cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions of innate and adaptive immunity in brain development and function

It has been known for decades that the immune system has a tremendous impact on behavior. Most work has described the negative role of immune cells on the central nervous system. However, we and others have demonstrated over the last decade that a well-regulated immune system is needed for proper brain function. Here we discuss several neuro-immune interactions, using examples from brain homeostasis and disease states. We will highlight our understanding of the consequences of malfunctioning immunity on neurodevelopment and will discuss the roles of the innate and adaptive immune system in neurodevelopment and how T cells maintain a proper innate immune balance in the brain surroundings and within its parenchyma. Also, we describe how immune imbalance impairs higher order brain functioning, possibly leading to behavioral and cognitive impairment. Lastly, we propose our hypothesis that some behavioral deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as in autism spectrum disorder, are the consequence of malfunctioning immunity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroimmunology in Health And Disease.
Splenic rupture in children with hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND Splenic rupture is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of leukemias and lymphomas, and is reported mostly in adults. The authors investigated the frequency with which splenic rupture is diagnosed in pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies and reviewed its clinical profile and outcome. METHODS The data base of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was searched for cases coded as splenic laceration or rupture, splenic infarction, or splenectomy in patients diagnosed with lymphoma or leukemia between January 1962 and December 1997. The medical records of patients with histopathologic or radiologic evidence of splenic rupture were reviewed. The time spanned by the study was divided into early (1962–1990) and recent (1991–1997) eras to reflect the availability of modern diagnostic imaging techniques. RESULTS Seven children experienced splenic rupture. They were between ages 5–17 years. There were four males and three females. Primary diagnoses included acute myeloid leukemia (four patients), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (two patients), and Hodgkin lymphoma (one patient). Five patients were diagnosed in the recent era and two in the early era. Four patients had radiologic or bacteriologic evidence of fungal infection concomitant with the splenic event. Of five deaths, only two were related causally to splenic rupture; these occurred in the early era. All seven acute episodes of splenic rupture were managed conservatively without surgery. CONCLUSIONS The overall frequency with which splenic rupture was detected in children with hematologic malignancy at the study institution was 0.18%. In the recent era, the frequency of detection was 9-fold higher (0.55%) than that of the early era (0.06%). Improved imaging techniques and increased utilization of imaging studies may account for the increased incidental detection of “preclinical” splenic rupture. Adolescent age group, acute myeloid leukemia (especially acute promyelocytic leukemia), a high leukocyte count, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy may predispose children with leukemia to pathologic splenic rupture. Fungal infection frequently was associated with splenic rupture and may play a role in its pathogenesis. Cancer 2000;88:480–90. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women: Treatment Options Beyond Testosterone and Approaches to Communicating with Patients on Sexual Health

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) affects nearly 1 in 10 women. Thus, it is essential for pharmacists and other health care providers to be comfortable when discussing a patient's sexual health to ensure appropriate triage so that the specific causes of HSDD can be identified and potential recommendations provided. HSDD is defined as the absence or deficiency of sexual interest and/or desire, leading to significant distress and interpersonal difficulties. As health care providers, pharmacists have a critical role in assessing the presence of HSDD and providing education on available treatment options. This article will review the potential causes of HSDD and low sexual desire, the screening tools available, and the significant role of health care professionals in communicating with patients about their sexual health. An overview of the importance of behavioral modifications, the current pharmacologic options being investigated, and the use of complementary and alternative therapies will also be explored. Currently, buproprion is the primary pharmacologic agent that has shown positive results in treating patients with HSDD. The use of testosterone therapy will not be addressed in this article, as this therapy is described in greater detail elsewhere.
Rapid measurement of urinary pregnanediol glucuronide to diagnose ectopic pregnancy

Abstract We investigated the ability of a single, random, urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide level to differentiate early intrauterine from ectopic pregnancy. Thirty-four patients with intrauterine gestations were compared with 60 patients with ectopic pregnancies. Urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide was measured by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. Compared with intrauterine gestations, results demonstrate that urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide is significantly depressed in ectopic pregnancies: 24.5 ± 2.2 versus 4.8 ± 0.7 μg/ml ( p = 0.0001). Urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide levels obtained by conventional radioimmunoassay correlated closely with values measured in minutes with enzyme immunoassay ( r = 0.95, p = 0.0001), and with serum progesterone ( r = 0.74, p = 0.0001). Urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide measured by enzyme immunoassay exhibited predictive values for detecting ectopic gestations comparable with random serum progesterone or serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin values. We conclude that ectopic gestations demonstrate a reduced level of urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide (5560 cases) detectable with a rapid enzyme immunoassay, which makes this assay a practical screening test in early pregnancy.
Neurocognitive functioning in acute or early HIV infection.

We examined neurocognitive functioning among persons with acute or early HIV infection (AEH) and hypothesized that the neurocognitive performance of AEH individuals would be intermediate between HIV seronegatives (HIV−) and those with chronic HIV infection. Comprehensive neurocognitive testing was accomplished with 39 AEH, 63 chronically HIV infected, and 38 HIV− participants. All AEH participants were HIV infected for less than 1 year. Average domain deficit scores were calculated in seven neurocognitive domains. HIV−, AEH, and chronically HIV infected groups were ranked from best (rank of 1) to worst (rank of 3) in each domain. All participants received detailed substance use, neuromedical, and psychiatric evaluations and HIV infected persons provided information on antiretroviral treatment and completed laboratory evaluations including plasma and CSF viral loads. A nonparametric test of ordered alternatives (Page test), and the appropriate nonparametric follow-up test, was used to evaluate level of neuropsychological (NP) functioning across and between groups. The median duration of infection for the AEH group was 16 weeks [interquartile range, IQR: 10.3–40.7] as compared to 4.9 years [2.8–11.1] in the chronic HIV group. A Page test using ranks of average scores in the seven neurocognitive domains showed a significant monotonic trend with the best neurocognitive functioning in the HIV− group (mean rank = 1.43), intermediate neurocognitive functioning in the AEH group (mean rank = 1.71), and the worst in the chronically HIV infected (mean rank = 2.86; L statistic = 94, p < 0.01); however, post-hoc testing comparing neurocognitive impairment of each group against each of the other groups showed that the chronically infected group was significantly different from both the HIV− and AEH groups on neurocognitive performance; the AEH group was statistically indistinguishable from the HIV− group. Regression models among HIV infected participants were unable to identify significant predictors of neurocognitive performance. Neurocognitive functioning was worst among persons with chronic HIV infection. Although a significant monotonic trend existed and patterns of the data suggest the AEH individuals may fall intermediate to HIV− and chronic participants, we were not able to statistically confirm this hypothesis.
Bringing physics to bear on the phenomenon of life: the divergent positions of Bohr, Delbrück, and Schrödinger.

The received view on the contributions of the physics community to the birth of molecular biology tends to present the physics community as sharing a basic level consensus on how physics should be brought to bear on biology. I argue, however, that a close examination of the views of three leading physicists involved in the birth of molecular biology, Bohr, Delbruck, and Schrodinger, suggests that there existed fundamental disagreements on how physics should be employed to solve problems in biology even within the physics community. In particular, I focus on how these three figures differed sharply in their assessment of the relevance of complementarity, the potential of chemical methods, and the relative importance of classical physics. In addition, I assess and develop Roll-Hansen's attempt to conceptualize this history in terms of models of scientific change advanced by Kuhn and Lakatos. Though neither model is fully successful in explaining the divergence of views among these three physicists, I argue that the extent and quality of difference in their views help elucidate and extend some themes that are left opaque in Kuhn's model.
Tracer gas transport under mixed convection conditions in an experimental atrium: Comparison between experiments and CFD predictions

We compare computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions using a steady-state Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model with experimental data on airflow and pollutant dispersion under mixed-convection conditions in a 7 x 9 x 11m high experimental facility. The Rayleigh number, based on height, was O(10{sup 11}) and the atrium was mechanically ventilated. We released tracer gas in the atrium and measured the spatial distribution of concentrations; we then modeled the experiment using four different levels of modeling detail. The four computational models differ in the choice of temperature boundary conditions and the choice of turbulence model. Predictions from a low-Reynolds-number k-{var_epsilon} model with detailed boundary conditions agreed well with the data using three different model-measurement comparison metrics. Results from the same model with a single temperature prescribed for each wall also agreed well with the data. Predictions of a standard k-{var_epsilon} model were about the same as those of an isothermal model; neither performed well. Implications of the results for practical applications are discussed.
Electrophoretic patterns of proteins in hemolymph obtained from the adult madeira cockroach, Leucophaea maderae (F.), during a twenty-four hour period

Abstract 1. 1. Disc electrophoresis was used to study the oscillations during a 24-hr period in the concentration of proteins in the hemolymph of male Madeira cockroaches, Leucophaea maderae (F.), conditioned to 12 hr light-12 hr darkness for 26 days. 2. 2. Maxima in the concentrations were observed after “dawn”, close to “sunset” and during the latter portion of the dark period.
Separation of soil-plant spectral mixture by factor analysis

Abstract A factor-analytic inversion model is presented which enables a data set of spectral mixtures to be decomposed into the sum of unique reflecting components weighted by their corresponding amounts. Spectral mixtures are decomposed into abstract eigenspectra and eigenvector matrices. The eigenspectra are then transformed into pure component spectral signatures through a target testing procedure that allows one to individually search for the presence of ground reflecting features. Soil-plant mixtures with variable soil moisture and plant densities were successfully decomposed into dry soil, wet soil, and vegetation components and their respective amounts in all spectral mixtures were determined. Potential uses of factor analysis in soil identification and biomass assessment are discussed.
Elk behavior in response to human disturbance at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Abstract The edge of the Mount St. Helens volcanic blast zone attracts high summer densities of Roosevelt elk ( Cervus elaphus roosevelti ). Forest Service Road 2560 (a previously existing logging road) was opened to the public in the Clearwater drainage of the blast zone in 1987, and elk use was monitored. During that year, elk avoided a 500 m corridor centered on the road, as well as several sections in the study area where the influence of the road was prominent. This avoidance was probably a learned behavioral response to public use of Forest Service Road 2560 but might also reflect a higher frequency of flight reactions to traffic. Maximum herd size also decreased in 1987 as a response to frequent passive harassment by humans on Forest Service Road 2560 (such as getting out of cars), as large herds were more likely to be seen and were more vulnerable to initiation of a flight reaction. Logging also produced by-products of human activity that constituted passive harassment even when humans were temporarily absent (e.g. foreign noises and materials). Elk tolerance of timber operations was correlated positively with proximity to hiding cover. A high level of habituation by elk to disturbance in the Clearwater blast zone will probably be preceded by the hiding cover stage of plant succession.
Properties of Hadrons with dynamical Wilson fermions

Abstract Results of a simulation of lattice Quantum Chromo-Dynamics with three dynamical Wilson fermions ( u, d, s quarks) on a 10 × 10 × 10 × 30 space-time lattice are described. The computations presented here confirm earlier results which indicated the presence of substantial effects on the spectrum due to fermion vacuum polarization loops.
The effects of taxes and dividend policy on capital accumulation and macroeconomic behavior

Abstract This paper analyzes the macrodynamic effects of changes in various tax rates in an intertemporal optimizing framework. Two aspects emphasized include the role of dividend policy and the behavior of the stock market. Both permanent and temporary tax changes are considered, with the transitional adjustment paths being characterized in detail. The contrast between the short-run and long-run effects is highlighted. In particular, an increase in any of the tax rates will cause short-run employment to fall, and with the capital stock fixed instantaneously, the capital-labor ratio immediately rises. Over time, as the capital stock declines, the capital-labor ratio falls.
Response to a New Hormone Therapy With Drospirenone and NO Production in Postmenopausal Women

We appreciate Tsuda’s1 interest in our clinical trial with drospirenone (DRSP) and 17-β estradiol, which demonstrated antihypertensive efficacy in postmenopausal women with stages 1 to 2 hypertension.2 At this point in time, the effects of DRSP on vascular function can be most appropriately discussed in relation to its effects as an aldosterone antagonist. There is substantial …
A transcription map of the pea chloroplast genome

A set of 53 cloned pea chloroplast DNA fragments representing approximately 90% of the chloroplast genome was used to probe Northern blots of total pea RNA, resulting in a nearly complete chloroplast transcription map. Similar analyses were performed for RNAs extracted from pea seedlings grown under several different light regimes. We have found that at least 85 kb of the 120 by pea chloroplast genome is represented as detectable transcripts. For many regions of the genome, we have detected multiple overlapping transcripts including both small, gene-sized RNAs and large transcripts covering entire gene clusters. All transcripts detected were more abundant (as a fraction of total cellular RNA) in light grown plants than in plants entirely in the dark. However, larger transcripts were generally more abundant in plants that had been exposed to only 24 h of white light (after germination in the dark) than in plants grown in continuous light. This study indicates that chloroplast genes are often grouped into multigene transcriptional units which can be cotranscribed, and that light-stimulated plastid development involves changes in the relative abundance of the overlapping RNAs of different length that result from transcription of these genes or gene clusters.
Insulin-like growth factor I activity is stored in the yolk of the avian egg

Growth factors of maternal origin may be incorporated into the vertebrate egg and play a role in early phases of embryo growth and differentiation. An avian insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) activity from unfertilized chicken egg-yolk has been partially purified by HPLC. The material is slightly more hydrophobic than recombinant human IGF-I. It reacts in a human IGF-I radioimmunoassay and is specifically depleted by anti-human IGF-I antibodies. Like authentic IGF-I, the extracts enriched in IGF-I activity stimulated the accumulation of delta-crystallin mRNA in epithelial cells from chick embryo lens with a potency approximately equivalent to its IGF-I immunoactivity.
Ultrastructure of cell division in the marine red algaLomentaria baileyana

Mitosis in the marine red algaLomentaria baileyana (Rhodymeniales, Rhodophyta) was studied with the electron microscope. Nucleus associated organelles known as polar rings (PRs) migrate to establish the division poles at prophase. At prometaphase, shallow invaginations in the nuclear envelope (NE) form on two sides of each PR and soon rupture. The gaps that are consequently formed contain several small fragments of NE. A larger region of NE remains intact between the two gaps. By metaphase several cisternae of perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum (PER) have enclosed most of the nucleus but remain absent from the polar regions. The nucleolus disperses partially and a typical metaphase plate of chromosomes is formed. Each PR has disjoined into separate proximal and distal portions. MTs converge widely on all regions of the polar area, but do not extend into the cytoplasm. Some MTs end near or at the chromosomes while others extend slightly farther past the chromosomes or diagonally to the NE. As chromosomes move to opposite poles at anaphase, they are accompanied by nucleolar material. An interzonal midpiece (IZM) is created as the pole to pole distance increases and the NE remains intact except for the polar gaps. Following detachment from the IZM, the daughter nuclei are separated by a large central vacuole as a cleavage furrow develops and eventually constricts to form two cells following pit connection formation. It is suggested that mitosis inLomentaria represents an evolutionary intermediate between that seen in the higher and lower groups of red algae. This conclusion is in agreement with conventional morphological and light microscopic criteria used to placeLomentaria in theRhodymeniales, which is considered to be the next to most advanced order in theRhodophyta.
Single dose myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201: application in patients with nondiagnostic electrocardiographic stress tests.

Abstract The rote of the single dose technique of myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 in evaluating patients with suspected coronary artery disease was studied in 128 patients undergoing diagnostic coronary arteriography. Significant coronary disease (70 percent or more luminal stenosis) was present in 95 patients. Exercise scans were compared with 4 hour redistribution scans for the presence of new defects with exercise. Myocardial perfusion imaging was significantly more sensitive (85 versus 64 percent, P P The patients were classified into two groups: group I,89 patients with diagnostically adequate stress electrocardiograms (that is, positive for ischemia or negative at 85 percent or more predicted maximal heart rate), and group II, 39 patients with nondiagnostic stress electrocardiograms (that is, uninterpretable because of intraventricular conduction disturbance or inadequate because of absence of ischemic S-T depression but failure to achieve 85 percent of predicted maximal heart rate). The sensitivity (87 percent), specificity (85 percent) and accuracy (87 percent) of myocardial perfusion imaging in detecting coronary disease in group I were not significantly different from the results of stress electrocardiography alone (88 percent sensitivity, 85 percent specificity and 88 percent accuracy). in group II scintigraphy was 81 percent sensitive, 69 percent specific and 77 percent accurate in detecting coronary disease; these results were not significantly different from those in group I. These data indicate that myocardial perfusion imaging with thallium-201 is more sensitive and more accurate than stress electrocardiography in detecting coronary artery disease but offers no advantage for this purpose in patients with diagnostically adequate stress electrocardiograms.
Identification of a nonlinear system modeled by a sparse Volterra series

An algorithm based on recursive approximation and estimation is proposed for the identification of nonlinear systems which can be modeled by a sparse Volterra series. The algorithm detects the terms of the Volterra series on which the output depends and estimates the associated Volterra kernels using a least squares criterion. The performance of the algorithm is primarily dependent on the number of nonzero Volterra kernels and not on their distribution in the whole series. The input sequence can be either i.i.d. or correlated. The algorithm can also be directly applied to the delay estimation of a sparse finite impulse response (FIR) filter. >
Separated versus Integrated Displays in Minimally-Invasive Surgery

In minimally-invasive surgery (MIS), surgeons operate through small incisions while visualizing internal tissues with a camera or fiber optic scope. Compared with open surgery, MIS causes surgeons to engage in more frequent visual scanning to view multiple displays and other locations within the operating room. Visual scanning hastens fatigue, delays response time, and increases cognitive workload. We hypothesized that integrated displays– which present multiple images on a single monitor, would result in less fatigue, lower workload and better perceptual-motor performance than separated displays– which present images on physically separate monitors. Observers performed a pick-and-place task while monitoring “vital signs.” We compared performance between integrated and separated display conditions. Unexpectedly, results indicated that task completion time, fatigue and workload did not differ between display conditions. However, integrated displays did not degrade performance compared with separated displa...
Power reduction techniques for an 8-core xeon ® processor

This paper presents the power reduction and management techniques for the 45nm, 8-core Nehalem-EX processor. Multiple clock and voltage domains are used to reduce power consumption. Long channel devices and cache sleep mode are used to minimize leakage. Core and cache recovery improve manufacturing yields and enable multiple product flavors from the same silicon die. Clock and power gating minimize power consumed by disabled blocks. An on-die microcontroller manages voltage and frequency operating points, as well as power and thermal events. Idle power is reduced by shutting off the un-terminated I/O links and shedding phases in the voltage regulator to improve the power conversion efficiency.
Perminvar Characteristics of Nickel‐Cadmium Ferrites with Small Additions of Cobalt and Molybdenum

During an investigation of low‐loss ferrites, it was found that magnetically annealed nickel‐cadmium ferrites containing minor additions of cobalt and molybdenum oxide exhibited rectangular hysteresis loops with squareness ratios approaching unity at temperatures up to 400°C. Data showing the effect of formulation and temperature on squareness ratio and coercive force are presented.
Influence of Host Age on Critical Fitness Parameters of Spathius galinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a New Parasitoid of the Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Spathius galinae Belokobylskij and Strazenac (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a recently discovered gregarious idiobiont larval ectoparasitoid currently being evaluated for biological control against the invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the United States. To aid in the development of laboratory rearing protocols, we assessed the influence of various emerald ash borer stages on critical fitness parameters of S. galinae. We exposed gravid S. galinae females to emerald ash borer host larvae of various ages (3.5, 5, 7, and 10 wk post egg oviposition) that were reared naturally in tropical (evergreen) ash (Fraxinus uhdei (Wenzig) Lingelsh) logs, or to field-collected, late-stage emerald ash borers (nonfeeding J-shaped larvae termed "J-larvae," prepupae, and pupae) that were artificially inserted into green ash logs. When exposed to larvae in tropical ash logs, S. galinae attacked 5 and 7 wk hosts more frequently (68-76%) than 3.5 wk (23%) and 10 wk (12%) hosts. Subsample dissections of the these logs revealed that 3.5, 5, 7 and 10 wk host logs contained mostly second, third, fourth, and J-larvae, respectively, that had already bored into the sapwood for diapause. No J-larvae were attacked by S. galinae when naturally reared in tropical ash logs. When parasitized by S. galinae, 7 and 10 wk hosts produced the largest broods (approximately 6.7 offspring per parasitized host), and the progenies that emerged from these logs had larger anatomical measurements and more female-biased sex ratios. When exposed to emerald ash borer J-larvae, prepupae, or pupae artificially inserted into green ash logs, S. galinae attacked 53% ofJ-larvae, but did not attack any prepupae or pupae. We conclude that large (fourth instar) emerald ash borer larvae should be used to rear S. galinae.
Data Migration in Heterogeneous Storage Systems

Large-scale storage systems are crucial components in data-intensive applications such as search engine clusters, video-on-demand servers, sensor networks and grid computing. A storage server typically consists of a set of storage devices. In such systems, data layouts may need to be reconfigured over time for load balancing or in the event of system failure/upgrades. It is critical to migrate data to their target locations as quickly as possible to obtain the best performance. Most of the previous results on data migration assume that each storage node can perform only one data transfer at a time. A storage node, however, can typically handle multiple transfers simultaneously and this can reduce the total migration time significantly. Moreover, storage devices tend to have heterogeneous capabilities as devices may be added over time due to storage demand increase. In this paper, we consider the heterogeneous data migration problem, where we assume that each storage node v has different transfer constraint cv, which represents how many simultaneous transfers v can handle. We develop algorithms to minimize the data migration time. We show that it is possible to find an optimal migration schedule when all cvs are even. Furthermore, though the problem is NP-hard in general, we give an efficient algorithm that offers a rigorous (1 + o(1))-approximation guarantee.
Molecular manipulation with the arthritogenic epitopes of the G1 domain of human cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan.

Summary Systemic immunization of BALB/c mice with human cartilage proteoglycan (PG) aggrecan induces progressive polyarthritis. The G1 domain of the PG aggrecan molecule contains most of the T cell epitopes, including three immunodominant (‘arthritogenic’) and at least six subdominant T cell epitopes. The three dominant T cell epitopes (P49, P70 and P155) were deleted individually or in combination by site directed mutagenesis, and the recombinant human G1 (rhG1) domain (wild type and mutated) proteins were used for immunization. Close to 100% of BALB/c mice immunized with the wild-type (nonmutated) rhG1 domain developed severe arthritis, which was 75% in the absence of P70 (5/4E8) epitope, and very low (< 10% incidence) when all three dominant T cell epitopes were deleted. The onset was delayed and the severity of arthritis reduced in animals when dominant T cell epitopes were missing from the immunizing rhG1 domain. The lack of T cell response to the deleted epitope(s) was specific, but the overall immune response against the wild-type rhG1 domain of human PG was not significantly affected. This study helped us to understand the dynamics and immune-regulatory mechanisms of arthritis, and supported the hypothesis that the development of autoimmune arthritis requires a concerted T cell response to multiple epitopes, rather than the immune response to a single arthritogenic structure.
Automatic Performance Diagnosis of Parallel Computations with Compositional Models

Performance tuning involves a diagnostic process to locate and explain sources of program inefficiency. A performance diagnosis system can leverage knowledge of performance causes and symptoms that come from expertise with parallel computational models. This paper extends our model-based performance diagnosis approach to programs with multiple models. We study two types of model compositions (nesting and restructuring) and demonstrate how the Hercule performance diagnosis framework can automatically discover and interpret performance problems due to model nesting in the FLASH application.
New flavor violations in supergravity models

Abstract The supersymmetric standard model has mild flavor violations, especially if the top quark is not very heavy. A new supersymmetric mechanism for flavor violation is introduced. It will occur in almost all unified schemes. This mechanism can greatly affect the chiral symmetry structure of the theory. The down-quark mass can be generated by weak-scale radiative corrections even if it is zero at tree level. The tree-level SU(5) mass relation m e / m ω = m d / m s is no longer problematic, and an explanation of m u / m d is given. The value of the down-quark mass can be linked to flavor-changing processes of B mesons: maximal B d 0 − B d 0 mixing; and branching ratios of 1 10 for B → n π and 10 −3 for B → (hard γ + X) induced by the two-body b decays b → dg and b → d γ .
ASCENT AND DESCENT: THE PHILOSOPHER'S REGRET

The aim of this long essay is to explain why the philosopher-ruler of Plato's Republic descends “with regret” or having been “compelled” from his contemplation of the Forms to rule the state. It offers a new, optimistic interpretation of his goal in so descending, namely to try to make everyone into a philosopher. After a brief introductory section, I turn to the argument of the Republic to show both that the philosopher's understanding of the Good causes him to try to maximize the amount of good in the cosmos, and that, since every rational person is capable, in virtue of his rational soul, of becoming a philosopher, this amounts to adopting the aforementioned goal. In the third section, I argue that the source of his regret cannot be that he sacrifices his own happiness in descending. Here the vehicle is a consideration of the “Plotinian” reading of the Republic , whose conclusion is that once he has achieved knowledge of the Forms, the philosopher can neither increase his happiness by further study, nor lose his happiness. Hence, if he is true to his goal, he has to try to improve the lot of others. In the next section, I argue that the Timaeus' account of the Demiurge's construction of the cosmos helps us to understand both the nature of the ruler's attempts to make everyone a philosopher and why he also understands that he will inevitably fail. Here the key idea is to link the Timaeus' account of Necessity or the Wandering Cause with the circumstances facing the philosopher in ruling the state. In the conclusion, I sketch how this account of the philosopher's reason for descending suggests that the best or ideal city in the Republic is not the tripartite kallipolis , but is rather a version of the City of Pigs.
Bandwidth limits of beamforming networks for low-noise focal-plane arrays

Future radio telescopes will use arrays of closely-spaced antenna elements at the focal plane. The outputs from the elements will feed a beamforming network which will produce multiple beams. With a simple beamforming network the weights applied to the element outputs will be independent of frequency, resulting in a frequency-dependent feed pattern. We show, with results from numerical simulations, that the signal-to-noise ratio of a focal-plane array will be degraded with moderate bandwidths. We also briefly discuss ways to mitigate this effect.
Brevetoxin-induced phosphorylation of Pyk2 and Src in murine neocortical neurons involves distinct signaling pathways.

Abstract Brevetoxins (PbTx-1 to PbTx-10) are potent lipid soluble polyether neurotoxins produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis . Brevetoxins bind to site 5 of the α-subunit of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and augment Na + influx. In neocortical neurons brevetoxins elevate intracellular Ca 2+ and augment NMDA receptor signaling. In this study, we explored the effects of PbTx-2 on Pyk2 and Src activation in neocortical neurons. We found that both Pyk2 and Src were activated following PbTx-2 exposure. PbTx-2-induced Pyk2 Tyr402 phosphorylation was dependent on elevation of Ca 2+ influx through NMDA receptors. Moreover, Pyk2 Tyr402 phosphorylation was also found to require PKC activation inasmuch as RO-31-8425 and GF 109203x both attenuated the response. In contrast, PbTx-2-induced Src Tyr416 phosphorylation involved a Gq-coupled receptor inasmuch as U73122, a specific PLC inhibitor, abolished the response. This Gq-coupled receptor appears to be mGluR 5. The PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin abolished PbTx-2-induced Src activation demonstrating that this isoform of PKC is involved in the activation of Src by PbTx-2. Considered together these data suggest that although activation of neuronal Pyk2 and Src result from PbTx-2 stimulation of VGSC, engagement of these two non-receptor tyrosine kinases involves distinct signaling pathways.
Learning in alliances: the role of promoting innovation and building relationships

The paper analyses the role and importance of learning and relationship building in alliances. Based on the champions approach and the promoter model, this paper extends the existing theory analysing learning and different skills for relationship building in alliance evolution. The primary goal of this paper is to explore the distinct sets of learning requirements that emerge as the alliance develops. The central issue involves how a relationship promoter can promote and facilitate the learning adaptations occurring throughout the evolutionary process in order to achieve higher sales, innovation development, and/or market access as alliance outcome. Managerial and theoretical implications are discussed, and further research opportunities highlighted.
Efficacy of a Washer-Disinfector in Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Pathogens from Surgical Instruments

This study was designed to test the efficacy of a washer-disinfector in eliminating selected healthcare-associated pathogens from surgical instruments. Our results showed that a washer-disinfector was extremely effective in eliminating microorganisms (>7-log10 reduction), including vegetative and spore-forming bacteria, from experimentally contaminated instruments. The washer-disinfector remained effective in eliminating microorganisms in the absence of enzymatic cleaners and detergents. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(7):883–885
Should Gun Safety Be Taught in Schools? Perspectives of Teachers*

BACKGROUND: Gun-related injuries and deaths among children occur at disproportionately high rates in the United States. Children who live in homes with guns are the most likely victims. This study describes teachers' views on whether gun safety should be taught to children in the preschool and elementary years. METHODS: A total of 150 survey questionnaires were distributed to public and private school teachers in preschools and elementary schools in 2 counties of a Midwestern state. RESULTS: In total, 62% of the 102 respondents indicated that they favored the teaching of gun safety, while 13% disapproved and 25% had no opinion. Overall, 28.4% of the respondents supported the teaching of gun safety in grades pre-K (pre-kindergarten) through first grade. About 54% indicated that police or trained military personnel should do the teaching of this subject in schools, while 6.9% suggested that teachers should do the teaching. CONCLUSION: With a majority of the teachers in favor of teaching gun safety in the schools, a larger study should be conducted that explores the introduction of gun safety into the curriculum in preschool through grade 6. Such a study should evaluate the efficacy of teaching gun safety as a measure to prevent gun violence and injuries involving guns. Language: en
Tremper Mound, Hopewell Catlinite, and PIMA Technology

Archaeologists have long recognized that the Hopewell period was marked by the movement of exotic raw materials and artifacts across the eastern United States. The use of archaeometric techniques to trace the sources of these materials is well established. However, little work has been done on sourcing the pipestone used in Hopewell pipes. In this research we use Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer (PIMA) technology to identify the presence of Minnesota catlinite as a raw material used for pipes recovered from the Tremper Mound (33SC4) caches in the Scioto Valley of Ohio. A new radiocarbon date places the deposition of these caches between B.C. 50 and A.D. 79. The presence of catlinite pipes in Ohio and in Wisconsin, but rarely in Illinois, suggests the existence of a direct west-to-east route from the catlinite quarries through Wisconsin to Ohio. This movement of catlinite appears to have been a short-term Hopewellian event and the material was not used again until late prehistoric times.
Lateral velocity variations in the Orozco Transform Fault inferred from observed incident angles and azimuths of P-waves

Summary Body waves from earthquake and explosive sources which were recorded by a three-component ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) in the Orozco transform fault show pronounced systematic deflections of incident angles and azimuths from those expected for a laterally homogeneous velocity structure. After considering several phenomena which could affect the observations, we conclude that the observed pattern of deflections in part reflects regional lateral velocity variations. Possible models explaining the observations are examined by tracing rays through three-dimensional velocity structures. A model in which the Moho is elevated beneath a north-south-trending topographic high to the west of the OBS can explain observations from sources to the north, west and south and is compatible with seismic refraction results in the region. East of the OBS, a low-velocity region simulating a magma chamber results in very steep incident angles and large azimuthal deflections which qualitatively match those observed from earthquakes in the central transform region. Although these data alone do not provide irrefutable evidence for a magma chamber, that the corrections to fault plane solutions and hypocentres implied by this model can explain major inconsistencies in the source parameters calculated relative to a laterally homogeneous velocity model supports its validity.
The Process of Drug Development: II. The Historical Interplay of Therapeutics, Clinical Research, and Scientific Education

(1983). The Process of Drug Development: II. The Historical Interplay of Therapeutics, Clinical Research, and Scientific Education. Clinical Research Practices and Drug Regulatory Affairs: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 177-201.
Behavioral side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy.

During the protracted course of adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery for breast cancer, a significant proportion of patients experience side effects. The most unpleasant are the nausea and vomiting, which can begin as the patient anticipates treatment and continue for up to 48 h following each infusion. In our prospective, longitudinal study of 77 women receiving outpatient chemotherapy for breast cancer, 71% of patients experienced nausea and vomiting following treatment infusions (Jacobsen et al. 1988). And, by the sixth treatment infusion, 57% of patients experienced anticipatory side effects (i.e., they felt nauseous and/or vomited as they approached the treatment clinic) (Andrykowski et al., submitted for publication). The purpose of the present discussion is to review our research on the role of psychological and behavioral factors in the development of such side effects. Results from our most recent studies of post-treatment nausea and vomiting are presented first. Discussion of our findings for pretreatment side effects follows. The last issue is the development of cost-effective behavioral interventions to control these aversive side effects.
Flexible Ion Barrier

The central vasculature of plant roots is protected by a hydrophobic ring of endodermal cells that are enclosed by lamellae of suberin. Barberon et al. demonstrate that endodermal suberization plasticity facilitates ion homeostasis, with antithetical regulation of suberin deposition and degradation by the phytohormones abscisic acid and ethylene.
What kind of carbon nanofiber is ideal for structural applications

We investigate with molecular mechanics the nature of load transfer for a number of candidate CNT structures that shows promise in enhancing the weak load transfer mechanisms. We extend these studies to an amorphous carbon nanotube, where there is a mixture of trivalent and tetravalent carbon in the wall of the tube, to address the question of whether an a-C NT could be a high stiffness and strength fiber. It seems more likely that such "nongraphitized" amorphous carbon nanotubes may be synthesized prior to diamond being mass-produced in nanofiber form.
External QX-314 inhibits evoked cranial primary afferent synaptic transmission independent of TRPV1

The cell-impermeant lidocaine derivative QX-314 blocks sodium channels via intracellular mechanisms. In somatosensory nociceptive neurons, open transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors provide a transmembrane passageway for QX-314 to produce long-lasting analgesia. Many cranial primary afferents express TRPV1 at synapses on neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract and caudal trigeminal nucleus (Vc). Here, we investigated whether QX-314 interrupts neurotransmission from primary afferents in rat brain-stem slices. Shocks to the solitary tract (ST) activated highly synchronous evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (ST-EPSCs). Application of 300 μM QX-314 increased the ST-EPSC latency from TRPV1+ ST afferents, but, surprisingly, it had similar actions at TRPV1− ST afferents. Continued exposure to QX-314 blocked evoked ST-EPSCs at both afferent types. Neither the time to onset of latency changes nor the time to ST-EPSC failure differed between responses for TRPV1+ and TRPV1− inputs. Likewise, the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine failed to prevent the actions of QX-314. Whereas QX-314 blocked ST-evoked release, the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs remained unaltered. In neurons exposed to QX-314, intracellular current injection evoked action potentials suggesting a presynaptic site of action. QX-314 acted similarly at Vc neurons to increase latency and block EPSCs evoked from trigeminal tract afferents. Our results demonstrate that QX-314 blocked nerve conduction in cranial primary afferents without interrupting the glutamate release mechanism or generation of postsynaptic action potentials. The TRPV1 independence suggests that QX-314 either acted extracellularly or more likely entered these axons through an undetermined pathway common to all cranial primary afferents.
Investigation of Flow Modifications Induced by an Undulating Airfoil Surface

Inflatable wings provide a convenient way to reduce the volume needed to transport a small aircraft to its mission location. One method of constructing an inflatable wing is to use chambers separated by vertical baffles that define the airfoil. This method creates an undulating surface as inflation causes the surface between the baffles to expand beyond the original airfoil shape. Initial experiments on these wings have hinted that there may be an advantage to the undulating surface under certain flight conditions. Continuing studies have been focused on finding these flight conditions and understanding why the airfoil performs better in these conditions. This paper focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which the undulating inflatable surface changes the physics of the flow. Computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel experiments are used to conduct this investigation. PIV experiments examine the flow field created by the undulating surface, both on the scale of the airfoil and on the scale of the individual bumps on the surface. In all cases low to moderate Reynolds numbers are considered (50,000 to 300,000) over a range of angles of attack.
A NEW IMPLICIT ALGORITHM FOR FLUID FLOW

An implicit procedure for minimizing the error induced by approximate factorization is presented for solving the unsteady Euler or Navier-Stokes equations. Convergenge rates of approximately 0.8 are achieved upon application for high Reynold's number supersonic flow past a blunt body and transonic and subsonic flow through a nozzle. Converged solutions, to at least engineering accuracy, are obtained in about 50 time steps. The operation count is about two and a half times that for a standard approximately factored procedure per time step. However, standard approximately factored procedures are severely limited by the error induced by approximate factorization and often require a thousands of time steps for convergence.
The Pathological Basis of Intestine Malfunction after Operation of Congenital Intestinal Atresia

Objective: To evaluate the pathological reason of intestine malfunctions after operation of congenital atresia and discuss its clinical significance. Methods: Immunohistochemical stainings for antibody c-kit, Neurtrophin-3(NT-3), tyrosine kinase-C(Trk-C), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament (Nf) were performed on small intestine in patients with congenital intestinal atresia(n=13) with comparison of normal intestine. Results: The expressions of NT-3, Trk-C and Nf were significantly lower in intestinal atresia group than that of normal intestine, however, the expression of GFAP was higher in intestinal atresia group compared to that of the normal group. The expressions of NT-3 and Trk-C were normal at the site of 8 cm away from the blind-ending. Cajal cells were also expressed normally at 11 cm from the blind-ending. Conclusion: The intestine malfunction after operation may due to the loss of Cajals, anglia and axonal injury in the myenteric plexus.