cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Tyrosine Binding Pocket in the Adaptor Protein 1 (AP-1) μ1 Subunit Is Necessary for Nef to Recruit AP-1 to the Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Cytoplasmic Tail

To evade the anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immune response, the HIV Nef protein disrupts major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) trafficking by recruiting the clathrin adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) to the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail. Under normal conditions AP-1 binds dileucine and tyrosine signals (YXX phi motifs) via physically separate binding sites. In the case of the Nef-MHC-I complex, a tyrosine in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 cytoplasmic tail ((320)YSQA) and a methionine in Nef (Met(20)) are absolutely required for AP-1 binding. Also present in Nef is a dileucine motif, which does not normally affect MHC-I trafficking and is not needed to recruit AP-1 to the Nef-MHC-I-complex. However, evidence is presented here that this dileucine motif can be activated by fusing Nef to the HLA-A2 tail in cis. Thus, the inability of this motif to function in trans likely results from a structural change that occurs when Nef binds to the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail. The physiologically relevant tyrosine-dependent recruitment of AP-1 to MHC-I, which occurs whether Nef is present in cis or trans, was stabilized by the acidic and polyproline domains within Nef. Additionally, amino acids Ala(324) and Asp(327) in the cytoplasmic tails of HLA-A and (but not HLA-C and HLA-E) molecules also stabilized AP-1 binding. Finally, mutation of the tyrosine binding pocket in the mu subunit of AP-1 created a dominant negative inhibitor of Nef-induced down-modulation of HLA-A2 that disrupted binding of wild type AP-1 to the Nef-MHC-I complex. Thus, these data provide evidence that Nef binding to the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail stabilizes the interaction of a tyrosine in the MHC-I cytoplasmic tail with the natural tyrosine binding pocket in AP-1.
Chimpanzee dendritic cells with potent immunostimulatory function can be propagated from peripheral blood

We have established dendritic cell (DC) cultures from chimpanzee peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by using recombinant human (rh) granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and rh interleukin-4 (IL-4) and demonstrate that these cells have all the characteristics of DC as described for other species. We consistently can obtain 1 x 10(7) DC per 100 ml of blood, a yield of 5% DC as compared to 0.1 to 0.5% DC reported in fresh human PBMC. The cultured DC have a varied morphology with typical cytoplasmic extensions. Phenotypically, the blood-derived DC lack expression of most lineage antigens, but express CD83, an antigen specifically expressed on human blood DC. Chimpanzee DC express very high levels of major histocompatability complex class II antigens, adhesion and costimulatory molecules. Consistent with this phenotype of a powerful antigen-presenting cell, chimpanzee DC generate allogeneic mixed leukocyte responses 15 to 20 times more potent than that elicited by macrophages, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts and fresh PBMC. In addition, chimpanzee DC very efficiently present tetanus toxoid to PBMC-derived CD4+ T cells as compared to macrophages and PBMC. The DC generated by culturing chimpanzee PBMC with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4 thus closely resemble human blood-derived DC propagated in the same manner. This technology provides a powerful animal model with which to apply DC to clinical studies with relevance to human disease. In particular, chimpanzee DC can be tested as immunotherapeutic agents for cancer, and be studied in relation to the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA levels by LPS, INF-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10 in murine macrophage cell lines and rat peritoneal macrophages

Abstract The molecular mechanisms of LPS, INF-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10 regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression were evaluated. In murine macrophage cell lines, LPS-induced increases in iNOS mRNA were blocked by either cycloheximide or actinomycin D. Neither TGF-β nor IL-10 alone had any effect on basal expression, and each only slightly reduced LPS induction of iNOS mRNA. However, IL-10 augmented INF-γ induction of iNOS mRNA to very high levels, while TGF-β inhibited INF-γ induction. Human monocytes expressed no detectable iNOS mRNA with any stimuli, though Southern analysis on human genomic DNA revealed a specific human iNOS gene. In human macrophages, the iNOS gene may have become inoperative during evolution.
A dynamic SIMD/MIMD mode switching processor for embedded real-time image recognition systems

This paper describes the design and LSI implementation of a dynamic SIMD/MIMD mode switching processor core (the XC core) for embedded real-time image recognition systems. The XC core supports both a highly parallel SIMD and a medium parallel MIMD architecture, which are suitable for exploiting the large amount of data-level and task-level parallelisms respectively that exist in most image recognition algorithms. Each PE of the SIMD is extended to support a low cost 6-way VLIW data-path and uses an efficient autonomous inter-PE data transfer, to improve the SIMD performance. By employing a hardware resource reuse strategy whereby four PEs of the SIMD are reconfigured into one PU (Processing Unit) of the MIMD, the hardware overhead for supporting both modes is reduced to merely 15% of the area increase compared with either a SIMD only or MIMD only design. LSI implementation of the 32 PE or 8 PU XC core resulted in a die size of 7.7mm2 in 55nm CMOS process and achieved a peak performance of 42.5GOPS, while dissipating 421mW at 133MHz and 1.2V. Compared with an existing SIMD only design, the normalized PE performance for processing regular SIMD image tasks was improved by a factor of 4, the while performance for processing irregular MIMD image tasks has been improved by a factor of 14.
The 1979 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

The 1979 Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded jointly to Georg Wittig of the University of Heidelberg and Herbert C. Brown of Purdue University for their separate work in organic synthesis. Wittig9s major achievement was the development of a highly specific method for the synthesis of olefins. Brown found major new routes to add substituents to olefins selectively. Both employed elements that had found little previous use in organic synthesis, and both prospered by following up on unexpected observations.
Local ionization energy and local polarizability

We investigate relationships between molecular polarizability α, volume V, ionization energy I, and average local ionization energy I(). The last of these is a measure of the energy required to remove an electron from any point in the space of an atom or molecule. Molecular polarizability shows a good direct correlation with volume, which can be improved to a minor extent by including an inverse dependence on I and more so by using I() averaged over the surface of the molecule, IS,ave. The pattern of I() on a molecular surface, IS(), exhibits significant variability, and it is shown through a series of examples that this can be related to the electronic structure of the molecule and to local polarizability. Thus, IS() will provide a means of assessing the transferability of regional (e.g., group/bond) polarizabilities from one molecule to another. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Seismology in the USSR

From November 11, 1963, to December 10, 1963, the author visited several seismological research facilities in the Soviet Union under the auspices of the exchange program between the United States National Academy of Sciences and the USSR Academy of Sciences. The purpose of this visit was to observe current seismological research in the Soviet Union, to become acquainted with, the research workers in this field, and to study Soviet seismic instrumentation. The program prepared by the USSR Academy of Sciences called for visits to five research institutes, seven seismological stations, the Talgar Complex Scientific Expedition, and Moscow State University. It is impossible in this brief report to discuss in detail all of the scientific observations at the facilities visited; the author may, therefore, be approached directly for additional information on any particular problem of interest. A more detailed report is also available, as well as photographs and 35-mm slides showing the installations and instrumentation discussed in this report. Although many research facilities in the Soviet Union were visited, a description of the total Soviet seismological research effort is not attempted here.
Reconciling Differences: Indochinese Refugee Students in American Schools.

responses to certain questions of concern to educators and parents alike. Specifically, * How well have Indochinese refugee students adapted to American schools so far? * Does student adaptation relate to academic performance in the new school? * Does adaptation to the new school setting relate to learning in a particular school subject? Adaptation is defined as the process by which the individual brings his/her behavior into harmony with the social setting. [For refugee students, adaptation to the new school may involve changes in behaviors as they align more closely with those encountered in the new academic setting.] The process includes both social and personal adjustment and acculturation in the school context. The former
Geometry of the string equations

The string equations of hermitian and unitary matrix models of 2D gravity are flatness conditions. These flatness conditions may be interpreted as the consistency conditions for isomonodromic deformation of an equation with an irregular singularity. In particular, the partition function of the matrix model is shown to be the tau function for isomonodromic deformation. The physical parameters defining the string equation are interpreted as moduli of meromorphic gauge fields, and the compatibility conditions can be interpreted as defining a “quantum” analog of a Riemann surface. In the latter interpretation, the equations may be viewed as compatibility conditions for transport on “quantum moduli space” of correlation functions in a theory of free fermions. We discuss how the free fermion field theory may be deduced directly from the matrix model integral. As an application of our formalism we discuss some properties of the BMP solutions of the string equations. We also mention briefly a possible connection to twistor theory.
Building an APL2 X-Windows interface for VM and AIX with a general APL2-to-C interface

This paper describes APL2/X, an interface between X-Windows and APL2, designed and built at the IBM Cambridge Scientific Center. It currently runs under VM/CMS and AIX. The APL2/X VM version of the interface uses the APL2 associated processor 11 to communicate with X. The APL2/X AIX version uses a new auxiliary processor, AP144, to achieve the same functionality.APL2/X enables all of the X-Windows Xlib calls and data-structures for use from the APL2 environment. In so doing, it enables APL2 to make use of a true windowing environment. Several APL2 sample programs using the interface have been coded to illustrate and validate the interface.The basic X-Windows Xlib is actually a large application written in C. APL2/X has therefore been built upon, as well as heavily influenced, a general APL2-to-C interface that runs on various platforms: APL2 under VM/CMS and MVS/TSO, APL2 for the RISC System/6000™ under AIX, and APL2/PC under PC/DOS.
Positive and negative regulation of c-Myb by cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases, and p27 Kip1

The c-Myb transcription factor controls differentiation and proliferation in hematopoietic and other cell types and has latent transforming activity, but little is known about its regulation during the cell cycle. Here, c-Myb was identified as part of a protein complex from human T cells containing the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) CDK6. Assays using model reporter constructs as well as endogenous target genes showed that the activity of c-Myb was inhibited by cyclin D1 plus CDK4 or CDK6 but stimulated by expression of the CDK inhibitors p16 Ink4a, p21 Cip1, or p27 Kip1. Mapping experiments identified a highly conserved region in c-Myb which, when transferred to the related A-Myb transcription factor, also rendered it responsive to CDKs and p27. The results suggest that c-Myb activity is directly regulated by cyclin D1 and CDKs and imply that c-Myb activity is regulated during the cell cycle in hematopoietic cells.
Exploring vortex enhancement and manipulation mechanisms in jellyfish that contributes to energetically efficient propulsion

The ability of animals to propel themselves efficiently through a fluid medium is ecologically advantageous. Flexible components that influence vortex interactions are widespread among animal propulsors. However the mechanisms by which vortices are enhanced and appropriately positioned for thrust generation are still poorly understood. Here, we describe how kinematic propulsor movements of a jellyfish can enhance and reposition a vortex ring that allows the recapture of wake energy for secondary thrust generation and efficient locomotion. We use high-speed video and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to resolve kinematics simultaneously with fluid structures. These results provide new insight into how animals can manipulate fluid structures to reduce metabolic energy demands of swimming muscles and may have implications in bio-inspired design.
Reappraisal of the Federal Fish Health Recommendation for Disinfecting Eggs of Atlantic Salmon in Iodophor

Abstract The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service federal protocol for dual disinfection of fish eggs in 50 mg/L iodine solution for 30 min followed by a secondary disinfection in 100 mg/L iodine for 10 min was investigated during six spawning cycles of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar held at the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station (Sunderland, Massachusetts). This population of salmon had undergone an epizootic of furunculosis, and the surviving fish maintained a persistent infection of Aeromonas salmonicida throughout the course of study. Eggs from 20 individual paired matings of salmon were obtained annually during the first 2 weeks of November in each spawning cycle from 1995 through 2000 except for 1999, when fertilized eggs from 35 pairs of salmon were examined. Aeromonas salmonicida was isolated from 19 of the total 135 groups of fertilized eggs investigated during this study. In those cases, all isolations of the pathogen were made only in fertilized eggs that had not yet undergone disinfection in iodoph...
Specific interaction of HTLV tax protein and a human type IV neuronal intermediate filament protein.

The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) is associated with adult T cell leukemia and neurological disorders (TSP/HAM). The HTLV transcriptional transactivator, Tax, is known to exert its effect through protein–protein interaction with several transcription factors that activate genes in T cell proliferation. The pathogenic mechanism in the CNS is less defined. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified a specific Tax-binding protein as the neuronal specific intermediate filament protein, α-internexin. Tax binds to the domain corresponding to the rod region of α-internexin, which is essential for neurofilament assembly. The Tax domains involved in binding are separable from those involved in transactivation. TxBP-1/α-internexin and Tax are expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus, respectively, when expressed alone, but in coexpressing cells, colocalization of both proteins was observed in a perinuclear, punctate distribution. This in vivo interaction also resulted in a dramatic reduction in Tax transactivation and the network formation by α-internexin. The specific interaction of Tax and a neuronal specific intermediate filament protein may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of TSP/HAM.
Imaging systems in minimally invasive surgery.

The imaging system is the eye of the laparoscopic surgeon. The success or failure of a minimally invasive procedure depends on the quality and working order of the imaging system used. The components that work together to produce an image on the monitor is called the imaging chain. The image displayed will be good as the chain's weakest component. Understanding how the pieces of this process work together will allow the surgeon to troubleshoot basic system problems, leading to improved image displays and safer operating environments. Continuous refinement of laparoscopes, lighting systems, cameras, monitors, and displays lead to an ever-improving operating environment. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Mothers' conceptualizations of parent-child relationships: Relation to mother-child interaction and child behavior problems

Knowledge of parental state of mind with respect to parent-child attachment relationships may provide insight into etiology or maintenance of problematic parent-child interactions and development of child psychopathology. Forty-nine mothers and their behaviorally disturbed children, aged 5 to 11 years, were assessed in a child psychiatry clinic. Mothers and children were observed in a semistructured interaction consisting of free play, three tasks, separation, and reunion. Mothers were scored on supportiveness, helpfulness, organization, and so forth. Children were rated on relationship behaviors with mother, task behaviors, activity level, and so forth. Parents and teachers completed rating scales of child aggression and oppositionality, inattention and hyperactivity, and competence. Children rated themselves on feelings of depression and anxiety. Mothers were given the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) and were classified as secure, dismissing, or preoccupied in state of mind with respect to attachment. Mothers classified as secure were supportive and well organized with their children. Mothers classified as insecure were unsupportive and cool. The secure classification was associated with the children reporting low levels of anxiety and depression, being described as competent and relatively low in symptomatology. The dismissing classification was associated with oppositional and aggressive symptoms in the children, greater symptomatology overall, and child self-reports of distress. Maternal attachment classification appears to contribute to understanding of the development of psychopathology in children and its type and severity.
Distribution of myocardial blood flow in the rat.

RubidiumS6 distribution was used to estimate the distribution of myocardial blood flow in albino rats. The results indicate that the perfusion rates of the left ventricle, apex and interventricular septum are all substantially identical, averaging 2.6 to 2.9 ml./Gm. of tissue/min. The value for the right ventricle is 3.2 ml./Gm./min. The implications of these findings for the measurement of coronary blood flow by the nitrous oxide method are discussed.
Dual aperture measurements of 2-km (round-trip) intensity and phase perturbations 1-μm laser speckle propagating through a turbulent atmosphere

The results of recent measurements of the intensity and phase fluctuations of one micron speckle propagating through a two kilometer (round-trip) turbulent path are presented. The data was collected at BMDO's Innovative Science and Technology Experimentation Facility (ISTEF) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a dual-aperture Nd:YAG coherent array transceiver developed at CREOL. The dual-aperture measurement technique allowed for the discrimination of atmospheric turbulence induced phase perturbations from relative target/platform motion induced phase modulation, since the target motion produces common phase modulation in both receivers. The phase and intensity were found to be Gaussian and K- distributed respectively.
Martha Morton: America's First Professional Woman Playwright

Martha Morton was a remarkable woman — a talented and energetic person whose career in the New York theatre extended from 1890 to 1915, a time when women were expected to concern themselves with traditional roles and when public life and outside work were adventures for only a few daring women. In spite of efforts to sweep her aside, Morton opened the doors for American women, who followed after her, to participate in the theatre as playwrights, directors, producers, and professional members of theatre organizations.
Equilibria in Distorted Infinite-Horizon Economies with Capital and Labor

Abstract This paper studies a broad class of infinite-horizon economies that are subject to externalities, taxes, or other distortions. These economies are formulated in discrete time, are subject to uncertainty, and consist of households that accumulate capital and elastically supply labor. For this class of economies, methods are developed for proving the existence of an equilibrium, for characterizing an equilibrium, and for verifying, at a computational level, that an equilibrium is unique. Some applications of these methods to real and monetary economies are discussed. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C6, E6.
Inverted-vertical OMVPE reactor: design and characterization

An inverted-vertical (IV) OMVPE reactor design is presented. Optimum flow rates are discussed as a function of reactor dimensions and operating pressure. The performance of the IV reactor design is characterized by the purity, thickness uniformity, composition uniformity and electrical uniformity of GaAs and (AlGa)As epilayers and device structures grown on 2 inch diameter GaAs substrates. Device results were obtained from low and high frequency testing of GaAs MESFETs fabricated in MESFET structures grown in the IV reactor.
Dentition of a mesolithic population from Wadi Halfa, Sudan†

The dentition of a Mesolithic population (8,000–11,000 years old) from Wadi Halfa, Sudan, can be characterized as morphologically complex, massive and relatively free from pathology except that associated with extreme wear. Maxillary incisors show shoveling. All of the maxillary molars show some development of the hypocone. Supernumerary cusps appear frequently. Almost one-half of the second lower molars observed show distally located third cusps. Over one-half of the maxillary third molars show an extra cusp. A high percentage of mandibular molars show six cusps. Overall the teeth from this population compare favorably in size with those of an Australian aborigine tribe and are slightly larger than the teeth of the Neanderthaloids from Skūhl. The teeth show wear of a degree greater than that found in present day Eskimo or Australian aborigine groups. This data may be interpreted as indicating that this Mesolithic group was subjected to rigorous selective pressures favoring large and/or morphologically complex teeth. This pressure was apparently intensive wear, presumably caused by the inclusion of large amounts of grit in the diet through the eating of vegetable food macerated on coarse grinding stones.
Construct and concurrent validation of the Andrews and Withey Job Satisfaction Questionnaire

Two studies evaluating the psychometric properties of Andrews and Withey's (1976) overall job satisfaction questionnaire were performed. Study 1 found that the Andrews and Withey questionnaire corr...
Linking a predator's foraging behavior with its effects on herbivore population suppression

The view of terrestrial arthropod communities as potentially exhibiting a mixture of three- and four-trophic-level dynamics creates a new challenge for researchers: the indeterminacy of predator function. Here we evaluate two predictions linking a predator's foraging behavior with its likely ecological role: (1) widely foraging predators may act as effective regulators of sedentary herbivore populations, and (2) sit-and-wait predators are unlikely to regulate sedentary herbivore populations but may act as top predators, consuming widely foraging intermediate predators and allowing herbivore populations to escape from control. We tested these predictions by manipulating the predator community associated with a sedentary herbivore, the spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus, feeding on papaya, Carica papayae. The predators included a widely foraging specialist consumer of spider mites, the ladybird beetle Stethorus siphonulus, and a sit-and-wait generalist predator, the tangle-web spider Nesticodes rufipes. The experiments provided support for both predictions. The widely foraging predator Stethorus when tested alone was capable of effective suppression of spider mite populations. In contrast, the sit-and-wait predator, Nesticodes, never suppressed spider mites. Instead, Nesticodes consistently increased the population growth rates of spider mites. This effect was most likely due to Nesticodes suppressing populations of the intermediate predator Stethorus. Our results underscore the presence of both three- and four-trophic-level dynamics within this arthropod community and begin to address the challenging problem of the indeterminacy of predator function.
Annotated bibliography: effects of sleep position and play position on motor development in early infancy

The prevalence of prone sleeping has decreased dramatically since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published sleep position guidelines and launched the Back to Sleep Campaign in 1992. One aspect of the guidelines, which suggests placing infants in the prone position for supervised play time, is often overlooked. This review summarizes published articles related to the effects of sleep/play position on motor development and provides considerations for physical and occupational therapy practice in early infancy. The study results suggested that delays in the attainment of gross motor milestones in the prone position could be observed in infants whose predominant sleep position was supine, but the delays in motor development disappeared later in life. Some studies also found a reverse order of the rolling development. Therapists should educate parents about the less known advised rules of supervised play time in the prone position by the AAP, and include activities in the prone position as part of the home program in early infancy.
Estimates of scale economies in the garment industry in Nepal

Using plant level data from 1992 census and from 1997 census of manufacturing establishments in Nepal, a simple cubic cost function and a more general translog cost function are examined for the garment industry of Nepal. Homothetic, homogeneous and Cobb-Douglas cost functions are also estimated by imposing some appropriate restrictions on translog cost function. The study suggests that the industry has an increasing returns to scale over the current production range. Most of the firms have not been able to exploit the economies of scale in this industry.
THICKNESS-SHEAR AND FLEXURAL VIBRATIONS OF LINEARLY CONTOURED CRYSTAL STRIPS WITH MULTIPRECISION COMPUTATION

Abstract The effect of linear contouring of crystal strips on the resonance frequencies, the coupling among vibration modes, and the spatial variation of mode shapes have attracted analytical and experimental studies for many decades for its application in crystal resonator design. In the present paper, exact solutions are obtained for the coupled thickness–shear and flexural vibrations of quartz strips with linearly varying thickness by the Frobenius method. Four special functions in terms of infinite power series are obtained from which displacements and stresses can be derived. The efficient and precise evaluation of these functions is aided by a multiprecision program. Frequency spectra and mode shapes are computed for various parameters of crystal strip resonators with beveled edges. Some important effects of contouring are discussed from these results.
Concurrent error detection and correction in real-time systolic sorting arrays

An approach to online error detection and correction for high-throughput VLSI sorting arrays is presented. The error model is defined at the sorting element level, and both functional errors and data errors generated by a faulty element are considered. The functional errors are detected and corrected by exploiting inherent properties of the sorting array, as well as special properties discovered by the authors. Coding techniques and an online fault diagnosis procedure are developed to locate data errors. All the checkers are designed to be totally self-checking, and hence the sorting array is highly reliable. Two-level pipelining is employed in this design, making it very efficient and suitable for real-time application. The hardware overhead is not significant for typical array sizes, and the time penalty is only three clock cycles. The structure is very regular and therefore very attractive for VLSI or WSI implementation. >
Tapered microstructure fibers for fiber optical parametric oscillators

We present a systematic study of microstructure fibers reduced in size in order to tailor the group-velocity dispersion (GVD). The analysis includes taper recipes, GVD measurements, SEM images, and subsequent fiber optical parametric oscillator performance.
FOCAL: an experimental design tool for systematizing metabolic discoveries and model development

Current computational tools can generate and improve genome-scale models based on existing data; however, for many organisms, the data needed to test and refine such models are not available. To facilitate model development, we created the forced coupling algorithm, FOCAL, to identify genetic and environmental conditions such that a reaction becomes essential for an experimentally measurable phenotype. This reaction's conditional essentiality can then be tested experimentally to evaluate whether network connections occur or to create strains with desirable phenotypes. FOCAL allows network connections to be queried, which improves our understanding of metabolism and accuracy of developed models.
Theodicy and the Free Will Defence: Response to Plantinga and Flew

Although Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College, Alvin Plantinga has developed a theodicy that is fundamentally Arminian rather than Calvinistic. Anthony Flew, although the son of an Arminian Christian minister, regards the Arminian view of ‘free will’ to be both unacceptable on its own terms and incompatible with classical Christian theism. In this paper I hope to disentangle some of the involved controversy regarding theodicy which has developed between Plantinga and Flew, and between Flew and myself. The major portion of this paper is devoted to showing that Plantinga's theodicy contains some serious flaws and undesirable implications.
Higher Expression of Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptors in the Postmortem Brains of Teenage Suicide Victims

OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities of serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes have been observed in the postmortem brains of adult suicide victims; however, their role in teenage suicide is unexplored. The authors examined whether 5-HT2A receptor subtypes are altered in the postmortem brains of teenage suicide victims. METHOD: Levels of 5-HT2A receptors were determined through examination of [125I] LSD binding, protein expression (by use of Western blotting with a specific 5-HT2A receptor antibody), and mRNA (by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens of 15 teenage suicide victims and 15 normal matched teenage subjects. The cellular localization of the 5-HT2A receptors was determined by means of gold immunolabeling. RESULTS: The authors observed significantly higher [125I]LSD binding in the prefrontal cortex and greater protein expression and mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus but not in the nucleus accumbens of...
Plant-Limited Co-Design of an Energy-Efficient Counterbalanced Robotic Manipulator

Modifying the design of an existing system to meet the needs of a new task is a common activity in mechatronic system development. Often engineers seek to meet requirements for the new task via control design changes alone, but in many cases new requirements are impossible to meet using control design only; physical system design modifications must be considered. Plant-Limited Co-Design (PLCD) is a design methodology for meeting new requirements at minimum cost through limited physical system (plant) design changes in concert with control system redesign. The most influential plant changes are identified to narrow the set of candidate plant changes. PLCD provides quantitative evidence to support strategic plant design modification decisions, including tradeoff analyses of redesign cost and requirement violation. In this article the design of a counterbalanced robotic manipulator is used to illustrate successful PLCD application. A baseline system design is obtained that exploits synergy between manipulator passive dynamics and control to minimize energy consumption for a specific pick-and-place task. The baseline design cannot meet requirements for a second pick-and-place task through control design changes alone. A limited set of plant design changes is identified using sensitivity analysis, and the PLCD result meets the new requirements at a cost significantly less than complete system redesign.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Lipid Sulfates and Sulfonates Are Allosteric Competitive Inhibitors of the N-Terminal Phosphatase Activity of the Mammalian Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase †

The EPXH2 gene encodes for the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), a homodimeric enzyme with each monomer containing two domains with distinct activities. The C-terminal domain, containing the epoxide hydrolase activity (Cterm-EH), is involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid epoxides, endogenous chemical mediators that play important roles in blood pressure regulation, cell growth, and inflammation. We recently demonstrated that the N-terminal domain contains a Mg2+-dependent lipid phosphate phosphatase activity (Nterm-phos). However, the biological role of this activity is unknown. The inability of known phosphatase inhibitors to inhibit the Nterm-phos constitutes a significant barrier to the elucidation of its function. We describe herein sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphonate lipids as novel potent inhibitors of Nterm-phos. These compounds are allosteric competitive inhibitors with KI in the hundred nanomolar range. These inhibitors may provide a valuable tool to investigate the biological role of the ...
High throughput microscopy with a microlens array

We demonstrate large field-of-view (FOV) (30 mm2) fluorescence microscopy with submicron resolution using a refractive microlens array. The large area of the array decreases image acquisition time over FOVs by avoiding long-range mechanical scanning.
Health literacy screening of geriatric monolingual Spanish-speaking patients using single-item literacy screening questions and education:

Objective:We describe the performance of Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS) questions, and educational attainment, as screening for inadequate health literacy (IHL) in older monolingual Spanish s...
Immunomodulation with CD40 stimulation and interleukin-2 protects mice from disseminated cryptococcosis.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous fungus that can cause life-threatening infections during immunosuppressive states such as AIDS and after bone marrow transplantation. In this study we investigated the antifungal efficacy of an agonist antibody to CD40, an important costimulator of immune function, in combination with interleukin 2 (IL-2) in a murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis. Only the combination of anti-CD40 and IL-2 significantly prolonged the survival time of infected mice. This protection was correlated with decreased yeast burdens in the brain and kidney. Increased immune cell populations in the spleens, as well as increased serum gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were observed in infected mice treated with anti-CD40 and IL-2. Further experiments with IFN-γ knockout mice demonstrated that the protection induced by anti-CD40 and IL-2 treatment was dependent on IFN-γ. Depletion of CD4+ T cells did not affect the increased serum IFN-γ levels induced by anti-CD40 and IL-2 treatment and, importantly, did not affect the antifungal effect of combination therapy. These studies indicate that immunotherapy using anti-CD40 and IL-2 has therapeutic potential in augmenting host resistance to disseminated cryptococcosis and that IFN-γ is essential for efficacy.
Heavy Traffic Limit Theorems for Queues: A Survey

Heavy traffic research is part of a general program to obtain simple descriptions and useful approximations for queueing models. Throughout this paper, I try to put heavy traffic research into this broader perspective. I discuss the two principal objectives of heavy traffic research, namely, (1) to describe unstable queueing systems and (2) to approximate stable queueing systems. These objectives are each related to more general themes. In an unstable queueing system the queueing processes are growing processes, so that descriptions of queueing processes in unstable queueing systems are similar to descriptions of other growing processes associated with queues. In the same way, heavy traffic approximations for stable queues are part of a large class of approximations for queueing systems. I relate heavy traffic research to these more general activities.
Optimal beam arrangement for stereotactic body radiation therapy delivery in lung tumors

AbstractPurpose. To compare the different beam arrangement and delivery techniques for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of lung lesions using the criteria of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0236 protocol. Material and methods. Thirty-seven medically inoperable lung cancers were evaluated with various planning techniques including multiple coplanar multiple static beams, multiple non-coplanar static beams and arc delivery. Twelve plans were evaluated for each case, including five plans using coplanar fixed beams, six plans using non-coplanar fixed beams and one plan using arc therapy. These plans were compared using the target prescription isodose coverage, high and low dose volumes, and critical organ dose-volume limits. Results. The prescription isodose coverage, high dose evaluation criteria and dose to critical organs were similar among treatment delivery techniques. However, there were differences in low dose criteria, especially in the ratio of the volume of 50% isodose of the presc...
Liquidus diagram for the sodium orthophosphate-lead orthophosphate system

Abstract The Na3PO4Pb3(PO4)2 system was studied by thermal analysis, high-temperature microscopy, and X-ray diffraction powder methods. The compound NaPbPO4 melts congruently at 1117°C. An unidentified phase occurs in the vicinity of 10 mole% Pb3(PO4)2. The system has eutectics at 44.5 and 96 mole% Pb3(PO4)2, melting at 1074 and 1004°C, respectively. The respective melting points of Na3PO4 and Pb3(PO4)2 are 1512 and 1015°C.
Mean arterial pressure and average blood pressure

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and average blood pressure (ABP) are compared. MAP is normally computed as some weighted mean of systolic and diastolic pressures. Average blood pressure is defined here as the area under the pressure pulse contour divided by the duration of the heart cycle. Using equations for the pressure pulse contour found in the literature, a closed-form solution for the ABP was developed and compared to the expression for MAP. It is shown that, in general, MAP and ABP are different; that MAP can underestimate or overestimate ABP depending upon how the systolic and diastolic pressures are weighted. In the case of a normal adult with a pressure of 120/80 mm of mercury, the difference between MAP and ABP is on the order of 6 to 8%. It is conjectured that the error would be larger in the hypertensive patients. >
Context and development in family problem solving with preadolescent children

This study analyzed correlates of social problem solving in 63 2-parent families with a preadolescent child during structured discussions in the home. The longitudinal design assessed families when the preadolescent was about 9.5 years old and again 2 years later. Links between problem solving and features of the immediate ecological context were examined. There was a substantial decline in the quality of family problem solving during preadolescence associated with changes in the participation and affective behavior of fathers and preadolescents. Although problem solving was not less effective on autonomy topics, it was markedly worse when parents, rather than the preadolescent, selected the topic for discussion. Preadolescent topic selection triggered a pattern of productive participation and affective behavior in both parents and preadolescents. The results clarify the nature of ambivalent parent-child relations just prior to puberty by specifying changes in family problem solving which correspond with preadolescent autonomy striving.
Work in Progress: Developing an Online Textbook and Research Tool for Freshman Engineering Design

This paper explores the development of and pilot study done on an online textbook and research tool, based on the book, "How to Model It," by Starfield, Smith and Bleloch. In many engineering design texts, the solution(s) to design problems are provided in the pages following the proposed problem. With this online system, students are able to read only a portion of the text, and then must complete one or more tasks for which they submit a response to the system. This approach forces the students to begin practicing the engineering design process, rather than simply reading about someone else's design process. As a research tool, the computerized method of data gathering addresses the issue of increasing sampling frequency without much larger investment in research time, as no transcription is required. The small pilot study showed students' responses included data on their design process thinking as well as their proposed solution to the problems.
Elucidating aeolian dune history from lacustrine sand records in the Lake Michigan Coastal Zone, USA

Aeolian sand in two small lakes within a Lake Michigan coastal-dune complex southwest of Holland, Michigan, provides a more detailed higher-resolution history of dune activity, during the later hal...
A light-sheet microscope compatible with mobile devices for label-free intracellular imaging and biosensing

The inner structure, especially the nuclear structure, of cells carries valuable information about disease and health conditions of a person. Here we demonstrate a label-free technique to enable direct observations and measurements of the size, shape and morphology of the cell nucleus. With a microfabricated lens and a commercial CMOS imager, we form a scanning light-sheet microscope to produce a dark-field optical scattering image of the cell nucleus that overlays with the bright-field image produced in a separate regime of the same CMOS sensor. We have used the device to detect nuclear features that characterize the life cycle of cells and have used the nucleus volume as a new parameter for cell classification. The device can be developed into a portable, low-cost, point-of-care device leveraging the capabilities of the CMOS imagers to be pervasive in mobile electronics.
A NEW INTERNATIONAL STAGING OF LUNG CÁNCER

New recommendations for staging lung cancer using the TNM system for description of the primary tumor (T), the regional lymph nodes (N), and distant metastases (M) have been adopted by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer. Revisions in TNM definitions and stage grouping rules were made in response to the needs of investigators throughout the world for staging that is consistent in meaning among all specialties and among all countries. The new international system has five stage groups, 0, I, II, IIIa, IIIb and IV, that provide for classification of six levels of disease extent. A number of elements used in prior staging recommendations have been retained; however, new descriptors for the degree of progression in tumors with extrapulmonary extension and for the levels of regional lymph node metastasis have been structured. The new system allows for specific definition of «limited» and «extensive» disease categories that can be reproduced and compared. It meets the goal of providing an internationally acceptable staging system for lung cancer that is useful for estimating prognosis, reporting end results and selection of appropriate treatment.
Multiscale modeling of randomly interwoven fibers for prediction of KM2 Kevlar yarn strength and damage

Modeling Kevlar yarn response as a function of twist requires creating a model at the filament level that incorporates capturing the mechanical interaction of numerous fibers. The inherent complexity of building a multiscale interwoven fibrous structure manually is prohibitive for such an endeavor; therefore, computer-aided simulations are preferred. In this study, a random walk methodology was employed to generate a fibrous structure along the axis of a yarn. Since the directionality of the fibers is randomly oriented along the axis, the fibers can wind around each other and tangle or terminate on demand. The resultant geometry can represent the tortuous path that yarn filaments experience. Yarn twist can be introduced through imposing a rotation matrix to the geometry or conducting an initial analysis that applies the preload. The analysis method employed in this paper captures the correct prestress of the twisted yarns at zero, three, and ten twists per inch. The analysis then loaded the yarn until filament fracture occurred. The predicted ultimate load was within 5% for all three twists per inch analyzed. The zero twists per inch linear response matched test results to within 5%.
Economic stressors and alcohol-related outcomes: Exploring age cohort differences

Abstract Objectives This study examined processes linking age cohort, economic stressors, coping strategies and two drinking-related outcomes (i.e., past-month drinking and problematic drinking). Methods Structural equation models were conducted utilizing data from a national survey. Results Findings revealed the associations between economic stressors and both past-month drinking and problematic drinking were significantly greater for members of the millennial cohort compared to baby boomers. These effects are partly explained by the lesser tendency of members of the millennial cohort to use collective, politically-focused coping strategies. Discussion These findings clarify the circumstances in which age matters most for the associations among economy-related stressors, coping strategies and drinking-related outcomes. They highlight how difficult economic circumstances influence the availability of coping strategies and, in turn, alcohol consumption — and differently for younger and older age cohorts.
Dendritic Cells Coordinate the Development and Homeostasis of Organ-Specific Regulatory T Cells

Although antigen recognition mediated by the T cell receptor (TCR) influences many facets of Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cell biology, including development and function, the cell types that present antigen to Treg cells in vivo remain largely undefined. By tracking a clonal population of Aire-dependent, prostate-specific Treg cells in mice, we demonstrated an essential role for dendritic cells (DCs) in regulating organ-specific Treg cell biology. We have shown that the thymic development of prostate-specific Treg cells required antigen presentation by DCs. Moreover, Batf3-dependent CD8α(+) DCs were dispensable for the development of this clonotype and had negligible impact on the polyclonal Treg cell repertoire. In the periphery, CCR7-dependent migratory DCs coordinated the activation of organ-specific Treg cells in the prostate-draining lymph nodes. Our results demonstrate that the development and peripheral regulation of organ-specific Treg cells are dependent on antigen presentation by DCs, implicating DCs as key mediators of organ-specific immune tolerance.