisheries Trends Shown by an Annual Minnesota Fishing Contest over a 58-Year Period

Abstract Since 1915, Fuller's Tackle Shop at Park Rapids in Minnesota's northwestern lake region has sponsored an annual fishing contest. Contest records were available for 113,845 entries of 10 fish species from 1930 to 1987. Under increased exploitation, declining trends in number of large-size entries and mean weight of total entries indicated the development of less desirable size structure for most sport-fish species. The number of entries of muskellunge Esox masquinongy abruptly declined after the 1930s. Stocking and size restrictions have not restored a trophy muskellunge fishery. Under increased exploitation, entries of large northern pike Esox lucius have declined gradually since 1948. Numbers of large walleyes Stizostedion vitreum and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides peaked in 1972 and 1977, respectively, and have since declined. Mean weights of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus and black crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus have declined since the early 1950s. Large black crappies (≥ 1.75 lb) and b...
Pathogenesis of oncogenic simian adenoviruses. IV. The histopathology and ultrastructure of intraperitoneal neoplasms induced by SV20

The histopathology and ultrastructure of SV20-induced intraperitoneal (IP) neoplasms is described and compared to neoplasms induced by this virus administered by the intracranial and subcutaneous routes. SV20-induced IP neoplasms are relatively undifferentiated and contain two types of tumor giant cells. Dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum was increased, but annulate lamellae were rarely observed in IP neoplasms. Virus-like particles within the cytoplasm and nuclei of neoplastic cells resembled the original inoculated SV20 virus. Virus particles associated with cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear projections, and unusual cytoplasmic bodies with many smaller dense structures were observed. These latter dense structures were attached to the inner and outer surface of cytoplasmic bodies and resembled the nucleoid of virus particles.
Continuous Versus Intermittent Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Effect on Biochemical Markers

Drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is routinely used in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), either continuously or intermittently in response to increases in intracranial pressure (ICP). There has been little study of the effect of CSF drainage method on the biochemistry, pathophysiology or outcome of TBI in adults or children. Having previously reported that a variety of markers of injury or repair increase in CSF after severe TBI, we chose to evaluate directly the effect of CSF drainage method on the biochemistry and volume of CSF drained as well as ICP. We hypothesized that concentrations of these markers would be similar in CSF drained continuously vs intermittently. We compared CSF levels of markers of neuronal injury (neuron specific enolase, [NSE]), glial injury (s100B), inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6]), and regeneration (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) (measured by ELISA) in 80 CSF samples from 19 severely injured children whose CSF was drained continuously (n = 13) versus intermittently (n = 6) as part of standard care in two institutions. Compared to continuous CSF drainage, intermittent drainage of CSF was associated with twofold greater CSF concentrations of NSE, s100B, IL-6 and VEGF (p < 0.05) and with about half the volume of CSF removal than continuous drainage (p = 0.002). The resulting elimination (concentration x volume) of these biochemicals, however, was not influenced by drainage method. Patients treated with continuous drainage had lower mean ICPs than those with intermittent drainage (13.6 +/- 0.69 vs. 21.8 +/- 0.95 mm Hg, p < 0.0001). We conclude that the method of CSF drainage greatly affects concentrations of CSF markers after TBI and may influence ICP. The influence of method on CSF marker concentration must be kept in mind when interpreting studies of CSF biomarkers. The striking difference in biomarker concentration, CSF volume drained, and ICP suggests the need for a randomized trial directly comparing these two approaches in infants and children with severe TBI.
Predicting professional preferences for intuition‐based hiring

Purpose – Many human resource professionals erroneously believe that they can hire the best employees without the assistance of decision aids. The purpose of this study is to examine personal and situational characteristics that may relate to preference for intuition‐based approaches to hiring employees.Design/methodology/approach – A representative sample of 206 managers and directors of human resources management was asked to complete an online questionnaire addressing psychological constructs and career information.Findings – The authors found that the profile of a professional who prefers intuition‐based hiring is one who is an experiential thinker (i.e. tends to make everyday decisions based on feelings), is less experienced, works for a smaller organization, and does not possess advanced professional certification. Hiring context (i.e. selecting hourly versus salaried employees) did not influence preferences for intuition‐based hiring.Research limitations/implications – Elements of the study are cro...
SiC Thin Films by Chemical Conversion of Single Crystal Si

The reaction of (100)Si with C2H2 in a hot wall CVD reactor has been studied using a X-ray photolectron spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscopy. The growth of the SiC films was observed through the behavior of Si2p peaks and their plasmons. Smooth surface morphology with a monolayer of SiC was obtained at 950°C for 7 minutes and defects were observed for longer reaction times at this temperature. For higher reaction temperatures (e.g. 1000°C), defects were observed for reaction times as short as 10 seconds. The formation of defects was correlated to the out-diffusion of Si in the carborization process.
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are vulnerable to immunosuppressive mechanisms present within the tumor microenvironment

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells have shown early promise in hematological malignancies. However, in solid malignancies CAR T cells must overcome a distinct immunosuppressive microenvironment which may compromise their capacity to mediate antitumor activity.
Combined transformation of ordering SPECT sinograms for signal extraction from measurements with Poisson noise

A theoretically based transformation, which reorders SPECT sinograms degraded by the Poisson noise according to their signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), has been proposed. The transformation is equivalent to the maximum noise fraction (MNF) approach developed for Gaussian noise treatment. It is a two-stage transformation. The first stage is the Anscombe transformation, which converts Poisson distributed variable into Gaussian distributed one with constant variance. The second one is the Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) transformation along the direction of the slices, which simplifies the complex task of three-dimensional (3D) filtering into 2D spatial process slice-by-slice. In the K-L domain, the noise property of constant variance remains for all components, while the SNR of each component decreases proportional to its eigenvalue, providing a measure for the significance of each components. The availability of the noise covariance matrix in this method eliminates the difficulty of separating noise from signal. Thus we can construct an accurate 2D Wiener filter for each sinogram component in the K-L domain, and design a weighting window to make the filter adaptive to the SNR of each component, leading to an improved restoration of SPECT sinograms. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method provides a better noise reduction without sacrifice of resolution.
Simulating surface tension with smoothed particle hydrodynamics

A method for simulating two-phase flows including surface tension is presented. The approach is based upon smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The fully Lagrangian nature of SPH maintains sharp fluid–fluid interfaces without employing high-order advection schemes or explicit interface reconstruction. Several possible implementations of surface tension force are suggested and compared. The numerical stability of the method is investigated and optimal choices for numerical parameters are identified. Comparisons with a grid-based volume of fluid method for two-dimensional flows are excellent. The methods presented here apply to problems involving interfaces of arbitrary shape undergoing fragmentation and coalescence within a two-phase system and readily extend to three-dimensional problems. Boundary conditions at a solid surface, high viscosity and density ratios, and the simulation of free-surface flows are not addressed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites in RF Plasma

The use of low pressure radio-frequency (rf) plasma for nanoparticle formation and the deposition of thin film on particulate substrates are reported. Plasma polymer particles are synthesized in a capacitively-coupled Ar/monomer discharge at rf power of 15-30 W. A variety of particle structures are observed, including monodispersed nanospheres and liquid-like viscous nano-droplets. Styrene in particular is observed to produce hollow nanospheres. By manipulating the process parameters, films of plasma polymers can be deposited onto suspended submicron particles. We take advantage of the electrostatic trapping of “dusty plasma” to suspend small particles in plasma for extended periods of time until the desired coating thickness is achieved. Sub-micron silica particles introduced into a low pressure rf Ar/monomer plasma are coated with film of thickness ranging from 2 to 70 nm.
Angiography and interventional cardiology.

The angiography and interventional cardiology working group reviewed 1,095 abstracts for this year’s scientific sessions and accepted 355. There were five areas of major impact from the meeting: the use of distal projection strategies for vein graft intervention and acute myocardial infarction (
The experience of severe mental illness: A life history approach

In this report, severely mentally ill adults describe their experiences of long-term illness. Forty-three research participants completed Life Chart Interviews covering their personal history since the onset of their psychiatric disorder. Participants appeared to be generally reliable informants on their treatment histories. They indicated that individual learning and personal choices influenced the course of the psychiatric disorder over time, including decisions about use of treatment and environmental support. These results support the value of life-context approach to research on severe mental illness.
Development of new SPME fibers by sol–gel technology for SPME-HPLC determination of organometals

Solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), has advantages of simplicity, low cost, ease of use and rapid pre-concentration and extraction compared to other sample preparation techniques. The technique has found limited use in high performance liquid chromatographic applications because of the unavailability of fibers that are stable and durable in strong organic solvents. This study describes the preparation of fibers that are stable in strong organic solvents (xylene and methylene chloride) as well as acidic and basic solutions (pH 0.3 and 13) using the sol–gel process. The hydrolytic stability of these sol–gel-prepared SPME fibers towards organic solvents and high and low pH solutions can be attributed to the fact that the coating is chemically bonded to the surface of the fused silica substrate. These fibers have been subsequently used to extract organo-arsenic, organo-mercury and organo-tin compounds from aqueous solutions followed by separation using HPLC with UV absorbance detection. Under experimental conditions used, detection limits of 80, 412 and 647 μgl−1for triphenylarsine (Ph3As), diphenylmercury (Ph2Hg) and trimethylphenyltin (TMPhT), respectively, were obtained after extraction and HPLC separation. While these detection limits were comparable and/or slightly better than those obtained using commercial SPME fibers, the thinner coatings (resulting in faster extraction time) and the hydrolytic stability of the sol–gel fibers, towards strong organic solvents and high and low pH solutions, gave them superior characteristics when compared to commercially available fibers.
Evaluation of a Multiple Integral of Tefera via Properties of the Exponential Distribution

An interesting integral originally obtained by Tefera ("A multiple integral evaluation inspired by the multi-WZ method," Electron. J. Combin., 1999, #N2) via the WZ method is proved using calculus and basic probability. General recursions for a class of such integrals are derived and associated combinatorial identities are mentioned.
Wireless ultrasound-powered biotelemetry for implants

A miniature piezoelectric receiver coupled to a diode is evaluated as a simple device for wireless transmission of bioelectric events to the body surface. The device converts the energy of a surface-applied ultrasound beam to a high frequency carrier current in solution. Bioelectrical currents near the implant modulate the carrier amplitude, and this signal is remotely detected and demodulated to recover the biopotential waveform. This technique achieves millivolt sensitivity in saline tank tests, and further attention to system design is expected to improve sensitivity.
Assessment of Neuromuscular Conditions Using Ultrasound

Upper extremity pain in persons with spinal cord injury is a common cause of morbidity. Ultrasound of nerve, muscle, and tendon has the potential to become a valuable modality in assessing this population, and has the advantage of reduced health care costs, portability, and use in populations that cannot tolerate MRI. It has the potential to detect issues before the onset of significant morbidity, and preserve patient independence. Upper extremity ultrasound already has many studies showing its utility in diagnosis, and newer techniques have the potential to enhance its use in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal conditions.
Chitosan, the Deacetylated Form of Chitin, Is Necessary for Cell Wall Integrity in Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The fungal cell wall is an excellent target for antifungal therapies as it is an essential organelle that provides cell structure and integrity, it is needed for the localization or attachment of known virulence factors, including the polysaccharide capsule, melanin, and phospholipase, and it is critical for host-pathogen interactions. In C. neoformans, chitosan produced by the enzymatic removal of acetyl groups from nascent chitin polymers has been implicated as an important component of the vegetative cell wall. In this study, we identify four putative chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases in C. neoformans. We have demonstrated that three of these deacetylases, Cda1, Cda2, and Cda3, can account for all of the chitosan produced during vegetative growth in culture, but the function for one, Fpd1, remains undetermined. The data suggest a model for chitosan production in vegetatively growing C. neoformans where the three chitin deacetylases convert chitin generated by the chitin synthase Chs3 into chitosan. Utilizing a collection of chitin/polysaccharide deacetylase deletion strains, we determined that during vegetative growth, chitosan helps to maintain cell integrity and aids in bud separation. Additionally, chitosan is necessary for maintaining normal capsule width and the lack of chitosan results in a “leaky melanin” phenotype. Our analysis indicates that chitin deacetylases and the chitosan made by them may prove to be excellent antifungal targets.
A lock-free multi-threaded algorithm for the maximum flow problem

The maximum flow problem is an important graph problem with a wide range of applications. In this paper, we present a lock-free multi-threaded algorithm for this problem. The algorithm is based on the push-relabel algorithm proposed by Goldberg. By using re-designed push and relabel operations, we derive our algorithm that finds the maxi- mumflow with 0{\V\2 \E\) operations. We demonstrate that as long as a multi-processor architecture supports atomic 'read-update-write' operations, it will be able to execute the multi-threaded algorithm free of any lock usages. The proposed algorithm is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of solving maximum flow problem on parallel/multi-core architectures.