cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Volunteer studies of typhoid fever and vaccines

A series of studies evaluated the efficacy of three categories of typhoid vaccines: killed organisms given parenterally and orally and living attenuated mutants given orally. Vaccinees and unvaccinated controls were challenged with a single strain of virulent Salmonella typhi. Control individuals with prior military service (i.e. mandatory parenteral immunization) were significantly protected compared to non-veterans. Clinical protection of vaccinees was greatest (87%) following oral immunization with a mutant strain lacking epimerase.
ENSO Impacts on Salinity in Tampa Bay, Florida

Estuarine salinity distributions reflect a dynamic balance between the processes that control estuarine circulation. At seasonal and longer time scales, freshwater inputs into estuaries represent the primary control on salinity distribution and estuarine circulation. El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions influence seasonal rainfall and stream discharge patterns in the Tampa Bay, Florida region. The resulting variability in freshwater input to Tampa Bay influences its seasonal salinity distribution. During El Nino events, ENSO sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) are significantly and inversely correlated with salinity in the bay during winter and spring. These patterns reflect the elevated rainfall over the drainage basin and the resulting elevated stream discharge and runoff, which depress salinity levels. Spatially, the correlations are strongest at the head of the bay, especially in bay sections with long residence times. During La Nina conditions, significant inverse correlations between ENSO SSTAs and salinity occur during spring. Dry conditions and depressed stream discharge characterize La Nina winters and springs, and the higher salinity levels during La Nina springs reflect the lower freshwater input levels.
Take it personally: accounting for individual difference in designing diabetes management systems

The goal of this study was to investigate how diabetes patients use health information to support their daily disease management. A qualitative interview study was conducted with type-2 diabetes patients and healthcare providers. The analysis suggests that individual diabetes patients have a unique way of managing their care through the interpretation of personal health experiences. The ways in which patients learn to interact with their diabetes are detailed in this paper in four themes: understanding typical life routine, accommodating atypical activities, disproving & discovering healthy tips and reevaluating personal expectations. The findings of this study call for a diabetes management system that addresses a patient's physiological, social and psychological activities within the process of individual disease management. The finding opens up new opportunities for designing interactive systems to account for individual differences, encouraging positive patient involvement and sustaining long-term health outcomes.
Tropical Cyclone Track Characteristics as a Function of Large-Scale Circulation Anomalies

Abstract Factors that contribute to intraseasonal variability in western North Pacific tropical cyclone track types are investigated. It is hypothesized that the 700-mb large-scale circulation can affect tropical cyclone track characteristics by enhancing or excluding genesis in certain regions, and concurrently prohibiting or favoring recurving versus straight tracks. A track-type climatology indicates that genesis location alone may explain some of the variability in track type. Although some genesis regions have no preference for straight-moving or recurving tracks, a formation north of 20°N or east of 150°E and north of 10°N favors a recurvature track. These recurving storms are classified as recurving-north, and recurving storms that form in regions with nearly equal probability of straight or recurving tracks are classified as recurving south. A compositing technique is used to define anomalous 700-mb large-scale circulations that exist during the formation of tropical cyclones that subsequently fol...
Hydroquinone Increases 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Formation through Ten Eleven Translocation 1 (TET1) 5-Methylcytosine Dioxygenase

DNA methylation regulates gene expression throughout development and in a wide range of pathologies such as cancer and neurological disorders. Pathways controlling the dynamic levels and targets of methylation are known to be disrupted by chemicals and are therefore of great interest in both prevention and clinical contexts. Benzene and its metabolite hydroquinone have been shown to lead to decreased levels of DNA methylation, although the mechanism is not known. This study employs a cell culture model to investigate the mechanism of hydroquinone-mediated changes in DNA methylation. Exposures that do not affect HEK293 cell viability led to genomic and methylated reporter DNA demethylation. Hydroquinone caused reactivation of a methylated reporter plasmid that was prevented by the addition of N-acetylcysteine. Hydroquinone also caused an increase in Ten Eleven Translocation 1 activity and global levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine was found enriched at LINE-1 prior to a decrease in both 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine. Ten Eleven Translocation-1 knockdown decreased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine formation following hydroquinone exposure as well as the induction of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit and 14-3-3σ. Finally, Ten Eleven Translocation 1 knockdown decreased the percentage of cells accumulating in G2+M following hydroquinone exposure, indicating that it may have a role in cell cycle changes in response to toxicants. This work demonstrates that hydroquinone exposure leads to active and functional DNA demethylation in HEK293 cells in a mechanism involving reactive oxygen species and Ten Eleven Translocation 1 5-methylcytosine dioxygenase.
Properties of thylakoids and thylakoid particles derived from structurally different chloroplasts

Abstract Structurally and functionally different tobacco chloroplasts were subjected to digitonin treatment and subsequent fractional centrifugation. The light-harvesting chlorophyll a chlorophyll b- protein complex was found to be enriched in the most dense fraction regardless of the presence of grana in the original preparation. It is suggested that isolated thylakoid membranes and fragments thereof which contain sufficient light-harvesting protein may, under appropriate ionic conditions, form aggregates even when they originate from unstacked thylakoid systems. Comparative studies of fluorescence properties and polypeptide composition of the thylakoids suggest that the light-harvesting protein does not contribute significantly to the fluorescence spectrum of isolated chloroplasts as long as this protein is intimately associated with the Photosystem II (PS II) pigment-protein complex responsible for the 685 nm emission. While the PS II-deficient mutant chloroplasts of the variegated tobacco variety NC 95 lacked both the 685 nm fluorescence component and two or three PS II proteins, one of these proteins was found to be very prominent in our chlorophyll b-deficient mutant thylakoids which also displayed an intense 685 nm fluorescence peak. This correlation supports the contention that a 45 kdalton polypeptide is an apoprotein of pigments associated with the PS II reaction center.
Improvement in dark current characteristics and long-term stability of mesa InGaAs/InP p-i-n photodiodes with two-step SiN/sub x/ surface passivation

The authors report the successful fabrication of mesa In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As/InP p-i-n photodiodes passivated with SiN/sub x/ films. The SiN/sub x/ films were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition in two steps. First, a thin SiN/sub x/ film was deposited at low temperature (50-150 degrees C) and then annealed at high temperature (250-350 degrees C) for 30-60 min to hydrogenate and nitridize the mesa surfaces simultaneously. Second, a thick SiN/sub x/ film was deposited at the annealing temperature to serve as a surface passivation and antireflective layer. Improvement in dark-current and long-term stability, compared to the results obtained from devices with one-step SiN/sub x/ surface passivation, has been achieved. The life tests at -20 V and 180/300 degrees C on these devices have shown a stable dark current for over 1500 h. >
Determination by the phase shift method of the absolute rate constants of reactions of O(3P) atoms with olefins at 25°C

Technical improvements have been made in the application of the phase shift method, recently developed and used in this laboratory to measure the absolute values of the rate constants of the reactions of O(^3P) atoms with ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, and isobutene. More accurate rate constants have now been obtained for these olefins and the measurements have been also extended to three additional olefins (cis-2-butene, trimethylethylene, and tetramethylene).The mean least squares values of the rate constants of the reactions of O(^3P) with olefins at 26°C, expressed as k_2 × 10^(−9) (1./mole^2·sec), and their standard deviations are ethylene 0.43 ±0.05, propelene 2.02 ± 0.17, 1-butene 2.40 ± 0.32, isobutene 9.85 ± 1.34, cis-2-butene 9.00 ± 1.76, trimethylethylene 31.1 ± 3.0, and tetramethylethylene 44.4 ± 4.1. A value of (5.78 ± 0.08) × 10^(10)l.^2/mole^2·sec was obtained for the rate constant of the reaction O(^3P) + NO + M, with M = N_2O. Where comparison with the absolute rate constants in the literature is possible, agreement is very good, especially with some recent absolute values obtained by entirely different experimental techniques. Consistency with the relative rate constant of the O(^3P) reactions with olefins previously determined in this laboratory, is excellent.
Production of parathyroid hormone-related protein by normal and neoplastic keratinocytes

Production of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) by normal and neoplastic keratinocytes was compared in vitro to determine if the malignant phenotype alters the regulation of PTHrP expression and secretion. Three cell types consisted of normal human foreskin keratinocytes (NHFK), a well differentiated canine squamous carcinoma cell line (SCC 2/88), and a poorly differentiated human squamous carcinoma cell line (A253). The cells were grown in monolayers and on substrates (artificial dermis or collagen) to induce 3-dimensional layering of the cells and to permit medium collection from the basal and apical regions of the cells. Secretion of PTHrP was measured by N-terminal radioimmunoassay and mRNA production was measured by RNase protection assay. Secretion and mRNA production of PTHrP by NHFK and SCC 2/88 cells in monolayer culture was maximal at confluence (1–5 ng/ml) and decreased thereafter. In contrast, A253 cells continued to produce PTHrP after confluence in monolayer cultures. NHFK, SCC 2/88, and A253 cells in 3-dimensional, multilayered cultures produced high levels of PTHrP after confluence. Secretion of PTHrP was greatest from the basal cells compared to the apical cells of the cultures. PTHrP secretion was inhibited by monensin (1 µM). Transforming growth factor-β (1 to 5 ng/ml) increased PTHrP mRNA in NHFK at 6 hours and in SCC 2/88 cells at 1-24 hours. These data indicate that PTHrP is produced preferentially by proliferating keratinocytes and regulation of PTHrP production is different in normal keratinocytes compared to squamous carcinoma cells.
Specificity of a promoter from the rice tungro bacilliform virus for expression in phloem tissues.

The major promoter region for the transcription of the genome of rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV), a newly described badnavirus, has been identified. Fragments of the RTBV genome upstream of the site of transcription initiation were isolated and tested for promoter activity using a β-glucuronidase reporter gene (gusA). Assays of transient gusA expression were performed following introduction of the chimeric gene into protoplasts via electroporation. The chimeric RTBV-promoter:gusA gene was more active in rice protoplasts than in maize or tobacco protoplasts, but was weaker than gusA controlled by an enhanced 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus. Analysis of gusA gene expression following introduction of chimeric reporter genes into intact leaves via micro-projectile bombardment indicated that the GUS activity is present primarily in vascular tissues. Transgenic rice plants carrying the chimeric gusA gene had GUS activity only in the phloem of the vascular bundles in the leaf. Tissue printing studies demonstrated that RTBV accumulates in the vascular bundles of infected rice leaves. The results of our study indicate that phloem-specific expression from the RTBV promoter is an intrinsic property of the viral promoter.
Direct imaging of three-dimensional structure and topology of colloidal gels

We present novel measurements of the structure of colloidal gels. Using confocal microscopy, we obtain the precise three-dimensional positions of a large number of particles. We develop quantitative descriptions of the topology of the gel, including the number of bonds per particle, the chemical or bond fractal dimension, the number of flexible pivot points and other topological parameters that describe the chainlike structure. We investigate the dependence of these parameters on the particle volume fraction and the strength of the attraction that holds the particles together. While all samples have approximately the same fractal and chemical dimensions, we find that gels formed with stronger attraction or larger volume fraction have fewer bonds per particle, more filamentous chains and a greater number of flexible pivot points. Finally, we discuss the topological results in the context of the gel's elasticity. Measurements of the elastic constants of individual chainlike segments are explained with a simple model. The distribution of elastic constants, however, has a general form that is not understood.
Idealistic and conflicted: : New portrayals of public relations practitioners in film

The profession of public relations is often portrayed negatively in popular culture. Cultivation theory suggests that these negative portrayals are likely to affect public perception of the profession. Building on Miller's (1999) study of public relations portrayals in the entertainment media, this study analyzed 10 recent films to determine how public relations characters were represented. The analysis was generally consistent with Miller's finding that archetypical negative stereotypes of public relations professionals abound. The study also identified two new portrayals of the professionals in popular film, idealistic and conflicted. In light of this finding, theoretical and practical suggestions are offered to help public relations practitioners counteract these unflattering portrayals.
Morphological Changes of Ascaris spp. Eggs During Their Development Outside the Host

abstract: Information on the infective stage of Ascaris lumbricoides and the pathology caused by the parasite is widely available in the literature. However, information about early embryonic development of A. lumbricoides and its life cycle outside the host is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the morphological changes within the developing embryo during incubation in vitro at 28 C, as well as to explore differences in egg viability during incubation. Ascaris suum eggs (4,000 eggs/ml), used as a model for A. lumbricoides, were placed for incubation in 0.1N H2SO4 at 28 C in the dark for 21 days. Every day, sub-samples of approximately 100 A. suum eggs were taken from the incubation solution for microscopic evaluation. Development, morphological changes, and viability of the first 40 eggs were observed and documented with photos. During this study, 12 stages were identified in the developing embryo by standard microscopy, 2 of which had not been previously reported. By the end of the firs...
Extreme Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions exhibited by the Tinaquillo peridotite massif, Northern Venezuela: implications for geodynamic setting

An origin of the Tinaquillo Peridotite Complex in northern Venezuela, and a model for the tectonic framework of the boundary zone between the southern Caribbean Plate margin and the South American Plate (SAP) during Late Jurassic to Mid-Cretaceous time are developed using newly measured Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf isotopic compositions as well as major and trace element geochemistry for some hornblendite veins and their spinel peridotite host rocks. Depleted geochemical characteristics, principally major element concentrations, and Nd and Hf isotopes (e.g., eNd = + 27; eHf = +50; ca. 3.4 Ga-Nd model age) of the Tinaquillo peridotites suggest a genetic link between this complex and the Guiana Shield farther to the south within Venezuela. Scattered zones within the Tinaquillo peridotite were overprinted by what we interpret as channelized hydrous fluids (<∼3%) derived from the eastward-dipping subduction of the Farallon Plate beneath the SAP in the Late Jurassic, leading to modification of the original Sr, Nd and Hf isotopic compositions as well as the incompatible element concentrations. The hornblendite veins have Sr, Nd, Pb and Hf isotopic compositions, falling within the range of present-day Pacific/Atlantic MORB, but trace element abundance patterns with combinations of arc- and MORB-like characteristics. These results rule out the possibility of local melting of the host peridotites to produce magmas from which the hornblendite veins formed. We suggest that during inception of the westward-dipping subduction of the Protocaribbean Plate immediately following polarity reversal in the Mid-Cretaceous, melts infiltrated the mantle lithosphere and produced the veins.
Comparison of platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate secretion in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma from normal dogs

Platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion were measured in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from normal dogs using electrical impedance and turbidimetric techniques. General appearance of the aggregation curves, ATP secretion, and aggregation rate were similar in PRP in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or collagen using both techniques. In response to ADP, aggregation was detected sooner while the maximum aggregation response decreased at a relatively greater rate with decreasing agonist concentrations using the turbidimetric technique. Shape change was consistently detected using the turbidimetric, but not the impedance, technique. Using electrical impedance, there were differences between whole blood and PRP in aggregation and ATP secretion responses which depended on the agonise used to activate the platelets. In response to ADP, aggregation responses were lower in whole blood relative to PRP. In response to platelet-activating factor (PAF), maximum aggregation was greater in whole blood while aggregation rate and ATP secretion were greater in PRP. In response to collagen, aggregation response and ATP secretion were lower in PRP. Dilution of PRP with buffer instead of platelet-poor plasma (PPP) lessened many of the differences between whole blood and PRP samples. These findings suggest that plasma constituents and blood cells other than platelets affect aggregation and secretion in an agonist-dependent manner.
Alginate Lyase (AlgL) Activity Is Required for Alginate Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

To determine whether AlgL's lyase activity is required for alginate production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an algLΔ::Gmr mutant (FRD-MA7) was created. algL complementation of FRD-MA7 restored alginate production, but algL constructs containing mutations inactivating lyase activity did not, demonstrating that the enzymatic activity of AlgL is required for alginate production.
Identification of novel antimicrobials using a live-animal infection model

The alarming increase of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens points to the need for novel therapeutic approaches to combat infection. To discover novel antimicrobials, we devised a screen to identify compounds that promoted the survival of the model laboratory nematode Caenorhabditis elegans infected with the human opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. E. faecalis colonizes the nematode intestinal tract, forming a persistent lethal infection. Infected nematodes were rescued by antibiotic treatment in a dose-dependent manner, and antibiotic treatment markedly reduced the number of bacteria colonizing the nematode intestine. To facilitate high throughput screening of compound libraries, we adapted a previously developed agar-based C. elegans-E. faecalis infection assay so that it could be carried out in liquid medium in standard 96-well microtiter plates. We used this simple infection system to screen 6,000 synthetic compounds and 1,136 natural product extracts. We identified 16 compounds and 9 extracts that promoted nematode survival. Some of the compounds and extracts inhibited E. faecalis growth in vitro, but, in contrast to traditional antibiotics, the in vivo effective dose of many of these compounds was significantly lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration needed to prevent the growth of E. faecalis in vitro. Moreover, many of the compounds and extracts had little or no affect on in vitro bacterial growth. Our findings indicate that the whole-animal C. elegans screen identifies not only traditional antibiotics, but also compounds that target bacterial virulence or stimulate host defense.
Clinical value of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 determinations in the management of preterm labour

Objective To ascertain whether the determination of amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations would be a useful clinical test in the management of women with preterm contractions.
Visualizing Macromolecular Complexes with In Situ Liquid Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

A central focus of biological research is understanding the structure/function relationship of macromolecular protein complexes. Yet conventional transmission electron microscopy techniques are limited to static observations. Here we present the first direct images of purified macromolecular protein complexes using in situ liquid scanning transmission electron microscopy. Our results establish the capability of this technique for visualizing the interface between biology and nanotechnology with high fidelity while also probing the interactions of biomolecules within solution. This method represents an important advancement towards allowing future high-resolution observations of biological processes and conformational dynamics in real-time.
Contingency variables for customer share of visits to full-service restaurant

Abstract This study sought to reveal the direct effect and/or moderating effects of contingency variables in relation to customer share of visits. The hypotheses of this study were tested based on responses from 277 general U.S. full-service restaurant customers, using a series of (moderated hierarchical) regression analyses. The direct effects of social switching costs, lost benefits costs, procedural costs, and intrinsic inertia were positive whereas that of intrinsic variety-seeking was negative on customer share of visits. Consumer involvement and perceived brand heterogeneity were found to enhance the effect of brand preference on customer share of visits.
Technical comments on rodent spinal cord injuries models.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) in rodents have been created by laceration, contusion, compression, or intramedullary injection of toxic agents. The choice of an appropriate SCI model should be made for each study based on the experimental design, with care taken to avoid unintended complications such as hemorrhage. Technical comments will be made in this communication describing the 1) importance of vertebral stabilization, 2) injury preparation, and 3) landmarks to improve the precision and reproducibility of the SCI. Rodent models of SCI have been used to assess the spectrum of pathological events following spinal cord contusion, laceration, and compressive lesions. Animal models are essential in understanding underlying injury mechanisms and determining the safety and efficacy of putative therapies prior to clinical trials. Most SCI models were initially described and characterized in the rat (Wrathall et al., 1985; Fehlings et al., 1989; Bresnahan et al., 1991; Stokes, 1992; Taoka and Okajima, 1998; Scheff et al., 2003; Zhang et al., 2008). Since genetically modified mice offer unique opportunities to examine biological mechanisms following SCI, use of mouse models have increased exponentially (Burda et al., 2013; Hansen et al., 2013; Sabelstrom et al., 2013; Satkunendrarajah and Fehlings, 2013; Soderblom et al., 2013; Takeuchi et al., 2013; Wanner et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2013a; Zukor et al., 2013; Wu et al., 2014; Yamamoto et al., 2014; Ziu et al., 2014). Common rodent SCI methods are briefly reviewed in this report, and pertinent technical comments are made for those dedicated to SCI research. Nerve root and conus injuries will not be discussed.
Fabrication and characterization of ferroelectric PLZT film capacitors on metallic substrates

We have grown ferroelectric Pb0.92La0.08Zr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PLZT) films on Hastelloy C276 (HC) substrates by chemical solution deposition. Samples of 1.15-μm-thick PLZT films were prepared on HC with and without lanthanum nickel oxide (LNO) films as an intermediate buffer layer. On samples with and without LNO buffers at room temperature, we measured dielectric constants of ≈1,300 and ≈450 and loss tangents of ≈0.06 and ≈0.07, respectively. For PLZT films grown on HC with LNO buffer, the dielectric constant increases, while the dielectric loss decreases, with increasing temperature. A dielectric constant of ≈2,000 and loss of ≈0.05 were observed at 150 °C. Samples with LNO buffer also exhibited slimmer hysteresis loops and lower leakage current density when compared to samples without LNO buffer. The following results were measured on samples with and without LNO buffers: remanent polarization (Pr) values of 21.3 and 36.4 μC/cm2, coercive electric field (Ec) values of 41 and 173 kV/cm, and leakage current densities of ≈1.1 × 10−8 and ≈1.6 × 10−7 A/cm2, respectively. The energy storage capability was measured at ≈65 J/cm3 for the PLZT film-on-foil capacitor deposited on HC with LNO buffer.
Prostate brachytherapy in patients with prostate volumes ≥ 50 cm3: dosimetic analysis of implant quality

Objectives: Permanent implantation with 125I in patients with localized prostate cancer who have prostate volumes ≥ 50 cm3 is often technically difficult owing to pubic arch interference. The objective of this study was to describe dosimetry outcomes in a group of patients who were implanted using the real-time ultrasound-guided technique who had prostate volumes ≥ 50 cm3. Materials and Methods: A total of 331 patients received an 125I prostate seed implant from January 1, 1995, to June 1, 1999, of whom 66 (20%) had prostate volumes ≥ 50 cm3 at the time of the procedure. The real-time seed implant method was used in all patients and consisted of intraoperative planning and real-time seed placement using a combination of axial and sagittal ultrasound imaging. Pubic arch interference was managed using an extended lithotomy position or by angling the tip of the ultrasound probe in an anterior direction. No preimplant pubic arch CT scan study was performed and no patients were excluded from treatment because of prostate size. Implant quality was assessed using CT-based dosimetry performed 1 month postimplant. Dose–volume histograms for the prostate, bladder, rectum, and urethra volumes were generated. The target dose for these implants was 160 Gy and an adequate implant was defined as the dose delivered to 90% of the prostate (D90) ≥ 140 Gy. The dose delivered to 95% of the prostate (D95) and doses to 30% of the rectal (DRECT30) and urethral (DURE30) volumes were also calculated. Results: Prostate volumes in the 66 patients ranged from 50 to 93 cm3 (median 57, mean 61 cm3). Total activity implanted was 27.8–89.1 mCi (median 57 mCi), with a range in activity per seed of 0.36–0.56 mCi (median 0.4 mCi). The prostate D90s and D95s ranged from 13,245 to 22,637 cGy (median 18,750) and 11,856 to 20,853 cGy (median 16,725), respectively. Only one patient (1.5%) had a D90 < 140 Gy. The DURE30 values ranged from 15,014 to 27,800 cGy (median 20,410) and the DRECT30 values were 3137–9910 cGy (median 5515). Conclusion: Implantation of the large prostate can be accomplished using the real-time method. A total of 98.5% of the patients receive a high-quality implant. In addition, these implants should not put patients at increased risk for significant urinary and bowel complications because urethral and rectal doses can be kept at acceptable levels.
Collapse Fragility of Steel Structures Subjected to Earthquake Mainshock-Aftershock Sequences

AbstractThis paper investigates the collapse probability of mainshock-damaged steel buildings in aftershocks, as an essential part of developing a framework to integrate aftershock seismic hazard into performance-based engineering (PBE). Analytical studies were conducted utilizing structural degradation models derived from existing publicly available NEEShub data. During earthquake events, aftershocks have the potential to cause severe damage to buildings and threaten life safety even when only minor damage is present from the mainshock. While aftershocks are normally somewhat smaller in magnitude, their ground motion intensity is not always smaller. Aftershocks may have a higher peak ground acceleration than the mainshock, even longer duration, and significantly different energy content as a result of the change in their location relative to the site. To date, the description of seismic hazard in PBE has not included the probability of aftershocks. In this study, the structural degradation model of a fou...
Alpha Interferon Enhances TRIM5α-Mediated Antiviral Activities in Human and Rhesus Monkey Cells

Dominant, constitutively expressed antiretroviral factors, including TRIM5α and APOBEC3 proteins, are distinguished from the conventional innate immune systems and are classified as intrinsic immunity factors. Here, we demonstrate that interferon alpha (IFN-α) treatment upregulates TRIM5α mRNA in rhesus monkey cells, which correlates with the enhanced TRIM5α-mediated pre- and postintegration blocks of human immunodeficiency virus replication. In human cells, IFN-α increases the levels of TRIM5α mRNA, resulting in enhanced antiviral activity against N-tropic murine leukemia virus infection. These observations indicate that the TRIM5α-mediated antiviral effects can be orchestrated by the conventional innate immune response. It is conceivable that TRIM5α plays an essential role in controlling both the initial retroviral exposure and the subsequent viral dissemination in vivo.
Influence of adenosine on basal myocardial function: observations in anaesthetised, domestic swine.

Data from experiments in isolated cardiac muscle preparations indicate that adenosine in high concentration (10−3 mol·litre−1) exerts a negative inotropic effect on the myocardium under basal conditions. The following study was performed to test the hypothesis that adenosine exerts a similar negative inotropic effect when administered in an intact animal model in a dose sufficient to cause maximal coronary vasodilatation. Six open chest anaesthetised pigs were studied as follows. Ultrasonic length sensors were placed in the endocardium of the free wall of the left ventricle in a region perfused by the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Large increases in endocardial blood flow in response to adenosine administration, which could enhance segmental function (“garden hose effect”), were prevented by inserting an artificial stenosis (73% reduction in lumenal diameter) in the proximal third of the LAD. Measurements of haemodynamics, regional myocardial blood flow (microsphere technique), and regional systolic function were made at control 1, at the end of 10 min of intracoronary adenosine infusion (3.0 μmol·min−1) at a dose which exceeded that previously shown to cause maximal coronary vasodilatation and at second control 20 to 40 min after discontinuation of adenosine infusion. In response to drug infusion there was no significant change (versus control 1) in heart rate (82±15 to 90±17 min−1, mean±1 SD), systolic arterial pressure (132±20 to 128±16 mmHg [17.6±2.6 to 17.0±2.1 kPa]), mean left atrial pressure (6±2 to 8±4 mmHg [0.8±0.3 to 1.1±0.5 kPa]) and endocardial blood flow (0.94±0.24 to 1.06±0.46 ml·min−1·g−1). Adenosine in LAD plasma attained an estimated concentration of 1.09 × 10−4 ± 5.16 × 10−5 mol·litre−1 during infusion. Regional systolic function (assessed by fractional shortening (FS), mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf, s−1), and end diastolic length (EDL, mm)) did not change significantly versus control 1 in response to adenosine infusion. Values for each parameter (control 1 to adenosine) were as follows: FS=0.17±0.03 to 0.16±0.20; Vcf=0.43±0.09 to 0.43±0.10; and EDL=17.4±4.0 to 16.9±4.2. Thus, contrary to the proposed hypothesis, under basal conditions adenosine does not exert a negative inotropic effect on the myocardium of an intact animal when administered in a dose sufficient to cause maximal coronary vasodilatation.
Public Employee Pension Funds and Social Investments: Recent Performance and a Policy Option for Changing Investment Strategies

Public employee pension funds have emerged as major sources of investment dollars for real estate development. The size of these funds has prompted periodic, but intense, interest in diverting some portion of the resources controlled by fund managers into socially desired investments. While there is a wide range of possible investments that could be classified as socially desirable, a commitment of a portion of the available resources to the redevelopment of metropolitan areas could have an important impact on deteriorating communities and areas that have struggled to attract resources from other investors. This article looks at the issue of social investing, past assessments of the investment strategies of pension funds, and then analyzes the real estate investments made by a group of large public employee pension funds in different States. In noting that the support for redeveloping deteriorating areas is, unfortunately, still lagging, a policy option is presented to increase the level of performance and measure its success.
Observations on Stream Minnows in a Patchy Environment: A Test of a Theory of Habitat Distribution

The seasonal habitat use and movement patterns of juvenile and adult Semotilus atro- maculatus and Rhinichthys atratulus, two stream-dwelling cyprinids, were studied for a period of 2 yr in a small headwater stream. The responses of the fish to the patchy habitat were used to test a prediction of the Fretwell-Lucas Theory of Habitat Distribution, namely that populations tend to be- come more uniformly distributed over habitat patches as population size increases. Marked individuals executed complex movement patterns which were species, age, and season dependent. Although all age classes of both species were able to move among all habitat patches, adult S. atromaculatus were clumped at high densities, while adults of R. atratulus and juveniles of both species conformed to the prediction of the theory. The clumping behavior observed at low population densities is discussed as a possible adaptation to ambush predation.
Antioxidant Property in Ginger Rhizome and Its Application to Meat Products

Some characteristics of an antioxidant factor in ginger rhizome were studied. The antioxidant property was evenly distributed across the cross-section of rhizome, and was very effective against lipid oxidation. Two thirds of the original activity remained after 2 hr of boiling. Its effectiveness was dependent on pH, increasing with increasing pH between 5 and 7. A linear relationship was observed between the amount of ginger extract added to the oxidation system and the protection factor values. The antioxidative effectiveness of ginger extract was further tested with fresh, frozen and precooked pork patties. The shelf life of all products determined by TBA value was improved by the inclusion of ginger extract.
Effect of moisture on asphaltic concrete at microwave frequencies

like cracking and ravelling. The existence of excess mois- ture affects both the elastic modulus and fatigue life of the asphaltic concrete pavements. Measurement of the moisture content in asphaltic con- URING the 1960s and 1970s, the construction of the Crete pavement is still limited. Although nuclear gauges DInterstate Highway System in the United States was have been used to detect the moisture content in hot-mix the largest public works project in history. The highway concrete, it was found that the detection of the moisture system is now almost complete. This effectively shifts the 'Ontent was affected by the 'Ontent Of the pave- emphasis from the construction of new pavements to sys- ment (21. tern preservation: maintenance and rehabilitation. For Since the 1960~~ there has been a gradual trend toward maintenance and rehabilitation purposes, information the use of electromagnetic techniques for pavement in- methods, depending on the measurement requirements. used to detect voids underneath reinforced and portland
A reasoning architecture for human-robot joint tasks using physics-,social-, and capability-based logic

This work outlines the development of a reasoning architecture that uses physics-, social-, and agent capability-based knowledge to generate manipulation strategies for a dexterous robot. The architecture learns object affordances through human observations, imposed constraints, and hardcoded physics logic. Human observations are also used to develop a unique manipulation repertoire suitable for the robot. Bayesian Networks are then used to probabilistically determine manipulation strategies for the robot to execute. The robot leverages this knowledge during experimental trials where manipulation strategies suggested by the reasoning architecture are shown to perform well during new manipulation tasks.
Performance analysis of multiple classes of traffic in Wi-Fi networks: A Markov chain-based approach

In this paper we introduce a mathematical model to analyze the performance of Wi-Fi networks carrying voice calls, TCP controlled file downloads, and video streaming traffic. We derive the voice call capacity, TCP throughput, video streaming throughput, and bandwidth utilization using the proposed five-dimensional Markov model. We show that there exists a correlation among the queue size of client nodes and the capacity and throughput of the network. We also demonstrate the effect of variable packet arrival rates on bandwidth utilization. Moreover, the proposed model is generic because some of the existing approaches become special cases of our model for a specific queue size. The analytical results match well with the experimental results generated by Qualnet simulator.
Rigorous quantification of polarized fiber continuum generation for broadband coherent optical sources

We develop a polarized coherent continuum source based on a dispersion-flattened dispersion-decreased all-normal dispersion fiber (DFDD-ANDiF). The rigorous quantification of continuum generation permits broadband ultrashort pulse shaping.
Clinical and radiological features of recurrent demyelination following acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

Abstract Objective To identify clinical and radiological features of children that relapse following an initial presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Methods Clinical records and neuroimaging of children under the age of 16 years presenting with ADEM to a pediatric neurology referral center between 2006 and 2010 were evaluated. Results Of the 32 children with ADEM, 24 (7 female) with a median age of 4.8 (range 3–15) had a monophasic course. Eight patients (25%; 4 female) with median age of 6.9 (range 3–16) had relapsing demyelination; 3 relapsing within the 3 month interval (still defined within a monophasic event); 4 with multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis (MDEM), and 1 with non-multiple sclerosis recurrent demyelination. Clinical features at presentation could not distinguish the monophasic from the relapsing group. Infratentorial imaging changes (brain stem and cerebellar) were seen more frequently in the relapsing group (8/8 vs. 20/24), although differences were not statistically significant. At relapse, seven of the eight patients had clinical and radiologic infratentorial syndromes involving brainstem and/or cerebellum. Only one patient had more than one relapse. After a median follow up of 27 months (range 0–96) across the whole group, no patients were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Conclusions ADEM patients with infratentorial demyelination are more likely to present with a second infratentorial demyelination, although clinical and radiological features at outset could not predict the relapsing cohort.
Decreased CD10-Positive Mature Granulocytes in Bone Marrow From Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Abstract Objective.—We retrospectively examined the maturation of the granulocytic cell lineage in bone marrow specimens from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) by flow cytometry using both light scatter and surface marker characteristics, including CD10 and myeloid lineage–associated antigens. Patients.—The 7 MDS cases we studied included 2 patients with refractory anemia (RA), 3 with RA with ringed sideroblasts, 1 with RA with excess of blasts, and 1 unclassified case. Another 7 patients matched for age and sex who received bone marrow aspirates for lymphoma staging (all negative for lymphoma involvement or any other hematologic abnormalities) were selected as the control group. Results.—The percentage of CD10+ mature granulocytes was significantly lower in patients with MDS than in control patients. Additionally, all patients with MDS had less than 50% CD10+ cells in the granulocytic lineage. In contrast, only 1 of the 7 control patients had less than 50% CD10+ cells (P < .01). Conclusions.—T...
REGENERATION OF PIGEON FAST AND SLOW MUSCLE FIBER TYPES AFTER PARTIAL EXCISION AND MINCING

The pigeon's metapatagialis muscles, containing fast fibers in two slips and slow fibers in another slip, were excised for a third of their length, minced, and replaced into their previous sites. After regeneration, the pattern of fiber types and their ATPase and oxidative enzymes were examined histochemically. Ultrastructural examination was carried out on the fast fibers. After 4-17 wk the muscles had regenerated into patterns histochemically similar to the controls only within the slip containing fast fibers. The slow slip was much less regenerated, and had a histochemically embryonic composition. Fiber types were characterized and their cross-sectional areas measured, and the degree of atrophy was greatest in the large fast fibers and the slow fibers. Ultrastructural studies revealed a number of alterations of the mitochondria, including dense and light areas in the matrix and an altered pattern of the cristae into parallel tubular or vesicular aggregations. Other changes included dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum, myofibril disorganization, and a compaction of filaments. The slow fibers were thought to be slower in their regeneration rates because of the pattern of multiple innervation's producing a more complex regenerative pattern.
Optically Guided Patient Positioning Techniques

Optical tracking determines an object's position by measuring light either emitted or reflected from the object. The hallmark of optical tracking systems is their high spatial resolution and measurement in real time; such systems can resolve the position of a point source within a fraction of a millimeter and report at a rate of 10 Hz or faster. Several systems have been developed for radiation therapy, all of which track infrared markers attached to the patient's external surface. The positions of the optical markers relative to the target volume, together with the desired marker positions relative to treatment isocenter, are determined during computed tomography simulation. In the treatment room, the real marker positions are measured relative to isocenter; rigid-body mathematics then determine marker displacements from their desired positions and hence target displacement from isocenter. Real-time feedback allows one to correct the patient's position. The first systems were used for intracranial stereotaxis radiotherapy; rigid arrays of optical markers were attached to the patient via a biteplate linkage. Subsequent systems for extracranial radiotherapy tracked external markers to determine patient position and/or gate the radiation beam based on patient motion. Lastly, optical tracking has been integrated with ultrasound or stereoscopic x-ray imaging to determine the position of internal anatomy targets relative to isocenter.
Evolutionary origins of Gondwanan interactions: How old are Araucaria beetle herbivores?

Studies of a variety of phenomena, ranging from rates of molecular substitution to rates of diversification, draw on estimates of geological age. Studies incorporating estimates of timing from fossils or other geological evidence are largely of relatively young, Tertiary divergences, to which older systems may provide useful comparisons. One apparently old assemblage comprises the beetle groups associated with the ancient genus Araucaria that share comparable, ostensibly Gondwanan distributions with their host. Our previous studies suggested a possibly Cretaceous age for Araucaria associations in bark beetles. However, the absence of confirmed bark beetle fossils earlier than the Tertiary has been taken as evidence of Cretaceous absence, and their confirmed phylogenetic position within the primitively angiosperm-feeding weevil family rules out pre-angiosperm, Jurassic origins. Nevertheless, an early shift from angiosperms to Araucaria seemed plausible in the light of Araucaria fossil history which spans the Mesozoic since the Jurassic. To resolve the phylogenetic affinities and to estimate divergence times of the Australian and South American bark beetle genera affiliated with Araucaria we analysed DNA sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial genes: protein coding elongation factor alpha, enolase and cytochrome oxidase I. The most parsimonious reconstruction of the host relationships of Tomicini from the combined dataset corroborates the ancestral association with the genus Araucaria of both South American and Australian Tomicini. Bayesian estimation of divergence times indicates that the divergence between the Australian and the South American Araucaria -feeding taxa occurred at the very latest in the Cretaceous/Paleocene border and that the age of the first Scolytinae–Araucaria association would then be during the later stages of the Late Cretaceous, while other known beetle/Araucaria associations are Jurassic.
Air–Ice–Ocean Momentum Exchange. Part 1:Energy Transfer between Waves and Ice Floes

Abstract The energy exchange between ocean surface waves and ice floes in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) involves the scattering and attenuation of wave energy and the excitation of oscillation modes of the ice floes, as open ocean waves propagate into the MIZ. Heave, pitch, and roll modes of oscillation are linked to estimation of wave scattering and attenuation. A model is presented for wave attenuation and compared to measurements from the Marginal Ice Zone Experiments in the Greenland Sea, as reported by Wadhams et al.