cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The molecular biology of thrombotic microangiopathy

Thrombotic microangiopathy, which includes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), shiga-toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (Stx-HUS) and atypical HUS, is characterized by the development of hyaline thrombi in the microvasculature resulting in thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolysis, and organ dysfunction. Renal failure is a predominant complication of both Stx-HUS and atypical HUS, whereas neurological complications are more prominent in TTP. Other disorders such as lupus or bone marrow transplantations may occasionally present with features of thrombotic microangiopathy. Recent studies have found autoimmune inhibitors or genetic mutations of a von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving metalloprotease ADAMTS13 in patients with TTP. In approximately 30–50% of patients with atypical HUS, mutations have been detected in complement factor H, membrane cofactor protein (CD46), or factor I. All three proteins are involved in the regulation of complement activation. Additionally, autoantibodies of factor H have been described in patients without genetic mutations. These advances illustrate that dysregulation of VWF homeostasis or complement activation owing to genetic or autoimmune mechanisms may lead to the syndrome of thrombotic microangiopathy.
Technique for intrapartum administration of surfactant without requirement for an endotracheal tube

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of administering surfactant into the nasopharynx during delivery, thus permitting the baby to aspirate the solution into the fluid-filled airway as an air–fluid interface is established. This process avoids the endotracheal intubation (ETI) and positive pressure ventilation (PPV) usually associated with prophylaxis, thus avoiding the pulmonary barotrauma associated with the conventional method of surfactant administration. STUDY DESIGN: In all, 23 neonates weighing 560 to 1804 g and born at 27 to 30 weeks had their nasopharyngeal airways suctioned and then 3.0–4.5 ml Infasurf® instilled into the nasopharynx before delivery of the shoulders. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 10 cmH2O was administered by mask as the babies initiated breathing. Nasal CPAP at 6 cmH2O was then continued for a minimum of 48 hours. RESULTS: In all, 13 of 15 babies delivered vaginally were weaned quickly to room air and required no further surfactant or endotracheal intubation for RDS. Five of eight babies delivered by C-section required subsequent endotracheal intubation soon after birth and two received subsequent endotracheal tube surfactant. CONCLUSION: Nasopharyngeal surfactant instillation at birth appears to be relatively safe and simple to accomplish, especially for vaginal births. A large randomized clinical trial will be required to determine the efficacy of this technique when compared to prophylaxis by endotracheal intubation and to nCPAP alone.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide removal: long-term consequences and commitment

Carbon capture from ambient air has been proposed as a mitigation strategy to counteract anthropogenic climate change. We use an Earth system model to investigate the response of the coupled climate–carbon system to an instantaneous removal of all anthropogenic CO2 from the atmosphere. In our extreme and idealized simulations, anthropogenic CO2 emissions are halted and all anthropogenic CO2 is removed from the atmosphere at year 2050 under the IPCC A2 CO2 emission scenario when the model-simulated atmospheric CO2 reaches 511 ppm and surface temperature reaches 1.8 °C above the pre-industrial level. In our simulations a one-time removal of all anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere reduces surface air temperature by 0.8 °C within a few years, but 1 °C surface warming above pre-industrial levels lasts for several centuries. In other words, a one-time removal of 100% excess CO2 from the atmosphere offsets less than 50% of the warming experienced at the time of removal. To maintain atmospheric CO2 and temperature at low levels, not only does anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere need to be removed, but anthropogenic CO2 stored in the ocean and land needs to be removed as well when it outgasses to the atmosphere. In our simulation to maintain atmospheric CO2 concentrations at pre-industrial levels for centuries, an additional amount of CO2 equal to the original CO2 captured would need to be removed over the subsequent 80 years.
Facilitating talk about new ideas: The role of personal relationships in organizational innovation

This research focuses on the relational and network conditions conducive to talk about new ideas. Although talk about new ideas does not guarantee implementation, it is a necessary and essential element in the overall innovation process. This paper includes two studies grounded in a perspective informed by politeness theory and the fundamental concern individuals have for the maintenance of personal face. The studies highlight the importance of relationships characterized by high content and role multiplexity, the relational attributions underlying the ties in which this type of talk occurs, and more. Discussion of the implications of these findings as well as directions for future research are also included.
Preventing infection from foodborne pathogens in liver transplant patients

Patients who have had an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) experience impaired immune function resulting from the disease process and the therapeutic use of immunosuppressive and antibacterial drugs. Immunoimpairment increases the risk of foodborne illness from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This article describes the organisms known to cause clinically important infections and their food sources, the distinctive clinical consequences of the infection in patients who have had an OLT, and methods of preventing foodborne illness in these patients and others. Dietitians are the health care providers typically responsible for teaching OLT patients and their caregivers about safe food handling and appropriate food choices.
Y Chromosomal Sequences Identified in Gonadal Tissue of Two 45,X Patients with Turner Syndrome.

We examined excised gonadal tissue obtained from two 45,X patients for evidence of Y chromosomal material. Both patients had features atypical for individuals with Turner syndrome, a large dysgerminoma in patient 1 and clitoromegaly in patient 2. Southern blot analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA was performed for five Y chromosome-specific probes (SRY, ZFY, DYZ3, KALY, and DYZ1). Fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH) with a combination probe specific for the DYZ1/DYZ3 loci was utilized. For both patients, Southern blot analysis of PCR-amplified DNA with primers for the SRY gene was positive. No signals were detected with the other Y chromosome-specific probes for patient 1. For patient 2, positive signals were obtained for all Y-specific probes. FISH was negative in the gonadal specimen from patient 1, while rare cells were positive in the sections from patient 2. Turner syndrome and mixed gonadal dysgenesis may represent different points on a continuum of disorders of sexual differentiation. Although the risk for gonadal tumors is considered to be low in patients with Turner syndrome, prospective evaluation is critical to ascertain: The frequency of somatic cell mosaicism for cell lines carrying Y chromosomal material, and how the presence of Y chromosomal material in patients with Turner syndrome affects the propensity for virilization and gonadal neoplasms.
Chiral cationic polyamines for chiral microcapsules and siRNA delivery.

Abstract Reported herein is the use of chiral cationic polyamines for two intriguing applications: fabrication of chiral covalently-linked microcapsules, and enantiospecific delivery of siRNA to Huh 7 cells. The microcapsules are easily fabricated from homochiral polymers, and the resulting architectures can be used for supramolecular chiral catalysis and many other potential applications. Enantiospecific delivery of siRNA to Huh 7 cells is seen by one ‘enantiomer’ of the polymers delivering siRNA with significantly improved transfection efficiency and reduced toxicity compared to the ‘enantiomeric’ polymer and commercially available transfection reagents. Taken together, the use of these easily accessible polyamine structures for diverse applications is highlighted in this Letter herein and can lead to numerous future research efforts.
Applications of the CPA to elemental tetrahedrally bonded amorphous semiconductors

Abstract It is pointed out that the CPA can easily be coupled with multiband, nearest-neighbor tight-binding Bethe-lattice Hamiltonians to fruitfully study the electronic structure of tetrahedrally bonded elemental amorphous semiconductors. Results are presented which illustrate the effects on the model semiconducting gap of (i) a rectangular distribution of site diagonal terms in the Hamiltonian, and (ii) vacancies distributed randomly over the lattice. The relationship of these results to experiment is briefly explored.
Patient satisfaction in resident and attending ambulatory care clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare patient satisfaction with care in resident and attending physician internal medicine ambulatory care clinics.
Effects of ionizing radiation (60Co gamma rays) on growth and morphogenesis ofHaworthia mirabilis, haw. Callus tissue

The effects of γ-radiation on growth and morphogenesis ofHaworthia callus in vitro were determined. The doses ranged from 100 to 5000 rads. Survival, growth pattern, growth rate, and differentiation of vegetative buds and roots in both irradiated and nonirradiated callus were compared. Growth data up to 24 weeks for irradiated and control cultures were analyzed. The dose range between 800 to 2500 rads produced compact callus as compared to the controls which were friable. After 12 weeks all control cultures differentiated vegetative buds with roots, whereas callus exposed to 800 to 2500 rads continued to grow with little or no organogenesis. However, it was observed that the wet and dry weights of callus receiving 1000 to 1500 rads ultimately exceeded those of nonirradiated controls.
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in acute respiratory failure: Does it improve outcomes?

Studies have shown that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is well tolerated and safe, and that it improves oxygenation in some patients with acute respiratory failure. By obviating the need for endotracheal intubation in certain conditions, it results in fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and consequently, lower mortality rates and costs of care.
Impurity induced disordering of OMVPE-grown ZnSe/ZnS strained layer superlattices by germanium diffusion

We report the first confirmation of disordering of ZnSe/ZnS strained layer superlattices (SLSs) by Ge diffusion. The as-grown sample showed ±first orders of well-resolved double crystal x-ray satellite peaks due to SLS periodic structure. However, the satellite peaks completely disappeared in the Ge-diffused sample, indicating that the SLS structure was disordered by the Ge diffusion. Photoluminescence measurements at 1.4K of both the as-grown and the annealed samples without Ge diffusion show identical, sharp excitonic emission around 420 nm. After Ge diffusion, the PL peaks shift to higher energy confirming the layer disordering of the SLS.
Combined Sacral Nerve Roots Stimulation and Low Thoracic Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Some pelvic pain syndromes are very resistant to medical treatment. Several studies have demonstrated that sacral neuromodulation, which has been successfully used for the treatment of bladder dysfunction, incontinence, urinary retention and urinary frequency [1]-[3], can be successfully used for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain [4]-[7]. Several studies have also demonstrated significant involvement of dorsal column pathways in the transmission of visceral pelvic pain [8] and the successful use of spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain [9]. We report three cases of severe chronic pelvic pain that failed conservative treatment modalities. Placement of a combined sacral nerve roots stimulator and a low thoracic spinal cord stimulator resulted in a significant pain relief and improvement in daily life activities. We believe that this combination may help patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain resistant to medical management.
New Acousto-Optic Devices For Fourier Transformation

Acousto-optical computation of continuous and discrete Fourier transforms have been performed using a time-integrating architecture. Time-integration in conjunction with diode lasers and bulk optics can be used to produce inherently compact optical systems, and several compact processors have been demonstrated. Performance parameters and tradeoffs have been analyzed for these processors, and present device limitations identified. Additional new concepts for miniaturization, including application of integrated optics, and multichannel operation are discussed.
Predicted Film Cooling Near Flush Slots-Comparison with Experiment

The suitability of a finite difference scheme based on parabolic boundary-layer equations for predicting film cooling flows and heat-transfer downstream of flush, angled injection slots is explored. The angled configuration of the slot, which is typical of those employed to cool aerodynamic surfaces on gas turbine engine components, makes flow separation highly probable with the implication that the proper equations describing the flow are elliptic, rather than parabolic. Nevertheless, economy of computation time and compatability with upstream computational methods make retention of the parabolic model desirable if acceptable accuracy is attainable with it. The present study involves measurement of velocity and temperature profiles both upstream and downstream of the injection slot together with heat-transfer rates on the downstream surface. The measured profiles immediately downstream of the slot are used as starting values for prediction of the downstream fields with a parabolic finite difference model similar to that given by Patankar and Spalding. It is found that in the present case of shallow (20°) injection angles, both the downstream fields and surface heat-transfer rates are predicted with acceptable accuracy.
The advantage of capitalism vs. socialism depends on the criterion

The talk given by the second author, L. A. Shepp, at the Linnik symposium, St.Petersburg, April 2005. We consider two distinct government tax policies towards companies: the republican policy gives tax breaks to the richer companies, while the democratic policy would perhaps give breaks to the weaker companies in hopes to keep them alive and so reduce unemployment. Which policy is better? We show that this depends on the optimization criterion, at least for the case of two companies, which is all that we can handle, in the stated mathematical formulation of the question.
New MILP formulation for instrumentation network design and upgrade

The problem of instrumentation network design and upgrade consists of determining the optimal set of instruments to obtain sufficiently accurate and reliable estimates of variables. An existing formulation of the cost optimal sensor network design and upgrade problem (Bagajewicz, 1997) is in the form of a mathematical programming problem, but it has the disadvantage that the constraints are not stated explicitly in analytical form, forcing therefore a special tree search solution procedure. An alternative MILP formulation is presented, which is useful for small to medium size problems, where all constraints are explicit.
Advantage of the Highly Restricted Odorant Receptor Expression Pattern in Chemosensory Neurons of Drosophila

A fundamental molecular feature of olfactory systems is that individual neurons express only one receptor from a large odorant receptor gene family. While numerous theories have been proposed, the functional significance and evolutionary advantage of generating a sophisticated one-receptor-per neuron expression pattern is not well understood. Using the genetically tractable Drosophila melanogaster as a model, we demonstrate that the breakdown of this highly restricted expression pattern of an odorant receptor in neurons leads to a deficit in the ability to exploit new food sources. We show that animals with ectopic co-expression of odorant receptors also have a competitive disadvantage in a complex environment with limiting food sources. At the level of the olfactory system, we find changes in both the behavioral and electrophysiological responses to odorants that are detected by endogenous receptors when an olfactory receptor is broadly misexpressed in chemosensory neurons. Taken together these results indicate that restrictive expression patterns and segregation of odorant receptors to individual neuron classes are important for sensitive odor-detection and appropriate olfactory behaviors.
Differential translation of TOP mRNAs in rapamycin-treated human B lymphocytes

TOP mRNAs (contain a 5' terminal oligopyrimidine tract) are differentially translated in rapamycin-treated human B lymphocytes. Following rapamycin treatment, ribosomal protein (rp) and translation elongation factor TOP mRNAs were translationally repressed, whereas hnRNP A1 TOP mRNA was not. Poly(A)-binding protein (Pabp1) TOP mRNA was translationally repressed under all conditions tested. To investigate the mechanism involved, chimeric mRNAs containing the hnRNP A1 5' untranslated region (UTR) linked to the human growth hormone (hGH) reporter were analyzed. Wild-type hnRNP A1 construct mRNA behaved similarly to endogenous hnRNP A1, whereas a single mutation (guanosine to cytidine) within the TOP element resulted in increased translational regulation. These results suggest that TOP mRNA translation can be modulated and that all TOP mRNAs are not translated with equal efficiency.
Exhaled nitric oxide, lung function, and exacerbations in wheezy infants and toddlers.

Background There are limited data assessing the relationship between fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and lung function or exacerbations in infants with recurrent wheezing. Objectives In a longitudinal pilot study of children less than 2 years old, we assessed whether baseline fraction of exhaled nitric oxide was associated with lung function, bronchodilator responsiveness, changes in lung function, or subsequent exacerbations of wheezing. Methods Forced expiratory flows and volumes using the raised-volume rapid thoracic compression method were measured in 44 infants and toddlers (mean age, 15.7 months) with recurrent wheezing. Single-breath exhaled nitric oxide (SB-eNO) was measured at 50 mL/s. Lung function was again measured 6 months after enrollment. Results At enrollment, forced expiratory volume in 0.5 seconds (FEV 0.5 ), forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of expiration (FEF 25-75 ), and forced expiratory flow at 75% of expiration (FEF 75 ) z scores for the cohort were significantly less than zero. There was no correlation between enrollment SB-eNO levels and enrollment lung function measures. SB-eNO levels were higher in infants with bronchodilator responsiveness (46.1 vs 23.6 ppb, P 0.5 ( r = −0.54, P = .001), FEF 25-75 ( r = −0.6, P 75 ( r = −0.55, P = .001) over 6 months. A 10-ppb increase in SB-eNO level was associated with a 0.4-point z score decrease in FEV 0.5 , a 0.4-point z score decrease in FEF 25-75 , and a 0.42-point z score decrease in FEF 75 . SB-eNO level was superior to lung function and bronchodilator responsiveness in predicting subsequent wheezing treated with systemic steroids. Conclusions SB-eNO level might predict changes in lung function and risk of future wheezing and holds promise as a biomarker to predict asthma in wheezy infants and toddlers.
ICD Restudy: Results and Potential Benefit from Routine Predischarge and 2‐Month Evaluation

Evaluation of ICD function can now be performed noninvasively with intravenous sedation. To determine the value of follow-up electrophysiological studies for ICD implants, we performed a retrospective review of predischarge and 2-month ICD re studies, identifying critical problems uncovered. Of the 123 patients implanted, 122 had a predischarge study, 105 had both predischarge and elective 2-month follow-up studies, and 1 patient expired prior to restudy. Patients who underwent 2-month studies for nonelective indications (e.g., frequent shocks) were excluded from analysis. Programming changes were made in 62% of the predischarge studies (n = 122) and 70% of the elective 2-month studies (n = 105). The average number of programming changes per study was 1.3 for predischarge testing and 1.1 for 2-month testing. The most common changes at predischarge testing were adjustment of the tachyarrhythmia rate cutoff (35%) and at 2-month study, reprogramming of bradycardia pacing parameters (41%). Of the patients who underwent both predischarge and 2-month testing, 91% had programming changes in at least one of their re studies. Of 227 re studies performed, 18 studies in 14 patients yielded 24 critical findings which included: DFT increases to > or = 25 J (n = 13); sensing abnormalities of induced ventricular arrhythmia (n = 6); dislodged lead (n = 2); and serious pacemaker interactions (n = 3). Six of these critical cases (5% of total patients) required reoperation. The data suggests that routine ICD restudy is a valuable tool for management of the ICD patient. Additionally, ICD restudy is likely to increase the diagnostic yield of clinically silent critical system problems that could result in device failure.
Genome-wide analysis of the regulatory function mediated by the small regulatory psm-mec RNA of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Several methicillin resistance (SCCmec) clusters characteristic of hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains harbor the psm-mec locus. In addition to encoding the cytolysin, phenol-soluble modulin (PSM)-mec, this locus has been attributed gene regulatory functions. Here we employed genome-wide transcriptional profiling to define the regulatory function of the psm-mec locus. The immune evasion factor protein A emerged as the primary conserved and strongly regulated target of psm-mec, an effect we show is mediated by the psm-mec RNA. Furthermore, the psm-mec locus exerted regulatory effects that were more moderate in extent. For example, expression of PSM-mec limited expression of mecA, thereby decreasing methicillin resistance. Our study shows that the psm-mec locus has a rare dual regulatory RNA and encoded cytolysin function. Furthermore, our findings reveal a specific mechanism underscoring the recently emerging concept that S. aureus strains balance pronounced virulence and high expression of antibiotic resistance.
Visual pigment regeneration: occurrence in frog retina upside down upon the pigment epithelium.

Visual pigment regeneration in the frog requires apposition between the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. However, regeneration occurs nearly as well with the retina upside down (i.e. with the inner limiting membrane facing the pigment epithelium) as right side up.
Ricardian Equivalence: Further Evidence

The Ricardian Hypothesis states that for a given level of government expenditure, aggregate demand is neutral to changes in the debt-to-tax ratio. Many economists argue that the private and governm...
PSEUDOTUMOR HEPATIS IN TYPE I GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE (VON GIERKE'S)

Patients with liver glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency are at risk for developing hepatomata in adult life. Investigations during adolescence and early adult life indicate that these patients may have discrete filling defects as well as depressed isotope uptake on liver scan with technitium sulfur colloid but only mild abnormalities of liver related serum chemistries (Table). On hepatic anglograms in two patients, the filling defects appeared as vascular masses consistent with primary or metastatic malignancy; biopsy showed increased glycogen content but no changes of malignancy. Other storage disorders affecting the liver which have been investigated to date have not shown similar abnormalities on liver scan, nor do they have the tendency for developing malignancy in later life.
Preservice Teachers' Stories Of Mathematics Classrooms: Explorations Of Practice Through Fictional Accounts

This report describes four preservice secondary teachers' fictional accounts about mathematics classrooms. The narrative structures and meanings of the preservice teachers' stories, written while the preservice teachers were enrolled in a secondary methods course, were examined with the goal of gaining insight into the preservice teachers' emerging identities as mathematics teachers. Although past research has examined experienced teachers' stories, little research, if any, has focused on stories written by preservice mathematics teachers or on intentionally fictional stories about mathematics classrooms. This report uses methods of narrative analysis to develop understandings about preservice teachers' storied identities and specifies areas for further investigation into the role of narrative in mathematics teacher education.
Phyletic trends in sections Eublepharis and Calliopsis of the genus Coreopsis (Compositae)

Artificial hybridization, fertility of interspecific and intersectional hybrids, chromosome numbers, and trends in habit and morphology in taxa of sections Eublepharis and Calliopsis of the genus Coreopsis are used to consider the sectional relationships and to derive a presumed phylogeny for the two sections. The two sections are closely related and show a low level of interfertility, but this level is as high as in some interspecific crosses within sections. The sections differ in base chromosome number and achene winging. The problematic C. rosea evidently should remain in section Eublepharis. Both sections probably arose from x = 13 stock resembling C. integrifolia or C. pubescens. Descending aneuploidy was involved in the derivation of section Calliopsis, while chromosome evolution in section Eublepharis has involved polyploidy.
Echindoderm Gametes Make PAF; Artificial Activation by External PAF Bipasses Calcium Channels Regulated by 2APB Unlike Jelly Activation of Sperm

The search for lipid changes at fertilization shows production of PAF, a phospholipid known as Platelet Activating Factor. Effects on gametes by externally applied PAF suggest it may be involved in several less understood calcium dependent events of fertilization. PAF artificially activates both echinoderm eggs and sperm. Calcium channel drugs 2APB, ruthenium red, nitrendipine and nifedipine and pH 5 SW do not prevent it, but external calcium must be present. 2APB does prevent normal jelly activation of sperm. Egg PAF activation includes cortical reaction or cell shape change. Sperm PAF activation increases adhesivity, the sperm winds up on itself, or dissociates the acrosome, nucleus and mitochondria. Natural PAF produced could alter cell activation, adhesion, fusion, fertilization cone and sperm nuclear changes after entry into egg. Positive effects of PAF and its receptor on capacitation, activation of sperm and embryo viability have been known from in vitro fertilization studies, but mechanisms remain mysterious.
The estimation of age at death and ages of formation of transverse lines from measurements of human long bones

A radiographic method is presented which estimates the age at death from the diaphyseal length of a child's long bone or bones. Mean lengths are calculated from adult males and females separately in the skeletal population under study, and the child's age derived from the proportion of adult length attained at his or her death. The calculations come from double logistic curves originally derived from a sample of Colorado children (McCammon, 1970). In radiographs of immature or adult long bones, similar equations are based on the location of the center of ossification, from which distances to transverse lines yield estimated ages when these lines were formed. In a population, ages at death, ages of attainment of transverse lines, and ages when anomalous enamel is laid down in teeth are all contributions to paleopathology and paleodemography. These equations can predict when spaced transverse lines were annually formed. If such spaced lines can be seen in radiographs of early fossil hominids, their spacing can distinguish between short childhood, as in apes, and the longer immature developmental span found in modern children.
Iron Chalcogenide Photovoltaic Absorbers

An integrated computational and experimental study of FeS₂ pyrite reveals that phase coexistence is an important factor limiting performance as a thin-film solar absorber. This phase coexistence is suppressed with the ternary materials Fe₂SiS₄ and Fe₂GeS₄, which also exhibit higher band gaps than FeS₂. Thus, the ternaries provide a new entry point for development of thin-film absorbers and high-efficiency photovoltaics.
Gld mutation of Fas ligand increases the frequency and up-regulates cell survival genes in CD25+CD4+ TR cells.

The Fas pathway and regulatory T (TR) cells play intertwining roles in controlling T cell tolerance through deletion and suppression of autoreactive T cells. Impairment of either mechanism causes severe T cell lymphoproliferation albeit with opposing outcomes. T cell lymphoproliferation induced by defective Fas pathway does not cause overt lymphocytic infiltration but rather prevents an important set of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. In contrast, deficiency in TR cell causes fulminant autoimmunity in very early life and fatal lymphocytic infiltration. These observations suggest existence of unidirectional fail/safe mechanism that compensate for defects in the Fas pathway but not in regulatory cells. To gain insights into how animals compensate for defects in the Fas system, we analyzed the impact of generalized lymphoproliferative disease (gld) mutation on survival, function and transcription profile of CD251CD41 TR cells. Our results show that all CD4 T cells expanded in gld mice. However, CD251CD41 TR cells are disproportionately increased in the pool of CD4 T cells perhaps due to their unique apoptosis phenotype. Freshly isolated CD251CD41 TR cells, unlike CD25CD41 T cells, are highly sensitive to FasL-induced apoptosis in the steady state. CD251CD41 TR cells that accumulate in gld mice express similar level of Foxp3, and have suppression potency and TR gene expression profile as wild-type CD251CD41 TR cells. Furthermore, the transcription profile of gld CD251CD41 TR cells is characterized by differential expression of genes involved in cell survival, metabolism and innate immune responses. These results provide a strong cellular and molecular basis for understanding why impaired Fas pathway prevents an important subset of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Digital Augmentation of RF Component Performance in Software-Defined Radio

This paper presents two tools for feedforward correction in transmitter chains in software-defined radio. The methods presume that the radio configuration already has a gate array and a mixer juxtaposed with one another. Programming is added in the gate array to affect preconditioning of the signals presented to in-phase and quadrature channels of a hybrid mixer so as to correct and enhance the analog RF performance of the mixer. The first of the methods comprises a realization with off-the-shelf components of feedback of the RF output of the mixer. Spectrum analysis in the gate array allows separation and cancellation of the unwanted difference-frequency sideband in the mixer's output. The second tool is a feedforward correction of imperfect performance of a hybrid mixer. The correction parameters are determined through sideband reduction via the feedback scheme in the first method. It is shown that the correction scheme performs well even for very large deviations from the ideal in the mixer parameters. As a consequence, the scheme may be used to extend the operating band of the gate-array/mixer combination to extreme bandwidths-approaching 200%.
Wafer scale integration of one- and two-dimensional linear arrays

Practical methods are presented for constructing one- and two-dimensional linear arrays. it is shown that, with a given probability, a square two-dimensional array can be constructed from most of the live cells on an n*n cell wafer using wires of length theta ( square root log n) and channels of width O( square root log n). By applying recent research results in percolation theory, one- and two-dimensional arrays of live cells embedding on a wafer can also be constructed. In terms of bounds of wire lengths and channel widths, the methods introduced are better than methods reported in the literature. >
Nanoparticle suspensions studied by x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy

Multispeckle x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements, carried out at beamline 8-ID at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, of opaque suspensions of silica nanoparticles in water and lutidine-water binary mixtures are presented.
Solving robot navigation problems with initial pose uncertainty using real-time heuristic search

We study goal-directed navigation tasks in mazes, where the robots know the maze but do not know their initial pose (position and orientation). These search tasks can be modeled as planning tasks in large non-deterministic domains whose states are sets of poses. They can be solved efficiently by interleaving planning and plan execution, which can reduce the sum of planning and plan-execution time because it allows the robots to gather information early. We show how Min-Max LRTA*, a real-time heuristic search method, can solve these and other planning tasks in non-deterministic domains efficiently. It allows for fine-grained control over how much planning to do between plan executions, uses heuristic knowledge to guide planning, and improves its plan-execution time as it solves similar planning tasks, until its plan-execution time is at least worst-case optimal. We also show that Min-Max LRTA* solves the goal-directed navigation tasks fast, converges quickly, and requires only a small amount of memory.
Increased tryptophan uptake on PET has strong independent prognostic value in patients with a previously treated high-grade glioma

Background. Previously, we demonstrated the high accuracy of alpha-[ 11 C]methyl-L-tryptophan (AMT) PET for differentiating recurrent gliomas from radiation injury. The present study evaluated the prognostic value of increased AMT uptake in patients with previously treated high-grade glioma. Methods. AMT-PET was performed in 39 patients with suspected recurrence of World Health Organization grades III– IV glioma following surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Mean and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVs) and unidirectional AMT uptake (K) were measured in brain regions suspicious for tumor and compared with the contralateral cortex (ie, background). Optimal cutoff thresholds for 1-year survival prediction were determined for each AMT parameter and used for calculating the prognostic value of high (above threshold) versus low (below threshold) values for post-PET overall survival (OS). Results. In univariate analyses, 1-year survival was strongly associated with 3 AMT parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, and tumor-to-background K-ratio; odds ratios: 21.3 – 25.6; P ≤ .001) and with recent change in MRI contrast enhancement (odds ratio: 14.7; P ¼ .02). Median OS was 876 days in the low- versus 177 days in the high-AMT groups (log-rank P , .001). In multivariate analyses, all 3 AMT parameters remained strong predictors of survival: high AMT values were associated with unfavorable 1-year survival (binary regression P ≤ .003) and shorter overall survival in the whole group (Cox regression hazard ratios: 5.3 –10.0) and in patients with recent enhancement change on MRI as well (hazard ratios: 7.0–9.3; P ≤ .001). Conclusion. Increased AMT uptake on PET is highly prognostic for 1-year and overall survival, independent of MRI contrast enhancement and other prognostic factors in patients with a previously treated high-grade glioma.
Structure and Functions of the Kirsten Murine Sarcoma Virus Genome: Molecular Cloning of Biologically Active Kirsten Murine Sarcoma Virus DNA

The unintegrated closed circular form of viral DNA prepared from NIH3T3 cells infected with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus was cloned into bacterial plasmid pBR322. The closed circular DNA, which consisted of two different-sized populations, was enriched from the virus-infected cells, linearized with BamHI, and inserted into pBR322 DNA. Four different recombinant DNAs (clones 2, 4, 6, and 7) were obtained, and a physical map of each was constructed by using various restriction enzymes. Clone 4 DNA had the largest insertion, corresponding to a complete copy of the linear DNA. This suggested that this insertion contained two copies of the 0.55-kilobase pair long terminal redundant sequence. Clone 2 and clone 6 insertion DNAs had deletions of 0.2 and 0.5 kilobase pair, respectively, which mapped near the right end (3' side of viral RNA) of the linear DNA. Clone 7 DNA appeared to have a deletion of a single copy of the large terminal redundant sequence. Transfection of BALB3T3 cells with the clone 4 DNA insertion showed that this DNA had transforming activity. The efficiency of transfection with clone 4 Kirsten murine sarcoma virus DNA was enhanced eightfold by inserting EcoRI-cleaved viral DNA into the EcoRI site of pBR322. The EcoRI-inserted DNA produced foci with single-hit kinetics, suggesting that a single molecule of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus DNA can induce transformation. Results of transfections with EcoRI-inserted Kirsten murine sarcoma virus DNA cleaved with various restriction enzymes suggested that the first 3.3-kilobase pair region at the left end of the linear DNA is important for the initiation of transformation or maintenance of transformation or both.
Wavelet modulation performance in Gaussian and Rayleigh fading channels

Wavelet modulation simultaneously sends data at multiple rates through an unknown channel. Previous research has demonstrated that wavelet modulation bit error rate performance in the additive white Gaussian noise channel is comparable to theoretical binary phase shift keying. We extend the investigation to the performance of wavelet modulation in several time varying channels: Rayleigh, flat, slow fading channels and frequency selective, slow fading channels.
Philostratus' "Heroikos" and its setting in reality

This paper discusses the background in reality of the Heroikos (Dialogue concerning Heroes), which is ascribed to Philostratus of Athens, and is mainly devoted to the hero Protesilaos. After a summary of the work, the paper considers it from four aspects. The time of writing falls after 217 (the second victory at Olympia of the athlete Helix of Phoenicia); there may be a reference to events in Thessaly under the emperor Alexander Severus (222-235). If the author is the well-known Philostratus, then such a date also implies a dramatic date in the author?s own time. This is corroborated by two series of references which appear to run from the comparatively recent past to the present. One of these concerns bones of heroes, while the other concerns athletes to whom the hero Protesilaos had given advice in the form of oracles. The geographical setting of the dialogue is Elaious in the Thracian Chersonese. The evidence for the cult of Protesilaos on the territory of Elaious comes from literature, notably Herodotus, from coins of the time of Commodus, and from modern observations, notably a vivid account given by Heinrich Schliemann. While Philostratus? description of the cult-place at Elaious appears very accurate, his account of the Island of Achilles in the Pontus is less so. Finally, the paper considers the Heroikos in the context of contemporary belief about heroes and their powers. Another work probably by the same author, the Life of Apollonius of Tyana, is adduced to assess the credulity of readers in Philostratus? time and later. Documents and literature of the imperial period show that even dead contemporaries could be regarded as heroes, who were still influential even from beyond the grave. The references to Protesilaos in literature (Pausanias, Lucian) strongly suggest that he was regarded as issuing oracles in the form of dreams, and this too accords with beliefs about heroes both in the Hellenistic period and in the Roman.
Supported Alumina Members by an in‐Situ Sol–Gel Method

Alumina membranes were prepared using a sol-gel process. Thin gel layers were grown onto porous alumina support tubes by using the permeation of water through the tube to control the rate of hydrolysis. Optimum coating conditions were found to be an ASB to 2-propanol volume ratio of 1:25, coating times between 10 and 15 s, and partial drying times between 2.5 and 3 min, depending on whether the water was flowing in the tube or stored int he tube. The coatings remained crack-free and adherent when fired to 800 o C
Development of cell therapy strategies to overcome copper toxicity in the LEC rat model of Wilson disease

Aims: Therapeutic replacement of organs with healthy cells requires disease-specific strategies. As copper toxicosis due to ATP7B deficiency in Wilson disease produces significant liver injury, disease-specific study of transplanted cell proliferation will offer insights into cell and gene therapy mechanisms. Materials & methods: We used Long–Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats to demonstrate the effects of liver preconditioning with radiation and ischemia reperfusion, followed by transplantation of healthy Long–Evans Agouti rat hepatocytes and analysis of hepatic atp7b mRNA, bile copper, liver copper and liver histology. Results: LEC rats without cell therapy or after transplantation of healthy cells without liver conditioning accumulated copper and showed liver disease during the study period. Liver conditioning incorporating hepatic radiation promoted transplanted cell proliferation and reversed Wilson disease parameters, although with interindividual variations and time lags for improvement, which were differen...
Fibronectin matrix polymerization regulates small airway epithelial cell migration

The continuous conversion of soluble fibronectin into extracellular matrix fibrils occurs through a dynamic, cell-dependent process. As the extracellular matrix is assembled, changes in the conformation of matrix proteins may expose biologically active, matricryptic sites that alter cell behavior. In this study, an in vitro model of wound healing was used to determine the role of matrix fibronectin in airway epithelial cell motility. Our findings indicate that, under basal conditions, small airway epithelial cell (SAEC) migration requires active fibronectin matrix polymerization. Furthermore, SAEC migration is increased significantly by the interaction of cells with a recombinant construct containing fibronectin's matricryptic III-1 site. In contrast, addition of increasing amounts of fibronectin to SAECs significantly decreased the rate of cell migration. This fibronectin-induced inhibition of cell migration was overcome by blocking excess fibronectin matrix deposition. These data indicate that SAEC migration is regulated in a biphasic manner by the polymerization of fibronectin in the extracellular matrix and suggest a stimulatory role for fibronectin's matricryptic III-1 site in cell motility.
Intergranular Corrosion Following Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloy 7075-T651

Abstract Friction stir welding (FSW), a relatively new solid-state joining process, is used to join Al alloys of all compositions, including alloys essentially considered unweldable. This study foc...
XIV *—MAKING SENSE OF RELATIVE TRUTH

The goal of this paper is to make sense of relativism about truth. There are two key ideas. (1) To be a relativist about truth is to allow that a sentence or proposition might be assessment-sensitive: that is, its truth value might vary with the context of assessment as well as the context of use. (2) Making sense of relativism is a matter of understanding what it would be to commit oneself to the truth of an assessment-sensitive sentence or proposition.
Constraint propagation for efficient inference in Markov logic

Many real world problems can be modeled using a combination of hard and soft constraints. Markov Logic is a highly expressive language which represents the underlying constraints by attaching realvalued weights to formulas in first order logic. The weight of a formula represents the strength of the corresponding constraint. Hard constraints are represented as formulas with infinite weight. The theory is compiled into a ground Markov network over which probabilistic inference can be done. For many problems, hard constraints pose a significant challenge to the probabilistic inference engine. However, solving the hard constraints (partially or fully) before hand outside of the probabilistic engine can hugely simplify the ground Markov network and speed probabilistic inference. In this work, we propose a generalized arc consistency algorithm that prunes the domains of predicates by propagating hard constraints. Our algorithm effectively performs unit propagation at a lifted level, avoiding the need to explicitly ground the hard constraints during the pre-processing phase, yielding a potentially exponential savings in space and time. Our approach results in much simplified domains, thereby, making the inference significantly more efficient both in terms of time and memory. Experimental evaluation over one artificial and two real-world datasets show the benefit of our approach.
Decision Making in Ablation: Disease, Patients, and Institutional Factors

Decision making in endoscopic ablation therapy involves assessment of the disease, the patient, and institutional factors. A lesion in the Barrett’s esophagus can be classified as “low risk” if the diameter is less than 2 cm, if it is well or moderately differentiated, and if it is limited to the mucosa. The patient’s life expectancy, comorbidity, adherence to endoscopy, and attitude toward cancer risk all have to be considered. Finally, the local expertise in histologic assessment, staging, and surgery needs to be taken into account in an extensive discussion of therapeutic options with the patient.
Enhanced Versus Optimized Multiple Objective Coagulation

Enhanced Coagulation is a new regulatory requirement in the United States aimed at removing TOC by coagulation thereby controlling formation of disinfection byproducts. A multiple objective framework for coagulation, called Optimum Coagulation, is developed and contrasted to Enhanced Coagulation. The paper shows that this approach should be incorporated into Enhanced Coagulation studies. Water utilities unable to meet Enhanced Coagulation Step 1 requirements must conduct coagulation tests to determine alternative TOC removals. For low alkalinity waters these tests must be done at a pH no greater than 5.5. The paper shows that while this is favorable for coagulation of NOM, it can cause residual Al and floc separation problems. Optimum coagulation pH for alum depends on water temperature and ranges from pH 6–7 for treatment of low alkalinity waters. Optimum Coagulation conditions are those that maximize pathogen (Cryptosporidium) removals, produce low turbidities and particle counts, and minimize residual Al.