cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DISSECTION OF THE ROLE OF ACCESSORY CELLS IN PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ-INDUCED T LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the accessory cell dependence of PHA-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in the guinea pig using a population of lymph node derived T cells markedly depleted of macrophages by sequential passage over nylon columns. The data from current studies suggests that the proliferative response to PHA is absolutely dependent on accessory cell function. However, while either syngeneic or allogeneic macrophages could support this response, fibroblasts were also found to be effective accessory cells. The chapter describes the role of accessory cells in the T-cell response to PHA by comparing the effectiveness of intact accessory cells with that of macrophage supernatants or 2-mercaptoethanol, two agents that have been reported to maintain cell viability or substitute for macrophages in certain in vitro immunological systems. It indicates that 2-ME effectively maintains the viability of resting lymphocytes. The function of accessory cells in the T-cell response to PHA extends beyond the maintenance of lymphocyte viability and includes a role in the induction or maintenance of lymphocyte proliferation.
Impact of PET/CT on Staging and Treatment of Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

ObjectiveTo understand the effects of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) evaluation on patients with previously untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with c...
Vibration-Based Propeller Fault Diagnosis for Multicopters

We present a method for detecting faults in a multicopter's motor/propeller by analysis of the vibration spectrum as measured by an onboard accelerometer. Physical damage to a propeller causes additional vibration in the system during operation, and early detection of such faults may prevent further damage and potentially later catastrophic failure. In the proposed method, only a built-in accelerometer (as typically used by a multicopters flight computer) is used to provide vibration data of the vehicle, and no additional sensors are required. We exploit the fact that the motors rotate at different speeds during different phases of maneuvers, allowing a spectral analysis of measured vibrations to isolate a damaged motor. This method is shown to be effective at identifying multiple damaged propellers as well, and experimental results are presented to validate the concept.
‘I’m being pulled in too many different directions’: academic identity tensions at regional public universities in challenging economic times

ABSTRACTFaculty (N = 205) at regional public universities (RPUs) in the United States were surveyed for self-reports of their primary academic identity (teacher, researcher) and qualitative descrip...
The Potential of the Cyclotide Scaffold for Drug Development

Cyclotides are a novel class of micro-proteins (≈30–40 residues long) with a unique topology containing a head-to-tail cyclized backbone structure further stabilized by three disulfide bonds that form a cystine knot. This unique molecular framework makes them exceptionally stable to physical, chemical, and biological degradation compared to linear peptides of similar size. The cyclotides are also highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot, and are orally bioavailable and able to cross cellular membranes to modulate intracellular protein–protein interactions (PPIs), both in vitro and in vivo. These unique properties make them ideal scaffolds for many biotechnological applications, including drug discovery. This review provides an overview of the properties of cyclotides and their potential for the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics. The selective disruption of PPIs still remains a very challenging task, as the interacting surfaces are relatively large and flat. The use of the cell-permeable highly constrained polypeptide molecular frameworks, such as the cyclotide scaffold, has shown great promise, as it provides unique pharmacological properties. The use of molecular techniques, such as epitope grafting, and molecular evolution have shown to be highly effective for the selection of bioactive cyclotides. However, despite successes in employing cyclotides to target PPIs, some of the challenges to move them into the clinic still remain.
Parameter Uncertainty with Flow Variation of the One-dimensional Solute Transport Model for Small Streams using Markov chain Monte Carlo

Abstract The transient storage model (TSM) is a popular solute transport model among hydrologists and ecologists for characterizing solute retention potential of small headwater streams. TSM parameters are most commonly estimated in an inverse modeling framework using tracer breakthrough data. A key challenge in interpreting TSM parameters is the inherent difficulty in the estimation process and relating these parameters with the physical characteristics of streams. While often recognized that multiple sources of uncertainty impact transient storage modeling, rigorous evaluation of TSM parameter uncertainty is rare. Stream flow magnitude has been identified as a key variable in characterizing stream solute transport dynamics, yet no study has shown the impact of flow magnitude on TSM parameter uncertainty. In this paper we study the impact of flow magnitude on TSM parameter uncertainty by using tracer data from repeated tracer studies with changing stream flow magnitudes, and introduce a software tool to perform Markov chain Monte Carlo based parameter estimation and uncertainty evaluation. The software tool developed is capable of performing thousands of model runs within a few hours, which is necessary for Monte Carlo based parameter estimation, and provides a potentially attractive framework for model testing and improvement. TSM parameters were found to be relatively less important during higher flows with large uncertainty bounds and clear evidence of parameter correlations. The importance of TSM parameters on solute transport seemed to increase as flow decreased with seasonal baseflow recession. Our findings highlight the need for improved field methodologies to reduce parameter uncertainty and the need for further improvement in the model structure for successful stream characterization.
Factors influencing outcome in thymic epithelial tumors (TET).

7108 Background: TET represent a heterogeneous collection of rare tumors, thymoma and thymic carcinoma (TC). Prognosis is often based on WHO histology and Masaoka Stage (MS) with small series often...
Water distribution mapping in polymer electrolyte fuel cells using lock-in thermography

Abstract Effective water management in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is essential to achieving optimal performance. Mapping the water distribution is therefore a useful tool for understanding operation and designing new components. One of the most powerful ways of visualising water distribution is through neutron imaging. However, this has limitations in terms of expense, accessibility and the ability to conduct representative operando experiments in a neutron beam line. Here, a simple, cost-effective, lab-based, non-invasive water visualisation tool is presented that allows the effect of operating conditions to be assessed in operando. The approach applies lock-in thermography, whereby a controlled sinusoidal heat pulse on one side of a fuel cell (here using a printed circuit board arrangement), is applied using a Peltier device, and the temperature perturbation on the other side of the fuel cell is monitored using a thermal imaging camera. By ‘locking in’ to the frequency of the imposed heat stimulus, it is possible to observe water build-up within the cell by monitoring the phase shift between heat pulse and measured temperature. This work validates the use of the lock-in thermography technique by mapping the water distribution under different current densities and under dry and humidified conditions.
The Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray as a Coordinator of Action in Response to Fear and Anxiety

This paper describes a current psychobiological approach to motivated behavior using fear as an illustration. The first part describes the properties of fear motivation and then argues that an amygdala-periaqueductal gray system displays many of these properties. The second half of the paper details the organization of fear related behavior and then presents a model suggesting how the periaqueductal gray may be responsible for much of this organization.
Trends in U.S. women's binge drinking in middle adulthood by socioeconomic status, 2006-2018.

Abstract Background Binge drinking causes injury and illness. Prevalence of binge drinking doubled in 2006–2018 for women in middle adulthood (ages 30 s and 40 s); these are the first cohorts for whom attaining higher education and income (both associated with increased alcohol use) are highly prevalent. It is unknown whether recent trends in binge drinking among US women aged 30–49 differ by socio-economic status (SES). Methods We examined trends in binge drinking using nationally-representative National Health Interview Surveys (2006–2018) for women age 30–49 (N = 63,426), by education ( college) and family income ( 400 % of poverty line), controlling for age and race. Results The odds of binge drinking increased among all women approximately 7 % annually from 2006 to 2018. The magnitude of the change increased with education; the predicted probability of binge drinking among women at lowest levels of education increased from 10 % to 13 % from 2006 to 2018 (adjusted OR [AOR] 1.02, 95 % CI 0.99, 1.04), and those with the highest education from 13%–32% (AOR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.08–1.12). Women at the lowest income increased binge drinking from 12 % to 16 % (AOR 1.03, 95 % CI 1.01–1.05) and highest income from 17 % to 36 % (AOR 1.09, 95 % CI 1.07–1.10). Interactions between education ( F 855 4 , p F 857 3 , p Conclusions Nationally, women at all levels of SES increased binge drinking, but increases were most pronounced among high SES women.
Syndromes of autonomic dysfunction associated with orthostatic intolerance

Stimulated by the wide-spread use of tilt table testing, disorders of autonomic function with orthostatic hypotension have recently gained attention by clinical cardiologists. At the same time, improved characterization of the underlying circulatory responses have led to a reclassification of these syndromes. In particular, three subgroups of chronic primary dysautonomia have been defined: pure autonomic dysfunction, multiple system atrophy, and the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. On the other hand, acute dysautonomias represent a rare yet clinically sometimes dramatic form of autonomic disorders. Several diseases as well as enzymatic disorders, and pharmacological drugs may cause secondary dysautonomia. The clinical correlate of all these forms of dysautonomia is orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Thus, a careful history forms the basis of a successful diagnostic workup of the underlying cause of syncope. This review summarizes the current knowledge of autonomic disorders, their classification and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Patterns of E-cigarette Use and Subsequent Cigarette Smoking Cessation Over 2 Years (2013/2014-2015/2016) in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.

INTRODUCTION Understanding the population impact of e-cigarettes requires determining their effect on cigarette smoking cessation. METHODS Using the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health cohort, we examined smoking cessation among adult current cigarette smokers at Wave 1 with follow-up data at Waves 2 and 3 (n = 9724). RESULTS By Wave 3 (2015/2016), 17.3% of smokers had quit smoking. Smokers using e-cigarettes daily or who increased to daily use over the three waves were two to four times more likely to have quit in the short term (<1 year) and long term (1+ years) compared with never e-cigarette users (p < .001). E-cigarette use in the last quit attempt was associated with a higher likelihood of short-term (<1 year) quitting at Wave 3 (adjusted relative risk ratio: 1.33; 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 1.71) compared with smokers who did not use an e-cigarette in their last quit attempt. Noncurrent (no use in any wave) e-cigarette users and users who were unstable in use frequency were 33% and 47% less likely to quit in the short-term, respectively (p < .001). Flavored (vs nonflavored) and using a rechargeable (vs disposable) e-cigarette device was associated with an increased likelihood of both short- and long-term quitting. CONCLUSION Smoking cessation was more likely among frequent e-cigarette users, users of e-cigarettes in last quit attempt, and users of flavored and rechargeable devices. Less frequent, unstable, past, or never e-cigarette users were less likely to quit smoking. Monitoring the relationship between patterns of e-cigarette and cigarette use is complex but critical for gauging the potential of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool. IMPLICATIONS This study suggests that consistent and frequent e-cigarette use over time is associated with cigarette smoking cessation among adults in the United States. In addition, findings suggest that flavored e-cigarette use and use of rechargeable e-cigarette devices can facilitate smoking cessation. These results underscore the importance of carefully defining and characterizing e-cigarette exposure patterns, potential confounders, and use of e-cigarettes to quit smoking, as well as variations in length of the smoking cessation.
Towards a NoOps Model for WLCG

One of the most costly factors in providing a global computing infrastructure such as the WLCG is the human effort in deployment, integration, and operation of the distributed services supporting collaborative computing, data sharing and delivery, and analysis of extreme scale datasets. Furthermore, the time required to roll out global software updates, introduce new service components, or prototype novel systems requiring coordinated deployments across multiple facilities is often increased by communication latencies, staff availability, and in many cases expertise required for operations of bespoke services. While the WLCG (and distributed systems implemented throughout HEP) is a global service platform, it lacks the capability and flexibility of a modern platform-as-a-service including continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) methods, development-operations capabilities (DevOps, where developers assume a more direct role in the actual production infrastructure), and automation. Most importantly, tooling which reduces required training, bespoke service expertise, and the operational effort throughout the infrastructure, most notably at the resource endpoints (sites ), is entirely absent in the current model. In this paper, we explore ideas and questions around potential NoOps models in this context: what is realistic given organizational policies and constraints? How should operational responsibility be organized across teams and facilities? What are the technical gaps? What are the social and cybersecurity challenges? Conversely what advantages does a NoOps model deliver for innovation and for accelerating the pace of delivery of new services needed for the HL-LHC era? We will describe initial work along these lines in the context of providing a data delivery network supporting IRIS-HEP DOMA R&D.
A Distributed Algorithm for Sequential Decision Making in Multi-Armed Bandit with Homogeneous Rewards *

This paper studies a distributed multi-armed bandit problem over a network of N agents, each of which can communicate only with its neighbors, where neighbor relationships are described by a connected graph $\mathbb{G}$ . Each agent makes a sequence of decisions on selecting an arm from M candidates, yet it only has access to local samples of the reward for each action, which is a random variable. A distributed upper confidence bound (UCB) algorithm is proposed for the agents to cooperatively learn the best decision. It is shown that when all the agents share a homogeneous distribution of each arm reward, the algorithm achieves guaranteed logarithmic regret for all N agents at the order of O((1 + 2ρ 2 )2 logT/N) when T is large, where ρ 2 denotes the second largest among the absolute values of all the eigenvalues of the Metropolis matrix of $\mathbb{G}$. A sufficient condition under which the proposed distributed algorithm learns faster than the centralized (single-agent) counterpart is provided. Simulations suggest that the algorithm also works for the case when the agents have heterogeneous observations of each arm reward.
The RCA ReCAst: A Root Cause Analysis Simulation for the Interprofessional Clinical Learning Environment.

PROBLEM The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education calls for resident participation in real or simulated interprofessional analysis of a patient safety event. There are far more residents who must participate in these investigations than available institutional root cause analyses (RCAs) to accommodate them. To correct this imbalance, the authors developed an institutionally sponsored, interprofessional RCA simulation program and implemented it across all graduate medical education (GME) residency programs at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. APPROACH The authors developed RCA simulations based upon authentic adverse events experienced at their institution. To provide relevance to all GME programs, RCA simulation cases varied widely and included examples of errors involving high-risk medications, communication, invasive procedures, and specimen labeling. Each simulation included residents and other health care professionals such as nurses or pharmacists whose disciplines were involved in the actual event. Participants adopted the role of RCA investigation team, and in small groups systematically progressed through the RCA process. OUTCOMES A total of 289 individuals from 18 residency programs participated in an RCA simulation in 2019-2020. This included 84 interns (29%), 123 residents (43%), 20 attending physicians (7%), and 62 (21%) other health care professionals. There was an increase in ability of GME trainees to correctly identify factors required for an RCA investigation (62% pre vs 80% post, P = .02) and an increase in intent to "always report" for each adverse event category (3% pre vs 37% post, P < .001) following the simulation. NEXT STEPS The authors plan to expand the RCA simulation program to other GME clinical sites while striving to involve all GME learners in this educational experience at least once during training. Additionally, by collaborating with health system patient safety leaders, they will annually review all new RCAs to identify cases suitable for simulation adaptation.
Accelerated complete human skin architecture restoration after wounding by nanogenerator-driven electrostimulation.

BACKGROUND Electrostimulation (ES) therapy for wound healing is limited in clinical use due to barriers such as cumbersome equipment and intermittent delivery of therapy. METHODS We adapted a human skin xenograft model that can be used to directly examine the nanogenerator-driven ES (NG-ES) effects on human skin in vivo-an essential translational step toward clinical application of the NG-ES technique for wound healing. RESULTS We show that NG-ES leads to rapid wound closure with complete restoration of normal skin architecture within 7 days compared to more than 30 days in the literature. NG-ES accelerates the inflammatory phase of wound healing with more rapid resolution of neutrophils and macrophages and enhances wound bed perfusion with more robust neovascularization. CONCLUSION Our results support the translational evaluation and optimization of the NG-ES technology to deliver convenient, efficient wound healing therapy for use in human wounds.
German philosophy 1760-1860 : the legacy of idealism

Introduction: 'Germany' and German philosophy Part I. Kant and the Revolution in Philosophy: 1. The revolution in philosophy I: Human spontaneity and the natural order 2. The revolution in philosophy II: Autonomy and the moral order 3. The revolution in philosophy III: Aesthetic taste, teleology, and the world order Part II. The Revolution Continued: Post-Kantians: 4. The 1780s: the immediate post-Kantian reaction: Jacobi and Reinhold 5. The 1790s: Fichte 6. The 1790s after Fichte: The romantic appropriation of Kant I: Holderlin, Novalis, Schleiermacher, Schlegel 7. 1795-1809: The romantic appropriation of Kant II: Schelling 8. 1801-7: The other post-Kantian: Jacob Friedrich Fries and non-romantic sentimentalism Part III. The Revolution Completed? Hegel: 9. Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit: post-Kantianism in a new vein 10. Hegel's analysis of mind and world: the Science of Logic 11. Nature and spirit: Hegel's system Part IV. The Revolution in Question: 12. Schelling's attempt at restoration: idealism under review 13. Kantian paradoxes and modern despair: Schopenhauer and Kierkegaard Conclusion. The legacy of idealism.
Estimating Optimal Transformations for Correlation and Coherence

Coherency is a frequency domain measure of the linear association between two time series X(t) and Y(t). Since association between time series can in general be nonlinear, it may be useful to nonlinearly transform the time series prior to the coherency analysis. A broad class of nonlinear transformations of time series is proposed, and a procedure is described for estimating the transformations in this class which maximize the coherency between the transformed series. An efficient and numerically robust procedure for computing these optimal transformations is described, and the connection between this technique and Breiman and Friedman’s (1985) ACE technique for estimating optimal transformations of random variables is explored.
Eye Movement Analysis

The goal of eye movement measurement and analysis is to gain insight into the viewer’s attentive behavior.
Now Presenting: γδ T Cells

T lymphocytes of the immune system require that foreign molecules called antigens be presented to them for their clonal expansion and stimulation of their effector functions. Presentation of peptide antigens to activate naA¯ve T cells was previously thought to reside solely in dendritic cells. A Perspective by [Modlin and Sieling][1] describes new evidence that challenges this premise. A population ofT cells efficiently presents peptide antigens toT cells, the predominant T cell population in mammals. This suggests thatT cells function as part of innate (rapid, short-lived) and adaptive (slower, long-lasting) immunity, the two arms of the immune response. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5732/252
Development and testing of high-heat-flux components for the Tore Supra horizontal pump limiter module

The actively cooled pump limiter module located at the horizontal midplane of the Tore Supra Tokamak is designed for 2 MW of steady state power removal. For a thin (2.5 cm thick) limiter head which maximizes pumping and particle removal, this power load results in surface heat fluxes near 30 MW/m/sup 2/ at the leading edge and 10 MW/m/sup 2/ for the front surface. The initial design configuration for the high-heat-flux surfaces consisted of pyrolytic graphite armor tiles brazed to alumina dispersion strengthened copper tubes. Subsequent finite element analyses and braze tests showed that direct bonding of the highly anisotropic pyrolytic graphite to the strong (400 MPa yield strength) copper alloy led to cracking in the pyrolytic graphite tiles and a significant reduction in heat removal capabilities. To eliminate the graphite cracking problem, various compliant interlayers between the copper tube and the armor tile were tried. Interlayers tested included OFHC copper and several types of copper feltmetal. The resulting brazes were evaluated with metallurgical laboratory techniques and by testing at design heat fluxes with the use of a rastered electron beam apparatus. This paper describes the development and testing effort which solved the brazing difficulites, and resulted in a designmore » capable of meeting design goals. 7 refs., 5 figs.« less
An Allele‐specific PCR Assay for Detecting Azoxystrobin‐resistant Alternaria Isolates from Pistachio in California

Alternaria late blight caused by Alternaria spp. in the alternata, tenuissima and arborescens species-groups is one of the most common fungal diseases of pistachio in California. A single point mutation resulting in the replacement of a glycine by an alanine at codon 143 (G143A) in the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) has been found in all azoxystrobin-resistant isolates of these three species from California pistachio. In this study, a pair of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers was developed to detect this point mutation. The allele-specific PCR assay coupled with a rapid DNA extraction method could detect azoxystrobin-resistant Alternaria isolates in a few hours. The allele-specific PCR method was also reliable for detecting azoxystrobin-resistant Alternaria directly in both laboratory-inoculated and naturally infected pistachio leaves.
Tunable metal film filters as narrowband ir laser reflectors

An approximate mathematical description of tunable metal film reflector filters for the medium and far ir is derived. The absorptive film is characterized by two easily measured quantities, and a mirror reflectivity smaller than one is taken into account. The dependence of reflectivity, phase, and transmissivity on wavelength is studied. Expressions for the filter bandwidth and a lower limit of the bandwidth are obtained. Minimum losses depend primarily on the reflection coefficient of the mirror and not on the film properties. Two interesting configurations can be distinguished: one with high loss and small bandwidth (I) and one with low loss and large bandwidth (II). Measurements of bandwidth and minimum losses at 10 gm using Ge and ZnSe film substrates and gold and aluminum films show very good agreement with theory. Typical experimental results for configuration I yielded a 4.6% bandwidth (given as fraction of the free spectral range) and 2.9% additional reflection losses (caused by the insertion of the film). Smaller losses (≈0.5%) were obtained in configuration II in connection with broader bandwidths. Possible applications include low loss longitudinal mode suppression and rotational line selection in gas lasers.
Results of a digital library curriculum field test

The DL Curriculum Development project was launched in 2006, responding to an urgent need for consensus on DL curriculum across the fields of computer science and information and library science. Over the course of several years, 13 modules of a digital libraries (DL) curriculum were developed and were ready for field testing. The modules were evaluated in DL courses in real classroom environments in 37 classes by 15 instructors and their students. Interviews with instructors and questionnaires completed by their students were used to collect evaluative feedback. Findings indicate that the modules have been well designed to educate students on important topics and issues in DLs, in general. Suggestions to improve the modules based on the interviews and questionnaires were discussed as well. After the field test, module development has been continued, not only for the DL community but also others associated with DLs, such as information retrieval, big data, and multimedia. Currently, 56 modules are readily available for use through the project website or the Wikiversity site.
Increasing the credibility of regional climate simulations by introducing subgrid‐scale cloud‐radiation interactions

The radiation schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model have previously not accounted for the presence of subgrid-scale cumulus clouds, thereby resulting in unattenuated shortwave radiation, which can lead to overly energetic convection and overpredicted surface precipitation. This deficiency can become problematic when applying WRF as a regional climate model (RCM). Therefore, modifications were made to the WRF model to allow the Kain–Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization to provide subgrid-scale cloud fraction and condensate feedback to the rapid radiative transfer model–global (RRTMG) shortwave and longwave radiation schemes. The effects of these changes are analyzed via 3 year simulations using the standard and modified versions of WRF, comparing the modeled results with the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis data, as well as with available data from the Surface Radiation Network and Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System. During the summer period, including subgrid cloudiness estimated by KF in the RRTMG reduces the surface shortwave radiation, leading to less buoyant energy, which is reflected in a smaller diabatic convective available potential energy, thereby alleviating the overly energetic convection. Overall, these changes have reduced the overprediction of monthly, regionally averaged precipitation during summer for this RCM application, e.g., by as much as 49 mm for the southeastern U.S., to within 0.7% of the NARR value of 221 mm. These code modifications have been incorporated as an option available in the latest version of WRF (v3.6).
Group Work With Latino Clients: A Psychoeducational Model

Abstract This article reflects and presents the authors' group work experience with Latino clients and a discussion of the following four areas: (a) a psychoeducational model of group work with Latino clients using a socio-process group modality, (3) the structure and content of sessions, (c) implications for group workers, and (d) conclusions and discussion. The goals of the psychoeducational model of group work are to explore, modify, or change group members' attitudes, values, and beliefs by means of informing, orienting, and educating group members.
Automatic Dendritic Length Quantification for High Throughput Screening of Mature Neurons

High-throughput automated fluorescent imaging and screening are important for studying neuronal development, functions, and pathogenesis. An automatic approach of analyzing images acquired in automated fashion, and quantifying dendritic characteristics is critical for making such screens high-throughput. However, automatic and effective algorithms and tools, especially for the images of mature mammalian neurons with complex arbors, have been lacking. Here, we present algorithms and a tool for quantifying dendritic length that is fundamental for analyzing growth of neuronal network. We employ a divide-and-conquer framework that tackles the challenges of high-throughput images of neurons and enables the integration of multiple automatic algorithms. Within this framework, we developed algorithms that adapt to local properties to detect faint branches. We also developed a path search that can preserve the curvature change to accurately measure dendritic length with arbor branches and turns. In addition, we proposed an ensemble strategy of three estimation algorithms to further improve the overall efficacy. We tested our tool on images for cultured mouse hippocampal neurons immunostained with a dendritic marker for high-throughput screen. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method when comparing the accuracy with previous methods. The software has been implemented as an ImageJ plugin and available for use.
Treatment effects in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study after passive immunization

Despite the enormous public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), no disease-modifying treatment has yet been proven to be efficacious in humans. A rate-limiting step in the discovery of potential therapies for humans is the absence of efficient non-invasive methods of evaluating drugs in animal models of disease. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a non-invasive way to evaluate the animals at baseline, at the end of treatment, and serially to better understand treatment effects. In this study, MRS was assessed as potential outcome measure for detecting disease modification in a transgenic mouse model of AD. Passive immunization with two different antibodies, which have been previously shown to reduce plaque accumulation in transgenic AD mice, was used as intervention. Treatment effects were detected by MRS, and the most striking finding was attenuation of myo-inositol (mIns) increases in APP-PS1 mice with both treatments. Additionally, a dose-dependent effect was observed with one of the treatments for mIns. MRS appears to be a valid in vivo measure of anti-Aβ therapeutic efficacy in pre-clinical studies. Because it is noninvasive, and can detect treatment effects, use of MRS-based endpoints could substantially accelerate drug discovery.
NaBC1 Is a Ubiquitous Electrogenic Na+-Coupled Borate Transporter Essential for Cellular Boron Homeostasis and Cell Growth and Proliferation

Boron is a vital micronutrient in plants and may be essential for animal growth and development. Whereas the role of boron in the life cycle of plants is well documented, nothing is known about boron homeostasis and function in animal cells. NaBC1, the mammalian homolog of AtBor1, is a borate transporter. In the absence of borate, NaBC1 conducts Na(+) and OH(-) (H(+)), while in the presence of borate, NaBC1 functions as an electrogenic, voltage-regulated, Na(+)-coupled B(OH)(4)(-) transporter. At low concentrations, borate activated the MAPK pathway to stimulate cell growth and proliferation, and at high concentrations, it was toxic. Accordingly, overexpression of NaBC1 shifted both effects of borate to the left, whereas knockdown of NaBC1 halted cell growth and proliferation. These findings may reveal a previously unrecognized role for NaBC1 in borate homeostasis and open the way to better understanding of the many presumed physiological roles of borate in animals.
Simulation of daily energy budget and mean soil temperatures at an arid site

Soil temperature is often inadequately based upon relatively few measurements at widely dispersed locations. Within arid regions, such as the desert southwestern United States, soils, microclimates, and thus soil temperature may be markedly heterogeneous. Because extensive measurement of soil temperature is often not feasible, models are needed that simulate soil temperature based on readily available soil survey and “above-ground” weather information. This paper describes a simple energy-budget based model for simulating daily mean temperatures within a bare arid land soil. The model requires basic information on soil physical properties, and daily weather data including air temperature, windspeed, rainfall, and solar radiation to calculate daily surface energy budget components and surface temperature. One of two alternative numerical methods is then used to calculated subsurface temperatures. Tests of the model using 1987 daily temperature data from an arid site at Yuma, Arizona resulted in root mean square deviations within 1.4°C between daily modeled and measured temperatures at both 0.05 and 0.10 m depths. Sensitivity analysis showed modeled temperatures at 0.05 m depth to be most sensitive to parameters affecting the surface energy balance such as air temperature and solar radiation. Modeled temperatures at 1.0m depth were relatively more sensitive to initial temperature conditions and to parameters affecting distribution of energy within the profile such as thermal conductivity.
Residents' Perceptions of the Graduate Endodontic Application Selection Process and Match

Abstract Introduction Anecdotal reports suggest that the application process for graduate endodontic programs in the United States and Canada is inefficient and may be perceived by applicants as being unfair. This survey examines residents' perceptions of the graduate endodontic application process and related issues. Methods A web-based survey consisting of 24 questions on the residents' perception of the graduate endodontic application process was developed and e-mailed to 403 graduate endodontic students in the United States and Canada. Results Of the 403 invited participants, 218 surveys were completed (53%). The responses were varied. Respondents were not overwhelmingly satisfied with the application/interview/selection process; 45% were satisfied or very satisfied, 25% were neutral, and 30% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Only 39% indicated that they would have preferred a Match process. Eighty-two percent accepted the first program that offered a position, and 79% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their choice of a program. Conclusions Forty-five percent of endodontic residents were satisfied with the application/interview/selection process, and most would not have preferred a Match process.
The structure and innervation of the pigeon's basilar papilla

Sensory cells in the pigeon's basilar papilla can be divided into three groups on the basis of shape, cuticular plate dimensions, and innervation. Tall hair cells are columnar with deep cuticular plates and are found over the superior cartilaginous plate from proximal to distal end of papilla; they cover the entire papilla at distal tip. Large cochlear and small efferent nerve endings terminate on their basal ends. Short hair cells are pitcher-shaped, with flattened cuticular plates and are found only on the proximal two-thirds of the free basilar membrane. They have small cochlear and large efferent nerve terminals. Transitional cells are present in between. The efferent nerve fibers, as revealed by the AChE stain, form extensive networks from which many branches are given off to the hair cells. The cochlear nerve fibers, as revealed by the Holmes silver stain, take transverse courses across the papilla with few branches before terminal ramification. Supported by N.I.H. grants Nos. NB 00966-13 and NS 08813-01.
The relationship between forgiveness and history of suicide attempt

The sentiment of forgiveness in relationship to suicide attempts/completions has been mostly examined through studies of suicide notes and the experiences of survivors and therapists – not attempters. In a cross-sectional sample of 304 consecutive primary care patients, we examined sentiments about forgiveness using the Forgiveness Scale, comparing those individuals with versus without past suicide attempts. According to findings, individuals with past suicide attempts (N = 55; 19.1%) evidenced significantly lower composite scores on the Forgiveness Scale. As for individual items, compared to participants without past suicide attempts, those with past suicide attempts were significantly less believing of forgiveness by others, were less likely to forgive themselves, and to a lesser degree, were less forgiving of others. There were no between-group differences with regard to confession of wrongdoing or existential forgiveness by God. Findings may offer some salient avenues of therapeutic inquiry and endeav...
Isothermal Reduction Kinetics of Titanium Dioxide-Based Materials

As metal oxide reduction may be a limiting or otherwise important step in a reaction cycle, a complete description of the kinetics of the reduction can be critical to the successful choice of catal...
Amputation for recurrent soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity: indications and outcome.

Background: Limb salvage after primary site failure of extremity soft tissue sarcoma is a challenging problem. Amputation may be the most effective treatment option in selected patients with local recurrence. We compared the outcome of patients treated with amputation versus limb-sparing surgery (LSS) for locally recurrent extremity sarcoma.
Ciliated protozoan colonization of substrates from Dauphin Island, Alabama

The colonization of substrates by ciliated protozoans and the environmental factors that influenced colonization were examined in the Mississippi Sound from June 1999 to October 2000. Glass slides were used to collect attached ciliates at three locations along the north shore of Dauphin Island. Protozoan samples were collected monthly along with the following data: water temperature, nitrate and phosphate levels, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The dominant genera that colonized the substrates during one week of submersion were the suctorians Acineta and Ephelota , and the peritrichs Cothurnia , Vaginicola , Vorticella , and Zoothamnium . These six genera constituted 99% of the sessile ciliates observed for 50 out of the 51 collections during the study. Population numbers peaked at 6327 cells cm −2 during the summer of 1999, declined to near zero by January 2000 as the water temperature dropped into the low teens (Celsius), and then slowly began to rise again in the spring with a corresponding rise in water temperature. Comparisons of population size with many environmental factors have shown positive correlations with temperature and turbidity.
Extraparticle diffusional effects in gel permeation chromatography. II. Experimental results

Experiments coupled with a systems analysis were conducted on chromatogram dispersion, or zone broadening, in gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Three components of a Waters Associates Model 200 chromatograph, each of which is a potential cause of dispersion, were considered; these are: the packed column, with extraparticle dispersion only; the empty tubing, between pump and columns, columns and detector, etc.; and the detection system, viz., the differential refractometer cell. Toluene solvent was used and the solutes whose dispersion was studied included orthodichlorobenzene (ODCB) and narrow-molecular-weight polystyrene standards having molecular weights of 900, 20,400, 51,000, 97,200, and 160,000. Nonporous glass beads, 50 μ in diameter, were used as column packing. Two diameters, 1 mm and 0.5 mm, of stainless steel tubing were studied. In addition to the usual rectangular pulse sample injection, a step input mode for solute introduction was also used. The empty tubing was found to contribute significantly to the degree of dispersion and to skewness of elution curves. Anomalous bimodal characteristics of the elution curves were also observed which could only be ascribed to the empty tubing. These phenomena depended markedly on parameters such as tube diameter and length, and solute concentration and molecular weight. Dispersion in the packed column, although important, was found to be symmetrical (Gaussian) and less sensitive to these parameters than in the empty tubing, especially with respect to molecular weight. Dispersion in the cell was believed to be insignificant relative to the packed column and empty tubing.
Bringing Culture Back In

Culture Troubles: Politics and the Interpretation of Meaning. By Patrick Chabal, Jean-Pascal Daloz. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006. 362 pp., $75.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-226-10040-5), $29.00 paper (ISBN: 0-226-10041-3). After many years of neglect, political scientists are finally paying attention to the relevance of “culture” to politics (Ross 1997; Bates, de Figueiredo, and Weingast 1998; Eckstein et al. 1998; Kaufman 2001; Wedeen 2002). This theoretical turn raises two important questions: first, why is culture potentially important to the study of politics? Second, if culture matters, how should it be understood and incorporated into political analyses? In Culture Troubles: Politics and the Interpretation of Meaning , Patrick Chabal and Jean-Pascal Daloz make a strong argument that culture matters. This argument, along with their conceptualization of culture itself, is laudable. However, even readers who are interested in culture and politics may not agree with parts of Chabal and Daloz's vision of what a cultural analysis of politics entails. Chabal and Daloz make a strong case that culture shapes politics in important but often overlooked ways. Moreover, they effectively argue that culture is most usefully understood as a system of meaning, not as a collection of behaviors, values, or beliefs. This position is most clearly associated with anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1973). Rather than seeing culture as a set of discrete traits, the Geertzian perspective emphasizes culture as a worldview, or template, that both explains and organizes individual and collective action. As important, Chabal and Daloz point out that a cultural approach is not necessarily “culturalist,” meaning that to contend that culture matters is not to say that only culture matters. Chabal and Daloz argue that to understand how a cultural system of meaning shapes politics, analysts must immerse themselves deeply in a particular cultural milieu, collecting and analyzing context-specific data. Although Chabal and Daloz are not very precise about what “deep immersion” requires with respect to time spent in a …
The Whiggish foundations of Marxian and Sraffian economics

The first half of the paper discusses what is wrong with Whig history and why it is wrong to distort the past. The author’s views are compared with those of noted historians of economics. This discussion provides motivation for the second half of the paper, which focuses on Whiggish accounts of the scientifically progressive character of mainstream Marxian and Sraffian economics that rest heavily upon ‘proofs’ of internal inconsistency in Marx’s own theories. The paper argues that the inconsistencies are actually products of Whiggish misinterpretation. Thus, it is not the case that progress has taken place through correction of error; mainstream Marxian and Sraffian theories are not corrections of the original theories, but alternatives to them.
II. Effects of ionophorous antibiotics in chloroplasts

Abstract The effects of the ionophorous or transport-inducing antibiotics, valinomycin, nigericin, monensin, dianemycin, X-206, X-464 and X-537A on the light-induced proton, K+ and Na+ uptake, electron transport and ATP formation were studied. Nigericin, monensin, dianemycin, X-206, X-464 and X-537A uncoupled photophosphorylation in the presence of a suitable alkali metal cation, inducing the uptake of the alkali metal cation while inhibiting the light-induced pH change. The selectivity for alkali-metal cations exhibited by these antibiotics was determined and found to be similar to that determined in mitochondrial and artificial membranes. The ratios of K+/ΔDH+ determined at a given concentration of antibiotics were in the order of 6–10, whereas the Na+/ΔDH+ ratios for a similar inhibition of the light-induced proton uptake were between 10–40. Valinomycin primarily enhanced permeability to K+, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone enhanced permeability to H+, and gramicidin that to both K+ and H−. With suboptimal concentrations of nigericin which only slightly uncoupled phosphorylation but induced a measurable K+ uptake, the addition of valinomycin synergistically uncoupled photophosphorylation. These results suggest the participation of a membrane potential in ATP formation in chloroplasts and are discussed in comparison with similar effects described for subchloroplast and chromatophore particles.
Is Fairall 9 an X-ray Seyfert galaxy?

FAIRALL recently identified a new Seyfert galaxy, designated F-9, from coarse spectra of a galaxy evident on an ESO Fast Blue Survey Plate1. Only limited data were presented, however, for example, a redshift was not given, nor was the galaxy spectroscopically classified (Seyfert type 1 or 2)2. In a search at MIT for possible catalogued optical counterparts to X-ray sources, I noticed that F-9 lies within the common intersection of both a 2A and 4U X-ray error box3, 4. Figure 1 shows the 2A error box and part of the (much larger) 4U error box overlaid on an ESO Fast Blue Survey Plate of the region around F-9. The apparent magnitude of F-9 is given as mag ∼ 13 (ref. 1). Because of its fuzzy perimeter, it is the most conspicuous object in the 2A error box.