cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Catalytic Intramolecular Hydroamination of Aminoallenes by Tantalum Amidoalkoxide Complexes

A series of tantalum complexes of chiral bidentate amidoalkoxide ligands was prepared. The crystal structure of one complex, Ta(NMe2)3[-OCPh2CH(CHMe2)N(c-C6H11)-] was obtained. Unlike previously described titanium complexes with these ligands, which are dimeric with bridging oxygen atoms, this tantalum complex is monomeric with an approximate trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The resulting complexes were examined for their in situ activity for catalytic asymmetric hydroamination/cyclization of an aminoallene. Enantioselectivities up to 80% ee were observed for the cyclization of 6-methylhepta-4,5-dienylamine to 2-(2-methylpropenyl)pyrrolidine at 135 °C with 5 mol % catalyst loading.
Clonal growth of Chinese hamster cell lines in protein-free media

A protein-free synthetic medium, MCDB 301, has been developed for clonal growth of Chinese hamster ovary cell lines. Medium F12 was developed originally for that purpose, but later failed to support good growth without small amounts of serum protein. Growth was restored by the addition of nonphysiological amounts of commercially prepared thyroxine or smaller amounts of the trace element selenium. The thyroxine preparation was shown to contain sufficient selenium to account for all of its growth-promoting activity. MCDB 301 contains increased concentrations of calcium chloride and glutamine, and a smaller amount of cysteine than medium F12. It also has been supplemented with 19 inorganic ions, in addition to selenium and those in medium F12, in order to insure against possible future deficiencies as chemicals are purified further. A Chinese hamster lung line which will not grow in MCDB 301 alone will grow when the medium is supplemented either with methylcellulose or with insulin. The growth-promoting activity is thought to be an impurity shared in common by both substances. The probable “essential” role of impurities in cellular growth in most synthetic media and the problems involved in attempting to develop a truly “defined” medium are discussed.
Bond strength development between latex-modified cement paste and steel

Abstract Bond strength development between latex-modified cement paste and steel was determined using a new technique, the overhanging beam method. Six latexes were studied. In general bond strength is improved with latex addition. Factors affecting bond strength include non-evaporable water content, heat of hydration, and CH content. The role of the interface zone on bond strength has been evaluated.
Isolated ice floe impacts

Abstract This paper summarizes all available data related to ice floe impacts on structures. These data include laboratory tests, forces on several bridge piers (Hondo, Pembina, Rideau), forces from small icebergs impacting dedicated test structures (Grappling Island, Newmans Cove), first-year and multi-year ice impacts on the offshore structure Molikpaq, and the Hans Island experiments. The data represent ice masses covering ten orders of magnitude and impact forces covering seven orders of magnitude. The impacts were analyzed using various simple approaches and it was found that the impact force was best related to the kinetic energy of the floe at impact. This energy ranged over thirteen orders of magnitude in value. There was a good correlation of the impact force (F) with the energy (E) at impact with a function form F = A E0.532 where F is in MN and E is in GJ. The coefficient A was determined to be 61.7 for the “likely” impact force and 388 for the upper-limit impact force. The reason for this wide range is discussed and related to the wide range of ice strength and failure modes of the ice. The equation is applied to provide guidance on the forces for four different scenarios: (1) river ice impacts on bridge piers, (2) multi-year ice floe impacts on offshore drilling platforms, (3) isolated impact on the leg of a jack-up structure, and (4) impact forces on a Dynamically Positioned drillship with optimization of ice management. The analysis shows that as a rule-of-thumb, the likely impact force in kN is approximately the product of the square root of the mass (in kg) multiplied by the ice floe speed at impact (in m/s).
Salt tolerance within a Typha population.

MCMILLAN, CALVIN. (U. Texas, Austin.) Salt tolerance within a Typha population. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(7): 521-526. Illus. 1959.-Typha in a disturbed salt flat near Lincoln, Nebraska, provided material for an examination of population dynamics. Within the population, clones of T. angustifolia L. tended to occupy the drier sites and those of T. latifolia L. occupied the sites of greater moisture probability. Clones of intermediate morphological characteristics were distributed with both T. angustifolia and T. latifolia. Rhizomes taken from the clones were grown in various NaCl solutions in the greenhouse. Results indicated greatest salt tolerance by T. angustifolia and least salt tolerance by T. latifolia. The intermediate, probably hybrid, clones were intermediate in salt tolerance. Seeds of the 3 clone-types germinated over the same range of salt concentration. The seeds of all 3 types withstood 4 months submergence in a 2% salt solution and germinated upon being returned to tap water. In the salt flat habitat, the clones of T. latifolia were not vigorous during the years 1956-1957 and many died or were reduced considerably in area of occupancy. The clones of T. angustifolia remained vigorous and flowered over the same period. The intermediate clones were vigorous and increased their coverage, primarily in areas that were occupied prior to 1956 by T. latifolia. The spatial adjustments within the population probably resulted from the selective action of increased salt concentration accompanying the drier conditions of 1956
Electrophysiologic studies in the Guillain-Barré syndrome: effects of plasma exchange and antibody rebound.

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and antiperipheral nerve myelin antibody (A-PNM Ab) titers were measured serially in 29 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), of whom 21 were treated with plasmapheresis. Data were obtained from 3 to 6 days until 1 to 2 years after onset of symptoms. Within 3 to 6 days, mean NCS were abnormal. They improved some by 1 week and became maximally abnormal by 4 to 8 weeks, during which time A-PNM Ab fell to low levels. In 5 patients plasmapheresed, A-PNM Ab fell and then increased at 4 to 8 weeks, followed by significant deterioration of NCS (P = 0.01) compared with those without antibody rebound at 18 weeks. These results suggest that, in monophasic GBS, there may be two mechanisms of conduction dysfunction such as early paranodal retraction and later demyelination. In some patients plasmapheresed, A-PNM Ab may rebound associated with further conduction dysfunction. These patients may benefit from further plasmapheresis.
Comparison of the microstructure, deformation and crack initiation behavior of austenitic stainless steel irradiated in-reactor or with protons

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the microstructures, microchemistry, hardening, susceptibility to IASCC initiation, and deformation behavior resulting from proton or reactor irradiation. Two commercial purity and six high purity austenitic stainless steels with various solute element additions were compared. Samples of each alloy were irradiated in the BOR-60 fast reactor at 320 °C to doses between approximately 4 and 12 dpa or by a 3.2 MeV proton beam at 360 °C to a dose of 5.5 dpa. Irradiated microstructures consisted mainly of dislocation loops, which were similar in size but lower in density after proton irradiation. Both irradiation types resulted in the formation of Ni–Si rich precipitates in a high purity alloy with added Si, but several other high purity neutron irradiated alloys showed precipitation that was not observed after proton irradiation, likely due to their higher irradiation dose. Low densities of small voids were observed in several high purity proton irradiated alloys, and even lower densities in neutron irradiated alloys, implying void nucleation was in process. Elemental segregation at grain boundaries was very similar after each irradiation type. Constant extension rate tensile experiments on the alloys in simulated light water reactor environments showed excellent agreement in terms of the relative amounts of intergranular cracking, and an analysis of localized deformation after straining showed a similar response of cracking to surface step height after both irradiation types. Overall, excellent agreement was observed after proton and reactor irradiation, providing additional evidence that proton irradiation is a useful tool for accelerated testing of irradiation effects in austenitic stainless steel.
Thermally induced refractive nonlinearity in scattering media

In this study, the Z-scan technique was used to examine the thermal lens effect in turbid media containing micro-spheres suspended in water. The scattering coefficients of the turbid media were varied from 10 to 100 cm-1. The experimental results suggested that the nonlinear changes in the refractive index of the scattering medium induced by high power laser heating could significantly impact the propagation of laser beam through the scattering medium. Presence of thermally-induced nonlinear changes in refractive index of tissue during high power laser irradiation may significantly alter the distribution of laser light in tissue during laser therapy.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Addition of A- and U-rich sequence increases the splicing efficiency of a deleted form of a maize intron.

Plant introns are generally short ( 75%) of Adh1 intron 1 diminishes both intron enhancement and splicing efficiency. This finding suggests that there are internal sequence motifs required for intron function, and that these motifs are redundant. We attempted to repair a deletion-impaired Adh1 intron 1 variant by adding back either oligomers of defined sequence content or fragments of maize internal intron sequence. The addition of AU-rich oligomers improved splicing efficiency and in one example, a U-rich oligomer activated a cryptic 3′ splice acceptor. We also found that replacing the region proximal to the Adh1 intron 1 3′ acceptor with U-rich sequence improved splicing. We found that adding G- and C-rich oligomers did not improve intron function, but a C-rich oligomer activated a cryptic 3′ acceptor. The addition of internal intron sequence to an impaired intron improved splicing, and in one case, resulted in the activation of a cryptic 3′ acceptor. We present evidence that U-rich sequence immediately upstream of the 3′ splice junction increases splicing efficiency and contributes to, but does not uniquely specify, 3′ acceptor AG choice.
To Bleed or Not to Bleed: Young Women's Attitudes Toward Menstrual Suppression

The purpose of this study was to investigate women's knowledge about and attitudes toward the medical suppression of menstruation. One hundred and three female undergraduate students completed several questionnaires. Thirty-five percent of the participants were familiar with menstrual suppression, and 12% reported using birth control methods to suppress their menses; oral contraceptive users were more knowledgeable about menstrual suppression than other women. Women who regarded menstruation as bothersome and shameful were more supportive of suppression than women with more positive attitudes. Women who scored higher on measures of body consciousness were not more likely to support menstrual suppression or to report a desire for more information about menstrual suppression. Future investigations of women's attitudes toward menstrual suppression could inform reproductive health care and health education.
Editorial: Computing Education in (K-12) Schools from a Cross-National Perspective

This special issue on computing education in (K-12) schools represents considerable effort by the editorial team, authors, and reviewers. It provides a series of country-specific case studies of computing education in schools that highlights the way in which curricula emerge from each country’s specific historical and cultural circumstances. As a result, not only is there much to learn from each of the case studies, but there are additional lessons in the commonalities and generalizations obtainable only by having a rich set of case studies such as these that can be viewed comparatively.
Bartter's syndrome: The unsolved puzzle

Bartter's syndrome is a congenital abnormality characterized by metabolic alkalosis [corrected], hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, and hypokalemia. Most patients present early in life with symptoms such as muscle weakness and polyuria, which may be attributed to potassium depletion. Despite the hyperaldosteronism, the patients tend to be normotensive, which is at least partially explained by vascular hyporesponsiveness to pressor hormones. Numerous studies have documented increased renal excretion of prostaglandins. Several different patterns of aberrant renal ion transport have been observed in patients with the syndrome, suggesting that it actually may represent a family of related but distinct tubular disorders. Therapeutic approaches to Bartter's syndrome include potassium supplementation, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents), aldosterone antagonists, and converting enzyme inhibitors. During the first two decades following its initial description, Bartter's syndrome was the focus of widespread interest, based on the likelihood that its investigation might provide insight into the normal functioning of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and prostanoid hormone systems. During the past decade, however, little additional progress has been made in Bartter's syndrome, and its patho-physiology remains poorly understood.
A water slurry method of extracting aflatoxin from peanuts.

A water slurry method in which 1100 g of comminuted peanuts was blended with 1500 ml of tap water for 3 min in a blender and the aflatoxin in a 130-g portion of the water slurry was extracted by solvent according to methods similar to those used in Method II of AOAC was compared to the method presently used by the Food Safety and Quality Service, USDA. The proposed water slurry method requires only 180 and 60 ml per sample, respectively, of methanol and hexane compared to the 1650 and 1000 ml, respectively, required by the FSQS method. Blending comminuted peanuts with water reduced the average particle size and distributed the contaminated particles throughout the slurry. Ninety-four percent of the blended particles passed a sieve with 149-μ openings compared to only 66% of the unblended product. Variance among analyses with the FSQS method did not differ significantly from the variance among analyses with the slurry method. However, analyses with the slurry method averaged 16% more aflatoxin than with the FSQS method.
The evolution of the diesel combustion system toward the near zero emission goal

In the present paper, a new concept of combustion at low flame temperature, based on the use of highly diluted charge, is presented and its advantages and drawbacks on diesel engine application are critically discussed. In particular, the focus is on the mechanism of soot suppression at a low flame temperature achieved by an adequate use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and injection setting without changing the engine architecture. It was found that the flame temperature limit, corresponding to soot and NOx free conditions, can be achieved at a low load by accurate control of the EGR and injection parameters. Tests have demonstrated that near zero emission limits can be reached in a diesel engine at low load without strong fuel economy penalties. The use of a low temperature super-diluted combustion mode is limited to low load range, indicating that further major research activity is needed to reach reliable practical applications.
Physical models of rehabilitation in neuromuscular disease

Physical methods of treatment for neuromuscular diseases constitute the mainstay of current management. The overall goals of management are the maintenance of independent ambulation and the optimal functional state consistent with the disease process. Maintenance of muscle strength requires regular daily physical activity. An active exercise program can give limited increases of strength in muscular dystrophy dependent on the severity of the disease. Active exercise programs do not result in overwork weakness when properly supervised. Endurance exercise training does not appear to be suitable for Duchenne muscular dystrophy but may have value in the less rapidly progressive neuromuscular diseases. contracture development can be retarded by passive stretching and splinting initiated early in the disease course. Weight control is important both for ambulatory and wheelchair-bound patients. Reliable assessment of the results of physical therapy programs has been improved by the introduction of newer, more objective methods for measuring muscle strength.
STUDIES ON CELL METABOLISM AND CELL DIVISION : III. OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND CELL DIVISION OF FERTILIZED SEA URCHIN EGGS IN THE PRESENCE OF RESPIRATORY INHIBITORS.

1. The effects of a number of respiratory inhibiting agents on the cell division of fertilized eggs of Arbacia punctulata have been determined. For eggs initially exposed to the reagents at 30 minutes after fertilization at 20 degrees C., the levels of oxygen consumption prevailing in the minimum concentrations of reagents which produced complete cleavage block were (as percentages of the control): In 0.4 per cent O(2)-99.6 per cent N(2), 32; in 0.7 per cent O(2)-99.3 per cent CO, 32; in 1.6 x 10(-4)M potassium cyanide, 34; in 1 x 10(-3)M phenylurethane, 70; in 4 x 10(-3)M 5-isoamyl-5-ethyl barbituric acid, 20; in 3 x 10(-4)M iodoacetic acid, 53. 2. The carbon monoxide inhibition of oxygen consumption and cell division was reversed by light. The percentage inhibition of oxygen consumption by carbon monoxide in the dark is described by the usual mass action equation with K, the inhibition constant, equal to approximately 60, as compared to values of 5 to 10 for yeast and muscle. In 20 per cent O(2)-80 per cent CO in the dark there was a slight stimulation of oxygen consumption, averaging 20 per cent. 3. Spectroscopic examination of fertilized and unfertilized Arbacia eggs reduced by hydrosulfite revealed no cytochrome bands. The thickness and density of the egg suspension was such as to indicate that, if cytochrome is present at all, the amount in Arbacia eggs is extremely small as compared to that in other tissues having a comparable rate of oxygen consumption. 4. Three reagents poisoning copper catalyses, potassium dithio-oxalate (10(-2)M), diphenylthiocarbazone (10(-4)M), and isonitrosoacetophenone (2 x 10(-3)M) produced no inhibition of division of fertilized Arbacia eggs. 5. These results indicate that the respiratory processes required to support division in the Arbacia egg may perhaps differ in certain essential steps from the principal respiratory processes in yeast and muscle.
Just a harmless website?: an experimental examination of RateMyProfessors.com’s effect on student evaluations

This set of experiments assessed the influence of RateMyProfessors.com profiles, and the perceived credibility of those profiles, on students’ evaluations of professors and retention of material. In Study 1, 302 undergraduates were randomly assigned to read positive or negative RateMyProfessors.com profiles with comments that focused on superficial or legitimate professor features. Participants then watched a lecture clip, provided professor ratings and completed a quiz on the lecture. In Study 2, 81 students who were randomly assigned to read the same RateMyProfessors.com profiles before an actual class provided credibility ratings of the information, listened to a lecture and provided professor ratings at the end. Across both experiments, one in a laboratory setting, and one in an authentic undergraduate lecture, participants gave more favourable professor ratings after reading positive evaluations from RateMyProfessors.com information. These findings establish the causal link between professor informat...
An Inhibitory Ig Superfamily Protein Expressed by Lymphocytes and APCs Is Also an Early Marker of Thymocyte Positive Selection

Positive selection of developing thymocytes is associated with changes in cell function, at least in part caused by alterations in expression of cell surface proteins. Surprisingly, however, few such proteins have been identified. We have analyzed the pattern of gene expression during the early stages of murine thymocyte differentiation. These studies led to identification of a cell surface protein that is a useful marker of positive selection and is a likely regulator of mature lymphocyte and APC function. The protein is a member of the Ig superfamily and contains conserved tyrosine-based signaling motifs. The gene encoding this protein was independently isolated recently and termed B and T lymphocyte attenuator (Btla). We describe in this study anti-BTLA mAbs that demonstrate that the protein is expressed in the bone marrow and thymus on developing B and T cells, respectively. BTLA is also expressed by all mature lymphocytes, splenic macrophages, and mature, but not immature bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Although mice deficient in BTLA do not show lymphocyte developmental defects, T cells from these animals are hyperresponsive to anti-CD3 Ab stimulation. Conversely, anti-BTLA Ab can inhibit T cell activation. These results implicate BTLA as a negative regulator of the activation and/or function of various hemopoietic cell types.
Ancillary services in systems with high penetrations of renewable energy sources, the case of ramping

Abstract Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are likely to continue the upward trend observed in the past decade. The change from dispatchable generation to an environment in which Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs), Load Serving Entities (LSEs) and consumers dynamically respond to the conditions in the system and help to alleviate the uncertainty linked to RES requires appropriate tools to evaluate the social benefits and costs of different policies implemented. This paper presents a framework for evaluating the aforementioned effects using an engineering and economic optimization model. The proposed framework is applied to a stylized case study with operations on a test network that simulates a typical day. The objective of the case study is to compare the effects of (1) controllable demand, (2) on-site storage, and (3) upgrading transmission capacity. The different scenarios are evaluated in terms of (1) the percentage of potential wind generation spilled, (2) the total operating cost of production, and (3) the amount of installed capacity needed to maintain operating reliability. The results show that controllable demand improves (reduces) all of the three criteria by alleviating congestion and mitigating wind variability. In contrast, the beneficial effects are smaller for RES's on-site storage, because it does not shift load to off-peak periods or reduce congestion, and for upgrading transmission, because it does not shift load to off-peak periods or mitigate wind variability.
Outcome in neurocritical care: advances in monitoring and treatment and effect of a specialized neurocritical care team

Objective:To review current advances in the treatment of critically ill neurologic patients, including specialized care by neurointensivists.Design:Review article.Main Discussion and Conclusions:Significant developments in the fields of neurology and neurosurgery have led to improved treatments for
Listening To Music As A Re-Creative Process: Physiological, Psychological, And Psychoacoustical Correlates Of Chills And Strong Emotions

FEELINGS I N R ESPONSE TO music are often accompanied by measurable bodily reactions such as goose bumps or shivers down the spine, commonly called "chills." In order to investigate distinct acoustical and musical structural elements related to chill reactions, reported chill reactions and bodily reactions were measured continuously. Chill reactions did not show a simple stimulus-response pattern or depend on person- ality traits, such as low sensation seeking and high reward dependence. Musical preferences and listening situations also played a role in chill reactions. Participants seemed to react to musical patterns, not to mere acoustical triggers. The entry of a voice and changes in volume were shown to be the most reactive patterns. These results were also confirmed by a retest experiment.
Donor‐ but not host‐derived interleukin‐10 contributes to the regulation of experimental graft‐versus‐host disease

IL-10 is a key immune-regulatory cytokine, and its gene polymorphisms correlate with severity of clinical GVHD. IL-10 is made by a variety of donor and host cells, but the functional relevance of its source and its role in the biology of acute GVHD are not well understood. We used preclinical models to examine the relevance of IL10 / in donor and host cellular subsets on the severity of GVHD. IL-10 / in host tissues or in the donor grafts did not alter donor Teff-mediated severity of GVHD. Furthermore, neither host-derived nor donor Teff-derived IL-10 was required for regulation of GVHD by WT CD4CD25 donor Tregs. By contrast, Treg-derived IL10, although not obligatory, was necessary for optimal reduction of GVHD by mature donor Tregs. Importantly, IL-10 from donor BM grafts was also critical for optimal donor Treg-mediated suppression of GVHD. Together, these data suggest that IL-10 does not contribute to the induction of GVHD severity by the Teffs. However, donor BM graft and Treg-derived IL-10 are important for donor Treg-mediated suppression of GVHD. J. Leukoc. Biol. 91: 000–000; 2012.
Metamaterial-Based Components for a Compact Dual-Band Beam Pattern Diversity System

A compact dual-band beam pattern diversity system based on composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines (TLs) is presented. The dual-band pattern diversity system is beam-formable by employing a CRLH delay line, which introduces additional 0deg and -90deg phase delay at 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz respectively at the output of the dual-band rat-race coupler to two-element antenna array, which is configured to have lambda/4 element spacing at 5.2 GHz. Subsequently, this new proposed system is capable of exhibiting endfire patterns at the higher operational frequency while having sum/difference radiation modes at the lower frequency. The concept of adding CRLH components in a system leading to beam pattern diversity makes the overall system more flexible. Experimental results demonstrate two sets of orthogonal radiation patterns at dual frequencies. Good measured isolation of the system, -30.3 dB at 2.4 GHz and -20.3 dB at 5.2 GHz, validates the decoupling property.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with perineurial differentiation: "malignant perineurioma".

Background: Although benign tumors derived from the nerve sheath perineurial cell have been described from a variety of anatomic sites and are known to be a component of a number of benign neoplasms, malignant nerve sheath tumors of perineurial origin are exceedingly uncommon. Methods: We report an unusual case of a 70-year-old male who presented with a rapidly growing mass of the left arm, subsequently shown to be a malignant nerve sheath tumor with perineurial differentiation. A brief microscopic differential diagnosis and review of the literature are discussed. Results: Histologic sections show a partially circumscribed tumor of atypical spindle cells arranged in sweeping fascicles embedded in a myxoid matrix with focal whorling. Nuclear pleomorphism was evident among scattered typical and atypical mitotic figures (mean mitotic index of 7/10 high-power fields). The immunophenotypic profile consisted of only vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) positivity, while antibodies to S-100, CD34, smooth muscle actin, and pankeratins were negative. Ultrastructural features included spindle cells with long cytoplasmic processes invested by interrupted basal lamina and pinocytotic vesicles, consistent with perineurial differentiation. Conclusions: While the histogenic source of the benign perineurioma, the perineurial cell has only rarely been described in conjunction with malignant tumors. All cases to date have shown EMA-positive and S-100-negative atypical spindled cells arranged in fascicles embedded in a myxoid matrix. In addition to immunohistochemistry, ultrastructural examination may be necessary to support the diagnosis. The diagnostic differential includes melanoma, spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, leiomyosarcoma, and conventional malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, most commonly of Schwannian differentiation. Recognizing perineurial differentiation is important since few cases have been reported to date and the biological potential of these neoplasms is not known.
Pursuing Trust in Environmental Regulatory Interactions: The Significance of Inspectors’ Interactions With the Regulated Community

In environmental policy, the interactions of frontline environmental regulators and their counterparts in the regulated community constitute environmental protection in the United States. The autho...
Two Closely Related Env Antigens from the Same Patient Elicited Different Spectra of Neutralizing Antibodies against Heterologous HIV-1 Isolates

Identification of immunogens capable of eliciting broadly neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses against HIV-1 is a major goal toward the development of an AIDS vaccine. Despite significant progress in understanding the structural features of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) and the discovery of multiple broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with defined antigenic structures, the design of optimal Env immunogens to elicit broad NAbs remains a major challenge. As the structural determinants of Env immunogenicity remain unclear, we assessed two closely related Env antigens isolated from the same HIV-1-infected patient with different phenotypic features to identify what may result in a favorable immunogenic profile. One Env, B33, isolated from brain, was highly macrophage tropic with a high CD4 affinity, while the other, LN40, isolated from the lymph nodes, was poorly macrophage tropic with a low CD4 affinity. Using a DNA prime-protein boost approach, rabbits primed with LN40 Env antigen had a NAb response against heterologous primary isolates, while B33 Env antigens were capable of eliciting NAbs against only homologous and sensitive viral isolates. Further analysis revealed that the specificity of NAbs elicited by the LN40 antigen mapped to limited residues within or flanking the CD4 binding site. Certain key structural determinants were identified that could differentiate primary Env immunogens based on their potential to elicit broader NAbs. This progress will facilitate the rational design of effective HIV-1 vaccine formulations with optimal Env antigens.
On a maximal outer area problem for a class of meromorphic univalent fuctions

For 0 p 1 , let S p denote the class of functions f (z) which are meromorphic and univalent in the unit disk U , with the normalisations f (0) = 0 , f ′ (0) = 1 and f (p) = ∞, and let S p (a) denote subclass of S p consisting of those functions in S p whose residue at the pole in equal to a . In this paper, we determine, for values of the residue a in a certain disk Δ p , the greatest possible outer area over all functions in the class S p (a) . We also determine additional information concerning extremal function if the reside a dose not lie in Δ p .
Adaptive Polarized Waveform Design for Target Tracking using Electromagnetic Vector Sensors

We develop an adaptive waveform design method for target tracking. In our method, at each time step, we optimally select the parameters, including the polarization of the transmitted signal waveform to improve the tracking accuracy. An array of electromagnetic vector sensors is employed to fully recover the polarimetric information from the reflected signals. We derive our approach under a framework of sequential Bayesian filtering. We apply a sequential Monte Carlo method to manipulate the nonlinear and non-Gaussian state and measurement models. We design a criterion for the waveform optimization based on a posterior Cramer-Rao bound.
Nonlinear space-charge waves on an intense relativistic electron beam

The propagation characteristics of the large-amplitude space-charge waves on a modulated intense relativistic electron beam are calculated. The beam is assumed to propagate inside a straight drift tube, and is guided by a strong axial magnetic field. Only the analytical and simulation results of this relatively simple system are given. It is shown that the slow space-charge waves may cease to propagate if the modulating voltage is sufficiently high, whereas the fast waves are relatively unaffected by the nonlinearity. The limiting electron velocity inferred from the analytical theory is in excellent agreement with particle simulation. The implications are discussed. >
Sampled disturbance decoupling with stability using multirate control

The sampled disturbance decoupling problem (SDDP) is considered for finite-dimensional linear systems. In this problem, a feedback control law is designed that eliminates the effect of an unknown disturbance on the output at specified sampling times. For discrete-time systems, the SDDP has a static-state feedback solution if and only if this feedback solves the standard disturbance decoupling problem (DDP). However, time-varying control laws can solve SDDP when it is not solvable by static-state feedback and, hence, when DDP cannot be solved. In particular, a technique for designing a periodically time varying multirate controller that solves SDDP is considered. >
Rate of Intrachain Diffusion of Unfolded Cytochrome c

How fast can a protein fold? The rate of initial collapse from the unfolded state to a compact structure provides one upper limit to the folding rate. Although hydrophobic collapse of heteropolymer...
Machine learning methods for verbal autopsy in developing countries

Many resource-poor countries lack the capacity to accurately track vital registration data, such as cause of death, which are crucial inputs to health and development decision making. Verbal autopsy provides a means to ascertain cause of death in the poorest countries through the means of a standard questionnaire, but because doctors are scarce and their time is better spent treating the ill, methods of classifying deaths based on questionnaire input have become increasingly important. In this paper we present preliminary work on the use of machine learning algorithms to classify cause of death in developing countries.
Cathleen Cummings, Decoding a Hindu Temple: Royalty and Religion in the Iconographic Program of the Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

This book is a significant addition to an illustrious list of art historical works on the Hindu temple. The author describes and analyzes the iconographic program of one temple in particular – the ...
Scientists tell stories: About seeking help with programming

End-user software engineers often lack the training, tools, methodologies or other supports common to professional developers. Further, how and where they go for help is unknown. This paper presents results from an interview study where end-user programmer scientists relate, via storytelling, their help seeking behaviors. Our goal is to explore ways that the software engineering community can aid this population. We conducted interviews with seven scientists and two professional developers using storytelling prompts with follow-up questions. Results show that scientists prefer their human help to be proximal both physically and socially. Our analysis suggests that providing human help with specific characteristics, or providing tools and environments that support math-centric perspectives are two potential approaches to increasing the research efficiency of end-user programmer scientists.
Identifying Pathways Between Socioeconomic Status and Language Development

Children from low-income backgrounds consistently perform below their more advantaged peers on standardized measures of language ability, setting long-term trajectories that translate into gaps in academic achievement. Our primary goals in this review are to describe how and why this is so, in order to focus attention on ways to enrich early language experiences across socioeconomic strata. We first review the literature on the relation between socioeconomic status (SES) and language ability across domains in early childhood. We then identify three potential pathways by which SES might influence language development—child characteristics, parent–child interaction, and availability of learning resources—recognizing the complicated interaction between the child's own language learning skill and his/her environmental support. Finally, we review interventions that target these three pathways with an eye toward best practice. Future research should focus on the diversity of contexts in which children acquire l...
The Preorganization of Atropisomers to Increase Target Selectivity

Atropisomerism is a form of chirality that arises from differential substitution around a bond that renders the rotational isomers enantiomers. Depending on the degree of hindrance to bond rotation, atropisomers can exist as either stable isolable enantiomers or rapidly racemizing atropisomeric mixtures. Many biologically active small molecules exist as rapidly interconverting atropisomers, however, only one of the possible atropisomers possesses the desired activity. The presence of the nonrelevant atropisomer via spontaneous racemization can result in off-target activities that can lead to side effects. We have hypothesized that preorganizing (locking) a freely interconverting atropisomeric axis in a promiscuous scaffold into the target relevant atropisomer can serve as a general strategy towards more selective small molecule inhibitors. This article outlines recent literature on atropisomerism in drug discovery as well as our recent efforts towards increasing the target selectivity of small molecule kinase inhibitors through ‘atropisomer preorganization’.
Speaking Two Languages for the Price of One: Bypassing Language Control Mechanisms via Accessibility-Driven Switches

How do bilinguals switch easily between languages in everyday conversation, even though studies have consistently found that switching slows responses? In previous work, researchers have not considered that although switches may happen for different reasons, only some switches-including those typically studied in laboratory experiments-might be costly. Using a repeated picture-naming task, we found that bilinguals can maintain and use two languages as efficiently as a single language, switching between them frequently without any cost, if they switch only when a word is more accessible in the other language. These results suggest that language switch costs arise during lexical selection, that top-down language control mechanisms can be suspended, and that language-mixing efficiency can be strategically increased with instruction. Thus, bilinguals might switch languages spontaneously because doing so is not always costly, and there appears to be greater flexibility and efficiency in the cognitive mechanisms that enable switching than previously assumed.
Determination of stress intensity factor and T-stress in an anisotropic plate

Determination of stress intensity factor and T-stress in an anisotropic plate under bending, twisting moments and transverse shear loads is studied including the effect of transverse shear deformation. Introducing stress functions and assuming the generalized stresses and displacements are in a separation of variable form, an asymptotic analysis is performed through using complex variable theory to determine the asymptotic crack-tip fields for anisotropic plates. Displacement and stress fields including the Tstresses in bending and transverse shear are presented. The stress field and energy release rate for isotropic plates are also provided. The expression of the path-independent integral J in terms of the generalized stresses and displacement gradients is derived and the relationship between J and the stress intensity factors is also obtained. In conjunction with finite element analysis, a simple and accurate approach to determine the stress intensity factors and T-stresses is proposed based on the developed formulation in this paper.
Dynamics of Polymeric Protein Assemblies in Live Cells Revealed by Fluorescence Polarization Imaging of Single Molecules

Fluorescence single molecule imaging is a powerful means of investigating the distribution and dynamics of individual biological molecules and their assemblies. Molecular orientation underpins the biophysical properties of the biopolymers (e.g., DNA, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and misfolded protein oligomers). Therefore, methods that reveal the molecular orientation have yielded new insights in the structure and function of biomolecular assemblies. However, current methods are limited to measurement of orientation of single fluorophores and have not permitted robust imaging of orientation of many single molecules in parallel. We have developed a new fluorescence polarization microscope that instantaneously and efficiently sorts the emitted fluorescence along four polarization orientations (separated by 45 degrees) to provide instantaneous imaging of position and orientation of single fluorescent molecules and their assemblies. With aid of computational algorithms, the microscope provides diffraction limited spatial resolution, 10fps temporal resolution, and 10 degree of angular resolution in living cells.Our technique has enabled analysis of molecular position and orientation in vitro and in living cells. We found that phalloidin-Alexa Fluor 488 reports local orientation of sparsely labeled actin filaments. Taking advantage of this signal, we have measured changes in the orientation of local actin filaments as they undergo retrograde flow at the leading edge of migrating human keratinocytes. We also used our system to study organization of septins, a highly conserved cytoskeleton critical for cytokinesis and intracellular compartmentalization. We found that individual septin molecules labeled with constrained GFP attach to the cell cortex with consistent orientation. The consistent alignment of single septin-GFP suggested the presence of highly ordered scaffold.Our single molecule fluorescence orientation imaging technique is also promising to explore conformational changes of single molecules or mechanisms of protein assembly in living cells.
Hazards and Complications of BCG Immunotherapy

The hazards and complications of BCG immunotherapy, as well as the potential for enhanced tumor growth, make it imperative that the clinician know the clinical setting in which BCG can offer therapeutic benefit. This would include the intratumor injection of localized intradermal tumor deposits of melanoma and breast cancer, chemoimmunotherapy with BCG to prolong remission in acute myelogenous leukemia, and possibly the use of BCG as an adjuvant to control minimal residual disease. Aside from these situations, it is advisable to treat patients only on clearly defined experimental protocols.
The Primary Cell Culture of Human Transferrin Transgenic Mouse Mammary Epithelia and the Study of the Cells Reponse to Bovine Prolactin

The aim of the construction of mammary gland bioreactor is to obtain the high-level expression of exogenous proteins in mammary gland.Prolactin plays an important role in the regulation of milk protein synthesis and secretion during mammalian lactation.The previous study demonstrated that bovine prolactin can efficiently promote the expression of exogenous gene(hTF) in milk of transgenic mice.To further explore the mechanism underlying this finding,the culture protocol were developed to cultivate transgenic mouse mammary epithelia and the biological effects of bovine prolactin on these cells were studied.Mammary tissue of mouse carrying human transferrin gene(hTF) were minced,digested with collagenase.Epithelial cells were then collected and cultured,subsequently purified by timing cells adherence to flask wall.Afterwards,purifed cells were transfected with pCMV-bPRL plasmids.The synthesis ability of the cells was tested by detecting the secretion of related proteins present in supernatant.Epithelial cells of transgenic mice carrying hTF were successfully cultured in vitro,hTF was shown to be presented in supernatants of cells.The level of hTF was elevated with the presence of bovine prolactin(1 208.55±20.07 pg/ml vs 3 161.32±71.62 pg/ml).The culture protocol could be employed in the near future experiments to investigate effects of bovine prolactin and environmental factors on the regulation of protein synthesis and secretion of mammary epithelial cells.
Endoscopy for ureteral stones in the age of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

L'ureteroscopie a ete delaissee au profit de la lithotripsie extra-corporelle (LEC), mais redevient d'actualite. L'indication de l'emploi de l'une ou l'autre technique est portee en fonction de la situation de la lithiase sur l'arbre urinaire. La LEC est surtout utilisee pour le haut uretere, apres repositionnement de la lithiase dans les cavites renales si possible. La nouvelle generation permet des interventions moins douloureuses. L'ureteroscopie permet maintenant, grâce aux uteroscopes flexibles et de petit diametre, de remonter dans l'uretere proximal. Elle peut succeder a une LEC, ou etre associee a une lithotripsie de contact par ultrasons, laser ou electrohydraulique
Secure Vehicle Localization and Cruise Control for Connected Vehicles

Abstract A distributed fault diagnosis, isolation and estimation scheme for the positioning system of a group of connected vehicles is presented in this paper. The decentralized mode of operation enables each vehicle to perform its own fault diagnostics harnessing the information exchange in the connected vehicle framework. The approach used in this paper takes advantage of the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) connectivity in vehicle state estimation and utilizes a Dedicated Observer Design scheme for the fault detection and isolation process. A fault estimation approach is also adopted in this paper which is fed back to the measurement/control system for safe and reliable operation of the vehicle in presence of fault. The fault diagnostics approach focuses on the vehicle localization and proximity measurement sensors which are utilized by many autonomous functionalities of modern vehicles such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The simulation results presented in this paper indicates the ability of the diagnostics scheme in the detection and isolation of multiple faults in the system. The performance of the fault estimation methodology is also presented in this paper.
Spectral sensitization and supersensitization

AbstractA theory of spectral sensitization and supersensitization is presented. According to this photoaggregation theory, over the toe and linear segments of the characteristic curve, dye and supersensitizer excitations decay by Auger processes at Ag2, Ag20, Ag2S or (Ag,Au)S sensitizing donor centres, the energy released by combination of the donor electron and the exciton hole is carried away as kinetic energy by the exciton electron in a state of the conduction band. Back-electron transfer is prevented by the rapid dissociation of the remaining Ag2+, Ag20+, AgS+ or (Ag,Au)S+ centre with passage of an /4g+ or Au+ ion into an interstitial position. Over the wavelength range between 400 nm (3.1 eV) and 1,200 nm (1 eV), the latent image is formed by the photoaggregation of Ag and Au atoms equivalent to sensitizing donor molecules to give Agf, AuAgf, Att2Agf or larger acceptor centres. The silver halide crystal does not undergo photolysis but acts as a carrier for the sensitizing molecules and as a transpor...