cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in human saliva.

Abstract Lactate dehydrogenase activity (L.D.H.) in whole, parotid and submaxillary saliva has been investigated using disc electrophoresis and spectrophotometric analysis. L.D.H. activity was absent in submaxillary saliva. In both parotid and whole saliva, four isoenzymes were found occupying positions comparable to the serum isoenzymes. Variations in relative staining were noted when salivas of different individuals were compared. An inverse relationship between L.D.H. activity and parotid flow rate was noted. Whole saliva displayed more intense staining than parotid saliva. The possible leukocytic contribution to whole saliva L.D.H. activity is discussed.
Gauge coupling unification in heterotic string models with gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking

We calculate the weak scale minimal supersymmetric standard model spectrum starting from a heterotic string theory compactified on an anisotropic orbifold. Supersymmetry breaking is mediated by vectorlike exotics that arise naturally in heterotic string theories. The messengers that mediate supersymmetry breaking come in incomplete grand unified theory (GUT) multiplets and give rise to nonuniversal gaugino masses at the GUT scale. Models with nonuniversal gaugino masses at the GUT scale have the attractive feature of allowing for precision gauge coupling unification at the GUT scale with negligible contributions from threshold corrections near the unification scale. The unique features of this minimally supersymmetric standard model spectrum are light gluinos and also large mass differences between the lightest and the next-to-lightest neutralinos and charginos which could lead to interesting signatures at the colliders.
Mouse blastocysts hatch in vitro by using a trypsin-like proteinase associated with cells of mural trophectoderm

The mammalian blastocyst must hatch from its extracellular coat, or zona pellucida, to implant in the uterus and continue development normally. Results of experiments described here strongly suggest that a proteinase (74K Mr), called "strypsin," is directly involved in hatching of isolated mouse blastocysts in vitro. Strypsin is a trypsin-like proteinase, based on its substrate specificity and sensitivity to inhibitors, that is present in mouse blastocysts and exhibits certain properties characteristic of membrane-associated enzymes. Histochemical and autoradiographic evidence suggests that, prior to hatching of blastocysts, strypsin is found with cells of mural trophectoderm; not with polar trophectoderm or inner cell mass. Following hatching, strypsin is also found associated with empty zonae pellucidae, specifically at the opening through which the embryo emerged. These and other observations suggest that hatching of mouse blastocysts in vitro is initiated by limited proteolysis of the region of zona pellucida overlying mural trophectoderm.
Cell cycle inhibition by the anti-angiogenic agent TNP-470 is mediated by p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1

Angiogenesis has been demonstrated to be essential for tumor growth and metastasis, and inhibition of angiogenesis is emerging as a promising strategy for treating cancer. Among the most potent inhibitors of angiogenesis is the fumagillin family of natural products. An analog of fumagillin, known as TNP-470 or AGM-1470, has been undergoing clinical trials for treating a variety of cancers. TNP-470 has been shown to block endothelial cell cycle progression in the late G1 phase. Although the direct molecular target for TNP-470 has been identified as the type 2 methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP2), how inhibition of this enzyme leads to cell cycle arrest has remained unclear. We report that treatment of endothelial and other drug-sensitive cell types leads to the activation of the p53 pathway, causing an accumulation of the G1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1. The requirement of p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1 for the cell cycle inhibition by TNP-470 is underscored by the observation that cells deficient in p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1 are resistant to TNP-470. These results shed significant light on the mechanism of cell cycle inhibition by TNP-470 and suggest an alternative method of activating p53 in endothelial cells to halt angiogenesis and tumor progression.
Opportunities for improved 80%/80% statistical methods with CISPR 32

CISPR 22 and CISPR 32 both require statistical compliance, specifically that products demonstrate with at least 80% confidence that at least 80% of the product population passes the radiated and conducted emissions limits. There have been problems applying the statistical test specified in CISPR 22 to real products because the method assumes a normal distribution, and products often exhibit characteristics which do not fit that model. For example, if the shielding or grounding in electronic equipment is not consistent unit to unit, it can result in bimodal or multi-modal distributions of some emissions. The bimodal distribution may be a common cause behind signal frequencies which appear as significant emissions in some units but are unmeasurable in others. CISPR 32 introduces more options for tools which may be used to demonstrate 80/80 compliance, notably the binomial distribution test, which is robust enough to accommodate a wide variety of population distributions. When CISPR 32 replaces CISPR 22 as the emissions standard, this binomial test method should be available for product qualifications.
Contact anaphylaxis: A review

Abstract The epidemic of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to latex has stimulated interest in contact urticaria and anaphylaxis. A number of agents are known to cause either immunologic or nonimmunologic contact urticaria. Certain substances have occasionally been reported to cause not only skin reactions but even systemic anaphylaxis. This report reviews reported agents that have been recognized as causing such systemic reactions from topical exposure.
Channel size distribution of complex three-dimensional microstructures calculated from the topological characterization of isodistance structures

Abstract We present a novel approach for quantifying the channel size distribution (CSD) of complex three-dimensional microstructures. The CSD, which characterizes the probability of finding a channel bottleneck with a given size, is difficult to measure for materials with complex microstructures that are extensively interconnected. More importantly, insights about the physical properties of these materials, such as transport properties, may be provided by their CSD. The CSD is measured by topological characterization of a distance function, which is calculated from complex microstructural data using the level set method. The newly developed method for calculating CSD is shown to be robust such that it is applicable to both smooth and discontinuous (bi-level) data. The method is demonstrated by calculating the CSDs for three-dimensional microstructures formed through conserved (Cahn–Hilliard) and nonconserved (Allen–Cahn) dynamics. We found significant differences between the two structures in their characteristic channel size and the width of their distributions, even though their genera, a measure of connectivity, are almost identical. The CSD, which was not previously available for complex microstructures, will provide a new means to correlate properties of composite materials with their performance.
Arrestin-2 Differentially Regulates PAR4 and ADP Receptor Signaling in Platelets

Arrestins can facilitate desensitization or signaling by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in many cells, but their roles in platelets remain uncharacterized. Because of recent reports that arrestins can serve as scaffolds to recruit phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K)s to GPCRs, we sought to determine whether arrestins regulate PI3K-dependent Akt signaling in platelets, with consequences for thrombosis. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that arrestin-2 associates with p85 PI3Kα/β subunits in thrombin-stimulated platelets, but not resting cells. The association is inhibited by inhibitors of P2Y12 and Src family kinases (SFKs). The function of arrestin-2 in platelets is agonist-specific, as PAR4-dependent Akt phosphorylation and fibrinogen binding were reduced in arrestin-2 knock-out platelets compared with WT controls, but ADP-stimulated signaling to Akt and fibrinogen binding were unaffected. ADP receptors regulate arrestin recruitment to PAR4, because co-immunoprecipitates of arrestin-2 with PAR4 are disrupted by inhibitors of P2Y1 or P2Y12. P2Y1 may regulate arrestin-2 recruitment to PAR4 through protein kinase C (PKC) activation, whereas P2Y12 directly interacts with PAR4 and therefore, may help to recruit arrestin-2 to PAR4. Finally, arrestin2−/− mice are less sensitive to ferric chloride-induced thrombosis than WT mice, suggesting that arrestin-2 can regulate thrombus formation in vivo. In conclusion, arrestin-2 regulates PAR4-dependent signaling pathways, but not responses to ADP alone, and contributes to thrombus formation in vivo.
Identifying incident oral and pharyngeal cancer cases using Medicare claims

Background Baseline and trend data for oral and pharyngeal cancer incidence is limited. A new algorithm was derived using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database to create an algorithm to identify incident cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer using Medicare claims.
Toxicologic studies on diethyl-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-chlorovinyl phosphate☆

Abstract Studies of diethyl-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-chlorovinyl phosphate: GC-4072, Supona, Chlorfenvinphos, SD 7859, ENT 24969, a new organophosphate pesticide, were undertaken in several animal species to characterize toxicity and assess safety. Measurements of acute toxicity by different routes of administration gave the following LD50 values (mg/kg): po 9.66 for rats, 300 (estimated) for rabbits, >12000 for dogs; iv, 6.6 for rats and 50.5 for dogs. The undiluted form and a 49.1 % GC-4072-xylol emulsifiable formulation applied dermally to rabbits gave LD50 values of 400 and 1087, respectively. Hens receiving multiple sublethal doses ip displayed no delayed neurologic effects or histologic lesions. Rats fed dietary levels ranging from 3 to 1000 ppm and dogs fed 1–1000 ppm for periods up to two years showed no clinical signs of intoxication, but there was a significant and variable decrease in plasma and/or red blood cell cholinesterase activity, with reversal trends. Multigeneration studies in rats fed dietary levels of 30, 100, or 300 ppm showed no effect on gestation, but there were progressive effects on fertility, viability, and lactation indices. No gross abnormalities were found in fetuses born dead or alive, or in rats autopsied with fetuses in situ. Food consumption, growth, hemograms, urinary findings, histopathology, and liver function tests in dogs were within normal limits.
Theoretical and experimental evaluation of a temperature controller for scanned focused ultrasound hyperthermia.

Maintenance of the controlled temperatures at their target levels in the face of disturbances, a uniform temperature distribution within the treatment region, an acceptable temperature rise outside that volume, a fast temperature rise, and stability are desirable characteristics of an optimal hyperthermia treatment control system. This paper presents a proportional‐integral‐derivative plus bang–bang (power on at either a maximum value or at zero) feedback control system designed to meet the above requirements for a scanned focused ultrasound hyperthermia system. Treatment simulations and analytical results for a first‐order approximation of a tumor show that the controller is stable for a wide range of gains and sampling times. It was also found that there is an optimal controller gain which minimizes the peak temperature overshoot and the settling time when a step function input is applied to the system. Both the simulation results and experimental animal results show that the controlled region can be rapidly heated to the target temperature with a small overshoot and maintained at that level in the face of disturbances. The effects of temperature fluctuations due to both the periodic changes caused by the scanning and due to measurement noise can be reduced by the use of an auto regressive moving average approach. I n v i t r o dog kidney model and i n v i v o dog thigh experiments show that the controller works well in practice, and verify that it can compensate for spatial and temporal blood perfusion variations. As shown in both these experiments and in simulations the controller can be used for controlling a single temperature or multiple temperature points simultaneously, thus allowing relatively uniform temperature fields to be created.
Discourse after closed head injury in young children.

Abstract This study examined narrative discourse in 23 children, ages 6 to 8 years, who sustained a severe closed head injury (CHI) at least 1 year prior to assessment. Narratives were analyzed at multiple levels using language and information structure measures. Results revealed significant discourse impairments in the CHI group on all measures of information structure, whereas differences in the linguistic domain failed to reach significance. In addition, effects of age at injury and lateralization of lesion on discourse were considered. Although no significant differences were found according to age at injury, a consistent pattern of generally poorer discourse scores was found for the early injured group (
γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane activation of alveolar macrophage phosphatidylinositol cycle, calcium mobilization and O−2 production

The influence of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCC) on phosphatidyl inositol (PI) cycle activity was investigated in the guinea pig alveolar macrophage. Similar to stimulation by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-nle-leu-phe (FNLLP), 125μM HCC was found to stimulate PI cycle activity, calcium mobilization (45Ca2+ efflux and cytosolic [Ca2+] elevation) and O−2 production, although the action of HCC was prolonged in comparison. HCC treatment did not block subsequent stimulation by FNLLP. HCC is proposed to act at an early stage in the same activation sequence as does FNLLP.
Precipitation and runoff on eight New England basins during extreme wet and dry periods

ABSTRACT Precipitation and runoff data from the Sleepers River Watershed in northeastern Vermont are presented and discussed with emphasis given to extreme wet and dry period relationships. The significance of these extreme periods is determined by comparison with an 87-year precipitation record 2 km from the basin. Precipitation and runoff increased with elevation for both wet and dry periods. The rate of increase was greater during a wet period than during a dry period for all seasons. Variations in measured flow at the eight sub-basins examined were due to the complex basin and climatological conditions typical of New England basins. However, the variations may be adequately described using elevation alone as the index. The increase in summer precipitation with elevation was significantly greater than the increase in runoff. This suggests that evapotranspiration increases with elevation. The greater magnitude of precipitation at higher elevations results in more potential and thus more actual evapotran...
Activation of the B-cell Surface Receptor CD40 Induces A20, a Novel Zinc Finger Protein That Inhibits Apoptosis

CD40 activation is critical for B-cell function, leading to activation and expression of cell surface markers, proliferation, immunoglobulin class switching and inhibition of programmed cell death (PCD). Germinal center B-cells, for example, can be prevented from undergoing PCD by CD40 activation. The mechanism by which PCD is inhibited has been an enigma. A potential role for A20, a novel zinc finger protein, in inhibiting B-cell apoptosis was suggested by our previous finding that it is induced by the Epstein-Barr virus LMP-1 gene product, a potent cell death inhibitor. We now show that CD40 activation induces A20 and that expression of A20 renders B-cell lines resistant to PCD. Additionally, we show that CD40 activation of A20 expression is mediated by inducible binding of NF-kappa B complexes to the A20 promoter and provide evidence for a critical role for Thr234 (in the CD40 cytoplasmic domain) in activating NF-kappa B.
The amide class herbicide 3,4-dichloropropionanilide (DCPA) alters the mobility of hydrocarbon chains in T-lymphocyte but not macrophage membranes.

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that the lipophilic herbicide 3,4-dicholoropropionanilide (DCPA) adversely affects cytokine production by activated macrophages and T lymphocytes. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that DCPA alters the mobility of plasma membrane lipid hydrocarbon chains, which interferes with normal T-lymphocyte activation and macrophage function. Electron spin reasonance (ESR) spectroscopy of stearic acid spin labels incorporated into each cell type was used to test the effects of DCPA on lipid hydrocarbon chain mobility in the absence and presence of specific agents that activate each cell type. The results indicated that DCPA treatment had no significant effect on hydrocarbon chain mobility in either cell type per se. However, for T lymphocytes, but not macrophages, DCPA treatment increased a small population of lipid molecules that exhibited reduced hydrocarbon chain mobility near the bilayer hydrocarbon core following cell stimulation. In contra...
"SEEING" LIKE A SAGE: THREE TAKES ON IDENTITY AND PERCEPTION IN EARLY CHINA

For the early Chinese, sagehood represented something of a preoccupation. Since the fourth century bce, few ancient thinkers have refrained from issuing pronouncements about sages—who sages were, what paths they took to achieve perfection, and even what they looked like. In addition, early Chinese thinkers also speculated about how sages “saw.” They asked whether sages were endowed with extraordinary powers of sight and sound, they contemplated whether there were things that sages alone were able to detect, and they debated whether sages detected ruses. Despite the importance of sagehood—and indeed, recent interest in the epistemology of the senses—scholars have paid scant attention to the issue of sagely perception. The topic, for example, is notably absent from Jane Geaney’s important recent study, On the Epistemology of the Senses in Early China. 1 Nor does it surface in important essays on epistemology in Chinese thought by Lisa Raphals, Christoph Harbsmeier, and David Keightley. 2 Indeed, with the notable exception of Mark Csikszentmihalyi’s brief discussion of the problem in his book, Material Virtue: Ethics and the Body in Early China, the subject has yet to occasion a full-length article or book. 3 The omission is somewhat surprising since scholars have been aware of the linguistic connection between the term for sage (sheng ) and words for aural perception. As Ning Chen observes, sheng was cognate for “sound” (sheng ) and “to listen” (ting ). The fact that the sage was something of a perceptual “virtuoso” has moreover been duly noted. “[F]rom the perspective of ancient Chinese,” Chen writes, “he who is keen in hearing is at the same time a wise man, able to distinguish between true and untrue.” 4 As Csikszentmihalyi similarly remarks, Warring States authors understood sagehood not as a “store of knowledge,” or an ability to impart simple truths (as in ancient Greece), but as the “consequence of superhuman perceptions.” 5
Evidence for a copper-bearing fluid in magma erupted at the Valley of ten thousand smokes, Alaska

Several lines of evidence point to the existence of a pre-eruptive fluid phase in the magmas erupted in 1912 at the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Alaska. The discovery of rare, Cu-rich bubbles in some melt inclusions is best explained by the random entrapment of a low-density, fluid phase within growing phenocrysts. The H2O, S and Cl concentrations of the high-silica rhyolite are also consistent with fluid saturation in the rhyolite. Water contents, as determined by infrared spectroscopy on doubly polished melt inclusions, cluster between 3.5 and 4.5 wt% H2O, without any apparent differences between magmas vented explosively and effusively. These concentrations would be sufficient for H2O saturation at a pressure of ∼ 100 MPa, though the presence of other volatiles such as CO2 and SO2 could allow saturation with respect to a fluid phase at higher pressures. The S, Cu and Cl contents of the phenocryst assemblages, as determined by XRF analyses, are too low to account for the decrease in the concentrations of S and Cu in the melt, and only modest increase in Cl, with differentiation. Therefore, the behavior of these volatile elements was controlled either by eryptic fractionation if phenocryst phasese or, more likely, by partitioning into a coexisting fluid phase. The presence of this low-density phase apparently provided metals such as Cu with a volatile phase into which they could partition; the concentration of Cu in this fluid reached tens to hundreds of times that of the coexisting silicate melt and may have been as rich as 0.05 wt% Cu. The distribution of Cu in the magma was also controlled by sulfides such as intermediate solid solution and pyrrhotite, which cyrstallized directly from the silicate melt.
Anomalous spatial redistribution of competing bacteria under starvation conditions

Bacterial cells evolved under prolonged stress often have a growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP); we expect GASP cells to maintain a proliferative state and dominate wild-type cells during starvation, especially when nutrients are limited and the medium has been conditioned. However, when we compete GASP mutants against wild-type cells in a chain of microfluidic microhabitat patches (MHPs) with alternating nutrient-rich and nutrient-limited regions, we observe the reverse effect: wild-type cells achieve maximum relative density under nutrient-limited conditions, while GASP cells dominate nutrient-rich regions. We explain this surprising observation in terms of ideal free distributions, where we show that wild-type cells maximize their fitness at high cell density by redistributing themselves to sparsely populated MHPs. At the microscopic level, we describe how biofilm formation also contributes to the population redistribution. We conclude by discussing the implications of these results for social interactions of more complex organisms.
Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Elderly: Improving Effectiveness

Heart disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity among adults who are older than 65 years of age. One-third of cardiac operations on adults in the United States are performed on patients who are more than 65 years old, and almost half of the hospitalized candidates for an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program are in the older patient population. Structured educational programs that include exercise and modification of risk factors have been shown to reduce the risk of subsequent coronary events; however, studies show that older adults enroll in these programs at a significantly lower rate than do patients in other age groups. Nurses and other healthcare professionals must eliminate barriers to participation and adapt their programs to meet the needs of older adults with cardiac disease to reduce morbidity, enhance functioning, and improve quality of life. In this article, the authors describe current knowledge about the efficacy and use of cardiac education and rehabilitation in elderly patients and suggest implications for future practice and research.
The effects of acoustic stimulation on cessation and initiation of non-nutritive sucking in neonates

Abstract Discrete changes in the human newborn's sucking behavior in response to acoustic stimulation was studied. In order to obtain a sensitive comparison measure for stimulus conditions, control trials were randomly interspersed with stimulus trials. To prevent temporal biasing effects, variable interstimulus intervals were used, and stimuli were presented contingent on the infant's sucking state on each trial. Results from 30 Ss clearly demonstrate the presence of two dichotomous responses: (1) response initiation to the stimulus in the presence of non-sucking; and (2) response cessation to the stimulus in the presence of active-sucking. No differences were found among three groups exposed to qualitatively different stimuli of the same intensity, and there was no evidence of habituation of either response.
Pineal melatonin rhythms in the lizard Anolis carolinensis : effects of light and temperature cycles

Pineal and ocular melatonin was assessed, over 24 h periods, in male lizards (Anolis carolinensis) entrained to 24 h light-dark (LD) cycles and a constant 32 ‡C, and in lizards entrained to both 24 h LD cycles and 24 h temperature cycles (32 ‡C/20 ‡C). At a constant temperature, the duration of the photoperiod has a profound effect on the duration, amplitude, and phase of the pineal melatonin rhythm (Fig. 1). The pineal melatonin rhythm under cyclic temperature peaks during the cool (20 ‡C) phase of the cycle regardless of whether or not the cool phase occurs during the light or dark phase of a LD 12∶12 cycle (Fig. 3). Under a temperature cycle and constant dim illumination, a pineal melatonin rhythm is observed which peaks during the cool phase of the temperature cycle, but the amplitude of the rhythm is depressed relative to that observed under LD (Fig. 2). Illumination up to 2 h in duration does not suppress the nocturnal melatonin peak in theAnolis pineal (Fig. 4). No melatonin rhythm was observed in the eyes ofAnolis under either 24 h LD cycles and a constant temperature (Fig. 1), or under simultaneous light and temperature cycles (Fig. 3). Ocular melatonin content was, in all cases, either very low or non-detectable.
Quantification of the Human Nystagmic Response to Angular Acceleration. Prediction Formulae and Nomograph

Five young adult men with normal labyrinthine function were stimulated by a series of graded angular accelerations, during which they carried out particular mental tasks. Each subject was seated at the center of rotation, eyes open, and with head fixed with a bite board so that the lateral canals were in the horizontal plane of rotation. The subject was enclosed in a capsule which provided a totally dark environment, and shielded him from wind currents. Low-level masking noise and vibration prevented detection of extraneous cues related to angular velocity. Ocular nystagmus was analyzed second-by-second and an empiric equation fitted to the data.
AGE VARIATIONS IN THE SPECIFIC SURFACE OF HOWSHIP'S LACUNAE AS AN INDEX OF HUMAN BONE RESORPTION.

Internal remodelling of bone occurs continually during life in discrete foci throughout cortex and large trabeculae. It is defined as the process of replacement of primaryappositional bone with Haversian bone occurring within the periosteal-endosteal envelope. The foci are produced by osteoclastic resorption of preexisting bone and are subsequently filled in by successive waves of osteoblasts that deposit new matrix. In this study, measurements of the surface area of Howship's lacunae in rib diaphysealcortex are presented for 137 relatively normal individuals of both sexes and ranging from one month to 84 years of age. Undecalcified cross-sections were prepared fresh from rib obtained at thoracotomy or post-mortem. Measurements were performed with a calibrated Zeiss Integrating Eyepiece II. It was found that the values for this resorption index were highest in infancy and lowest in middle and early adult life. The maximum adult values were attained in the seventh decade. No differences were noted that could be accounted for by sex. Correlation of these data with an index of secondary bone formation in this same group of bones enabled the authors to conclude that the internal remodelling rate of rib cortex is highest in infancy, lowest in the fourth decade and attains a secondary peak in the seventh decade. The authors suggest that the phasing of the changes noted are due to some as yet unknown programming of the mesenchymal cell. Since no increases coincided with growth spurts during childhood and adolescence, they conclude that the process of internal remodelling may be under a completely different mechanism of control from that governing skeletal growth and maturation.
Ipilimumab in patients with melanoma and autoimmune disease

Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4), an immune-checkpoint receptor and regulator of T-cell activation, has become an important therapeutic target for immunotherapy in cancer and autoimmune diseases. To date, clinical trials involving cancer immunotherapies, such checkpoint blocking antibodies directed at CTLA-4 (ipilimumab), have excluded patients with underlying autoimmune disease given concern for potential triggering of autoimmune exacerbations. We present the first known cases to our knowledge of two patients with active autoimmune diseases who received ipilimumab. In this limited clinical experience, no serious exacerbations of underlying autoimmunity have yet been observed, and one patient benefited from ipilimumab. These cases advocate for further investigation of the safety of cancer immunotherapies in cancer patients with underlying autoimmune conditions in carefully designed clinical trials with cautious monitoring.
Vitamin D and host resistance to infection? Putting the cart in front of the horse

Vitamin D is being touted as an anti-infective agent and it has even been suggested that vitamin D supplementation could be effective against the H1N1 influenza virus. The claims are largely based on the ability of vitamin D to induce antibacterial peptides and evidence that the immune system produces active vitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) in situ. While there are many examples of immune production of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in vitro, there is little in vivo evidence. In addition, it is not clear what role immune production of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) has on the course of disease. Vitamin D and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) inhibit T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th17-mediated immune responses and autoimmune diseases by acting on the innate and acquired immune system to inhibit the function of Th1 and Th17 cells. Th1 and Th17 cells are important in host resistance to many infections including tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Paradoxically the innate immune system is induced to produce antibacterial peptides that are effective against TB in vitro. Data from several models of infection have so far not supported a role for vitamin D in affecting the course of disease. There is also very little evidence that vitamin D affects the course of human TB infection. Experiments have not been done in cells, mice or humans to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on influenza virus. At this time it would be premature to claim that vitamin D has an effect on TB, influenza or any other infection.
A study of the hot and cold deformation of twin-roll cast magnesium alloy AZ31

Recent advances in twin-roll casting (TRC) technology of magnesium have demonstrated the feasibility of producing magnesium sheets in the range of widths needed for automotive applications. However, challenges in the areas of manufacturing, material processing and modelling need to be resolved in order to fully utilize magnesium alloys. Despite the limited formability of magnesium alloys at room temperature due to their hexagonal close-packed crystalline structure, studies have shown that the formability of magnesium alloys can be significantly improved by processing the material at elevated temperatures and by modifying their microstructure to increase ductility. Such improvements can potentially be achieved by processes such as superplastic forming along with manufacturing techniques such as TRC. In this work, we investigate the superplastic behaviour of twin-roll cast AZ31 through mechanical testing, microstructure characterization and computational modelling. Validated by the experimental results, a n...
An evaluation of government-financed R&D projects in Italy

This article describes the results of a survey carried out in Italy on managers of research projects financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research. Interviewees provided information on the type of project (research, technology transfer and infrastructure building), its socioeconomic impact, its impact in spatial and temporal terms, involvement of the various actors in the broader innovation process and indicators used for evaluation. The data provides useful insight into the evaluation process as well as designing R&D and innovation policy in the country. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Wavelet processing applied to the estimation of continuously distributed objects

This paper uses a wavelet transform approach to actively image an object continuously distributed in range and velocity. It is shown that by transmitting a high resolution, i.e. large time-bandwidth product, signal into the environment and operating on the echo with a wavelet transform, an estimate of the delay-time-scale representation or wideband spreading function of the object can be obtained in the wavelet domain. The wideband spreading function (WBSF) is a characterization of the time-varying propagation and scattering associated with the channel being imaged. It is shown that the linear operator that acts on the wideband spreading function to form the echo is in the form of an inverse wavelet transform and the adjoint operator is in the form of a forward wavelet transform. Thus, the wavelet transform is a natural transform for the investigation of wideband spreading functions. By combining information extracted from wavelet estimates of the WBSF associated with independently located sensors, it is possible to estimate vectors which describes the physical characteristics of the object in the channel. Specifically, the support curve of the WBSF in the wavelet domain can be directly related to the projections of these vectors along the line of sight of each of the sensors. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a wavelet estimate of the WBSF which highly resolves the support curve. The wavelet transform estimate is shown to be limited by the resolution capabilities of the auto-wavelet transform of the transmitted signal therefore establishing the need for high resolution transmit signals. Results of wavelet transform estimates of the WBSF of a rough, rotating sphere using wideband and narrowband signals are compared and discussed.
Lymphangiomyoma, a benign lesion of chyliferous lymphatics synonymous with lymphangiopericytoma.

Six cases are presented of an entity which previously had been described as lymphangiopericytoma, but which now are considered to be more correctly termed “lymphangiomyoma” An additional 14 cases from the literature are reviewed. The lesion, which shows a striking female sex predominance, often involves the thoracic duct, has an almost constant association with chylothorax and a frequent one with pulmonary disease consisting of lymphangiectasis, honeycombing with proliferation of smooth muscle and atypical lipid pneumonia, possibly of chylous origin. No lesion has metastasized to distant organs or invaded organs locally and the authors conclude that the lesion is best considered as a hamartoma, often of multifocal origin. A close relationship is noted between lymphangiomyoma and certain secondary lesions associated with tuberous sclerosis. The clinical course and response to therapy are described.
Exploiting social evolution in biofilms

Bacteria are highly social organisms that communicate via signaling molecules, move collectively over surfaces and make biofilm communities. Nonetheless, our main line of defense against pathogenic bacteria consists of antibiotics-drugs that target individual-level traits of bacterial cells and thus, regrettably, select for resistance against their own action. A possible solution lies in targeting the mechanisms by which bacteria interact with each other within biofilms. The emerging field of microbial social evolution combines molecular microbiology with evolutionary theory to dissect the molecular mechanisms and the evolutionary pressures underpinning bacterial sociality. This exciting new research can ultimately lead to new therapies against biofilm infections that exploit evolutionary cheating or the trade-off between biofilm formation and dispersal.
Steady State and Dynamic Analyses of Supercritical CO2 Natural Circulation Loop

Numerical studies have been carried out to investigate supercritical flow instabilities in a CO2 natural circulation loop. For the steady state and dynamic analyses of the loop under supercritical conditions, a single-channel, one-dimensional model is developed. In this model, equations for the conservation of mass, momentum and energy are discretized using an implicit finite difference scheme. A computer code called FIASCO (F low I nstability A nalysis under S uperC ritical O perating conditions) is developed in FORTRAN90 to simulate the dynamics of natural circulation loops with supercritical fluid. Results obtained for the stability boundary substantially deviate from the results reported by previous investigators, and thus contradict some of the reported findings. The disagreement in results is most likely due to the undesirable dissipative and dispersive effects produced from the large time steps used in previous studies, thereby leading to a larger stable region than those found using smaller time step. Results presented here suggest that the stability boundary of a natural circulation loop with supercritical fluid, is not confined to the near-peak region of the (steady state) flow-power curve. Additional and more extensive experimental data are needed to resolve the differences between results obtained here and those reported earlier. However, results obtained for the range of parameter values used in this investigation always predict the stability threshold to be in the positive slope region of the (steady state) flow-power curve. Parametric studies for different operating conditions reveal the similarity of stability characteristics under supercritical conditions with those in two-phase flows.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Field studies of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in malaria infections: implications for malaria vaccine development.

Abstract The search for a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-inducing malaria vaccine has moved forward from epitope identification to planning stages of safety and immunogenicity trials of candidate vaccines. Development of CTL-inducing vaccine candidates has taken center stage based on the observation that CTL-mediated protection might be the dominant mechanism by which sterile immunity is achieved in irradiated sporozoite immunization experiments in humans and laboratory animals. However, studies in naturally infected individuals living in endemic areas, as reviewed here by Michael Aidoo and Venkatachalam Udhayakumar, have revealed that CTL induction might be influenced by factors such as parasite variants, host genes, other infections and transmission patterns. The influence of these factors on CTL induction has been demonstrated individually and in various combinations in controlled animal experiments. However, in naturally infected humans, they are presented in a complex host–parasite–environment interaction, in a manner that is not easily achieved in laboratory-based experiments. Understanding these interactions is crucial for the development and testing of CTL-inducing vaccines for humans.
Christianity and the Death Instinct: Perfect Together?

This article is a fictional letter. This “letter” is the fourth fictional letter published by the author. In each letter, I take on a different persona and address issues and questions of theological students at Princeton Seminary, all of whom I imagine to be in their early or mid-twenties, because that is when I attended Princeton Seminary (Carlin 2004, 2006a, 2006b). By doing so, I am endorsing the introspective method in the psychology of religion, which I’ve learned from Donald Capps (1997). This letter is also a reflection on a passage found in the work Erik Eriksons (1962), which is the below epigram. In this letter, a seminarian writes to his mother during his second year of seminary, shortly before Thanksgiving break. The purpose of his letter is to inform his mother—from whom he received his Christianity—about some of his latest thoughts, particularly about the doctrine of the atonement. He has come to believe that the doctrine is problematic for society and he seeks a way to (re)make Christianity into a force for good. Perhaps strangely, he concludes by calling for the death of God, apparently oblivious to this forgotten debate in theological circles. This article raises a number of questions, but perhaps most importantly this one: How far can we take the lament?
In Vitro Therapeutic Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Nicotine-Induced Impairment of Resistance to Legionella pneumophila Infection of Established MH-S Alveolar Macrophages

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a major form of tea catechins, has a variety of biological activities. Tobacco smoking, nicotine in particular, is one of the risk factors for respiratory infections. In the present study, a possible immunotherapeutic effect of EGCg on the nicotineinduced impairment of alveolar macrophages regarding antimicrobial activity, as well as immune function, was examined. The treatment of MH-S macrophages with nicotine significantly enhanced Legionella pneumophila replication in the cells and selectively down-regulated the production of interleukin (IL)‐6 , IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐a induced by infection but did not alter IL-10 production. The EGCg treatment of nicotine-suppressed macrophages reconstituted the resistance to the infection. Furthermore, EGCg diminished the nicotine-induced inhibition of cytokine production. Experiments with TNF-a treatment, neutralization of cytokines with antibodies, and analysis of interferon (IFN)‐g messenger RNA showed that the mechanism of the EGCg-induced recovery of anti‐L. pneumophila activity impaired by nicotine may be due to the recovery of TNF-a and IFN-g production by the macrophages. It is widely accepted that tobacco smoking is associated with and most probably is a causative agent of many diseases, including infections [1–3], allergies [4, 5], cancer [6, 7], and cardiovas
Enterococcus in surface waters from the Des Moines River (Iowa) watershed: location, persistence and vancomycin resistance

The object of this study was to quantify vancomycin-resistant enterococci in surface water from Central Iowa obtained from April 2007 to August 2007. Water from established sampling sites in four watersheds was plated on bile-esculin agar. Presumptively identified enterococci were categorized as “above the level of concern” if the sample contained ≥107 CFU per 100 ml. Confirmation of isolates as enterococci was based on growth at elevated temperature in high salt and on Enterococcus agar. Isolates that grew on 6 μg/ml vancomycin agar were deemed resistant. PCR analysis of resistant strains characterized vancomycin resistance genes. 77.2% of surface water samples from Central Iowa contained enterococci. Among enterococcal isolates, 10.4% grew on media containing 6 μg/ml vancomycin. PCR analysis of resistance genes showed a preponderance of VanC2/C3 in the area studied and VanB was not detected. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus is present in Central Iowa surface waters but resistance rarely involved VanA g...
Later Life Satisfaction and Household Structure: Living with Others and Living Alone

In a survey of 1,400 older Americans over 65, two household structures, elders living with others and elders living alone, were compared with older married couples. Results indicated that elders living with others had a greater degree of incapacity and lower income than married couples, but on most indices there were few differences. Elders in three-generation families had somewhat lower general life satisfaction, but the greatest number of elderly people with low life satisfaction were widows who lived alone. Widows living alone were less likely than married couples to own their homes and more likely to perceive that their income was inadequate, that transportation needs were unmet and that no one would care for them in an emergency, all conditions strongly associated with low life satisfaction.
Tomographic reconstruction of 3-D vector fields

Inner product probe measurements are defined for tomographic reconstruction of 3-D vector fields. General conditions and formulas for reconstruction of an arbitrary vector field are given, as are the conditions and formulas for fields known to be either irrotational or solenoidal. Formulas to extract the irrotational or solenoidal component of an arbitrary vector field using special inner product probe measurements are also developed. It is shown that one set of measurements is required to reconstruct an irrotational field, that two are required to reconstruct a solenoidal field, and that special probes are required to reconstruct the components of an arbitrary field. >
The search for animal models for Lassa fever vaccine development

Lassa virus (LASV) is the most prevalent arenavirus in West Africa and is responsible for several hundred thousand infections and thousands of deaths annually. The sizeable disease burden, numerous imported cases of Lassa fever (LF) and the possibility that LASV can be used as an agent of biological warfare make a strong case for vaccine development. Currently there is no licensed LF vaccine and research and devlopment is hampered by the high cost of nonhuman primate animal models and by biocontainment requirements (BSL-4). In addition, a successful LF vaccine has to induce a strong cell-mediated cross-protective immunity against different LASV lineages. All of these challenges will be addressed in this review in the context of available and novel animal models recently described for evaluation of LF vaccine candidates.
Molecular Epidemiology of EGFR and KRAS Mutations in 3,026 Lung Adenocarcinomas: Higher Susceptibility of Women to Smoking-Related KRAS-Mutant Cancers

Purpose: The molecular epidemiology of most EGFR and KRAS mutations in lung cancer remains unclear. Experimental Design: We genotyped 3,026 lung adenocarcinomas for the major EGFR (exon 19 deletions and L858R) and KRAS (G12, G13) mutations and examined correlations with demographic, clinical, and smoking history data. Results: EGFR mutations were found in 43% of never smokers and in 11% of smokers. KRAS mutations occurred in 34% of smokers and in 6% of never smokers. In patients with smoking histories up to 10 pack-years, EGFR predominated over KRAS . Among former smokers with lung cancer, multivariate analysis showed that, independent of pack-years, increasing smoking-free years raise the likelihood of EGFR mutation. Never smokers were more likely than smokers to have KRAS G > A transition mutation (mostly G12D; 58% vs. 20%, P = 0.0001). KRAS G12C, the most common G > T transversion mutation in smokers, was more frequent in women ( P = 0.007) and these women were younger than men with the same mutation (median 65 vs. 69, P = 0.0008) and had smoked less. Conclusions: The distinct types of KRAS mutations in smokers versus never smokers suggest that most KRAS -mutant lung cancers in never smokers are not due to second-hand smoke exposure. The higher frequency of KRAS G12C in women, their younger age, and lesser smoking history together support a heightened susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens. Clin Cancer Res; 18(22); 6169–77. ©2012 AACR .