cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome to treatment with imatinib mesylate.

Abstract Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by persistent eosinophilia with organ involvement. Patients with HES have a poor prognosis, but the disease course can be heterogeneous. Treatment of HES has included corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide, vincristine, hydroxyrea, and most recently interferon-α (IFN-α) which has shown long-term beneficial effects. We herein report on a patient with HES who had disease resistant to steroids, and chemotherapy with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and cytarabine, but who had a significant response after only 8 days of treatment with imatinib mesylate 100 mg daily. The possible mechanism of response is discussed. This observation may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of HES, and may provide a new form of effective therapy for the disease.
Functional characteristics of T cell receptors during sensitization against histocompatibility antigens in vitro

Abstract Using the mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) reaction as a model system for the generation of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes, we have examined changes which occur in recognition-binding function during T cell sensitization. Properties of recognition-binding units on normal and immune T lymphocytes were assessed through the ability of T cells to bind to specific cellular immunoadsorbants at various stages of in vitro sensitization. While antigen-specific recognition-binding function was readily detected on fully cytotoxic effector cells, we were unable to detect functionally specific binding of unsensitized lymphocytes to cellular immunoadsorbants. The ability of cells undergoing sensitization in MLC to bind specifically to target cell monolayers appeared congruent in time with cytotoxic function. These results suggest that a fundamental membrane-associated change occurring during T cell sensitization may be the development of a strong and specific target-cell binding function.
The formation of target adatoms during the quenching of an energetic ion induced cascade in a crystalline metal surface

Abstract A molecular dynamics computer simulation model has been modified to follow the near surface portion of an ion induced collision cascade to completion. The system dissipates the injected energy and recrystalizes. Studies of the Cu/Ar system for different ion-atom potential functions demonstrate the existance of target adatoms created by long replacement sequences.
DAEs arising from traveling wave solutions of PDEs II

Abstract The study of traveling wave solutions of PDEs sometimes leads to systems of Differential Algebraic Equations (DAEs). This paper examines a family of DAEs that arise in this manner from the Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations. These DAEs are of interest in their own right, as a source of test problems for DAE numerical integrators, and because of their relationship to the MHD equations.
Urothelial cancer biomarkers for detection and surveillance.

Abstract Cancer is a complex process, and the US cancer-specific death rate has not changed in the last 50 years. Cure of the disease usually results from early diagnosis and treatment. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) has the highest recurrence rate of any cancer and is the second most common cancer of the genitourinary tract. It usually does not present at a metastatic stage, but only 50% of patients treated with cystectomy survive ≥5 years. There is a UC surveillance protocol, which includes cystoscopy, imaging, and cytology, to detect progression and allow early treatment of life-threatening UC. Many patients may not complete the surveillance protocol, and the cost of these studies is increasing. In addition, questions about the efficacy of these modalities have been raised. Therefore, bladder urinary tumor markers have been developed to aid in the diagnosis and surveillance of UC. Because urothelial cells are bathed in the urine and are continually shed, UC presents a unique opportunity to monitor bladder neoplasia in a noninvasive fashion. Currently, there are many research bladder tumor markers, but only a few are commercially available US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved products. The commercially available bladder tumor markers and potential future markers are discussed. The ideal urinary bladder tumor test is still unavailable, but the eventual “gold standard” will consist of multiplex assays that analyze nucleic acids and proteins for detection. In addition, these tests would also reveal to the clinician both prognostic information and therapeutic targets for personalized medical treatment.
Characterization of the plasma membrane of Mycoplasma laidlawii. I. Sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilization.

Abstract The preparation and properties of highly purified plasma membranes from Mycoplasma laidlawii B are described. The process of sodium dodecyl sulfate solubilization of these membranes is followed using 4 techniques: (1) measurement of the drop in turbidity, (2) release of membrane protein into non-sedimentable material, (3) schlieren patterns observed in analytical ultracentrifugation, and (4) distribution of protein and lipid in density-gradient sedimentation. It is concluded that detergent solubilization of this membrane proceeds through a continuum of states with no well defined intermediates to the formation of separate lipid- and protein-detergent complexes. The appearance of single schlieren peaks in solubilized membrane preparation is considered to be an inadequate criterion for assessing the homogeneity of such a complex system. A previous conclusion that detergent solubilization of this membrane produced lipoprotein subunits is not consistent with these results.
Synthesis of 6a-hydroxypterocarpans via intramolecular benzoin condensation

Abstract A novel approach for the syntheses of 6a-hydroxypterocarpans is reported. Its practicality is demonstrated by the synthesis of (±)-glycinol. The main feature is an intramolecular benzoin condensation catalyzed by nucleophilic carbenes to initiate assembly of the benzopyran and establish the 6a-hydroxy center. In addition, a one-pot method was developed to form an epoxide that facilitates subsequent cyclization leading to the benzofuran and direct production of (±)-glycinol.
The monotone follower problem in stochastic decision theory

We consider the problem of optimally tracking the "random demand"x+wt, w. Brownian motion, by a nondecreasing processź. adapted to the Brownian past, so as to minimize the expected lossEź0Tź(x+wtźźt)dt. The decision problem is reduced to a free boundary one, and the latter is studied and solved for a large class of cost functionsź(ź).
Nonlinear theory of intense laser-plasma interactions.

A nonlinear theory of intense laser-plasma interactions is developed and used to describe relativistic optical guiding, coherent harmonic radiation production, and nonlinear plasma wakefield generation. Relativistic optical guiding is found to be ineffective in preventing the leading portion (\ensuremath{\le} a plasma wavelength) of a laser pulse from diffracting. Coherent harmonic generation is found to be most efficient for short laser pulses. Optical guiding and harmonic generation may be enhanced by the presence of large amplitude plasma wakefields. These phenomena may be important in laser-driven plasma accelerators, x-ray sources, and fusion schemes.
Selective particle ingestion by oyster larvae ( Crassostrea virginica ) feeding on natural seston and cultured algae

I investigated selective particle ingestion by oyster larvae (Crassostrea virginica) feeding on natural seston from Chesapeake Bay and laboratory-cultured algae of different sizes or chemical content. In 15 of 16 experiments with complex natural suspensions as food, small( 150 μm) larvae selected most strongly for small (2 to 4 μm) food particles, but in the presence of a large (>10 μm)-cell dinoflagellate bloom, large larvae strongly selected much larger (22 to 30 μm) food material (presumably dinoflagellates). When fed simplified mixtures of four cultured algal species (Synechococcus bacillaris, Isochrysis sp., Dunaliella tertiolecta, and Prorocentrum minimum) ranging in size from 1 to 11 μm, small larvae preferred 1 μm algae while large larvae preferred 11 μm algae. In experiments with algal mixtures, and with suspensions of natural particles and added algae, large larvae preferred algal species harvested from exponential-phase cultures over other species from stationary-phase cultures. Larval ingestion rates of the cultured alga Thalassiosira pseudonana were about three times higher for cells with a low carbon:nitrogen ratio (7.2:1) than for high C:N ratio (16.2:1) cells when these cells were offered separately in suspensions of equal concentration. As a result, more algal cells, algal C, and algal N was ingested by larvae fed low C:N cells. However, larvae did not show a significant preference for either type of cell when they were offered in a 1:1 cell mixture. Feeding patterns of C. virginica larvae in natural food suspensions can vary with the composition of these complex suspensions, and ingestion seems dependent not only on the size, but on the growth rate and chemical quality of food particles.
Radiation dosimetry of adrenal imaging agents 19-iodocholesterol and 6-iodomethylnorcholesterol

Abstract Radiation internal absorbed doses to seven organs are calculated for adrenal imaging radiopharmaceuticals, 19-iodocholestrol and 6-iodomethylnorcholesterol labeled with 131 I or 123 I, from published biological distribution data of the 125 I-labeled compounds of greater than 98% chemical purity. Consideration of the biological distribution, dosimetry and physical data indicates that 123 I-6-iodomethylnorcholesterol is preferred for adrenal scintigraphy.
The influence of menstrual-cycle phase on the relationship between testosterone and aggression.

Plasma testosterone levels and aggressive behavior were measured in 12 women with and without perimenstrual affective symptomatology (e.g., depression, irritability) during the menstrual, midfollicular, ovulatory, and premenstrual phases of the menstrual cycle. The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm was used to quantify aggressive response to provocation. Subjects had two response options: a point-maintained option (100 presses earned a point worth 10 cents) and an aggressive response option (10 presses ostensibly subtracted a point from a fictitious partner's counter). Subjects were provoked by the periodic subtraction of a point that was attributed to the responding of a fictitious opponent. Although plasma testosterone levels (determined by radioimmunoassay) increased significantly during the ovulatory phase, aggressive response to provocation remained unchanged across the menstrual cycle. Plasma testosterone did not differ between the 2 groups during any phase. A relationship between plasma testosterone levels and use of the aggressive response option was seen only during the midfollicular phase (Spearman r = .673, p = .017). These preliminary data suggest that: 1. The relationship in female subjects between endogenous testosterone and aggressive behavior is inconsistent; 2. self-report of perimenstrual symptomatology is a more consistent predictor of aggressive behavior across the menstrual cycle than plasma testosterone; and 3. perimenstrual emotional symptomatology is not related to testosterone levels.
High-resolution noncontact thermal characterization of semiconductor devices

Non-contact optical methods can be used for sub micron surface thermal characterization of active semiconductor devices. Point measurements were first made, and then real time thermal images were acquired with a specialized PIN- array detector. This method of thermal imaging can have spatial resolution better than the diffraction limit of an infrared camera and can work in a wide range of ambient temperatures. The experimentally obtained thermal resolution is on the order of 50 mK.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Measurement of the principal isentropes of lead and lead–antimony alloy to ~400 kbar by quasi-isentropic compression

The magnetic-pressure drive technique allows single-shot measurements of compression isentropes. We have used this method to measure the isentropes in the pressure–volume space of bulk and single-crystal lead, and lead–antimony alloy to ~400 kbar.The isentrope pressure–volume curves were found from integration of the experimentally deduced Lagrangian sound speed as a function of particle velocity. A characteristics calculation method was used to convert time-resolved free-surface velocity measurements to corresponding in situ particle-velocity histories, from which the Lagrangian sound speed was determined from the times for samples of different thicknesses to reach the same particle velocity. Use of multiple velocity interferometry probes decreased the uncertainty due to random errors by allowing multiple measurements.Our results have errors of from 4% to 6% in pressure, ~1% to 1.5% in volume, depending on the number of measurements, and are consistent with existing isotherm and Hugoniot data and models for lead.
The binding of cortisol to adrenal mitochondria.

Binding of tritiated cortisol to adrenal zona glomerulosa mitochondria was studied and compared with that of corticosterone. Cortisol was shown to bind specifically to the inner membrane of zona glomerulosa mitochondria. Corticosterone and cortisol had similar apparent association constants (Ka) and concentrations of binding sites. The methodology was validated by obtaining similar Ka from both binding plots and kinetic data. Cortisol binding was inhibited by pretreatment with sodium dithionite, and displaced by deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxy-corticosterone, 11β-hydroxy-18-ethynil-progesterone and metyrapone, but not by cholesterol. These results suggest that cortisol and corticosterone bind to the same cytochrome P-450.
Update in nephrology: evidence published in 2013.

This Update summarizes studies published in 2013 that the authors consider highly relevant to the practice of nephrology. Topics include hypertension, chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis, and kidn...
Spectral reflectance studies of some nitrophenols and their salts on solid surfaces

Abstract The behavior of some nitrophenols and their sodium salts adsorbed on lithium, sodium, and potassium carbonates was studied. For each phenol, regular hypsochromic shifts of the wavelength maxima in the visible diffuse reflectance spectra of the two-component system were observed in order of decreasing size of the adsorbent cation whereas for the phenolic salts, essentially the same wavelength maxima were obtained over the three alkaline adsorbents. This phenomenon is interpreted in terms of polarization theory and the concept of “ionization” of the phenols on the surface of the basic adsorbents. A comparison of the reflectance spectra of the phenols and their sodium salts indicates that “ionization” or stretching of the hydrogen-oxygen bond in the phenol is not extensive in case of the three weakly acidic mononitrophenols on the three carbonates and is in the order Li2CO3 > Na2CO3 > K2CO3. The more acidic dinitro- and trinitrophenols are believed to exist on the basic adsorbents predominantly in the “ionized” form. Study of the relationship between acidity of the phenols and shift of wavelength maxima in their reflectance spectra on the adsorbents shows an increasing shift with increasing pK of the phenol.
Topological Synthesis of Compliant Mechanisms Using Nonlinear Beam Elements

Abstract The article presents a methodology for generating topology of complaint mechanisms using nonlinear deformation theory. In an earlier work, (Joo, J., Kota, S., Kikuchi, N., (2000) Topological synthesis of compliant mechanisms using linear beam elements. Mechanics of Structures and Machines 28(4):245–280), we presented a topology synthesis methodology using linear beam elements. Using large deformation analysis, the article presents a methodology for topology synthesis based on a multicriteria objective function as a ratio of geometrical advantage to strain energy is employed to capture the conflicting functional requirements that are inherent in compliant mechanisms design. The benefits of using nonlinear methods for large deformation problems are illustrated by using three design examples and comparing results from a nonlinear implementation of the optimization procedure with a linear scheme.
Characterization of a CO-responsive Transcriptional Activator from Rhodospirillum rubrum

In Rhodospirillum rubrum, CO induces the expression of at least two transcripts that encode an enzyme system for CO oxidation. This regulon is positively regulated by CooA, which is a member of the cAMP receptor protein family of transcriptional regulators. The transcriptional start site of one of the transcripts (cooFSCTJ) has been identified by primer extension. The ability of CooA to bind to this promoter in vitro was characterized with DNase I footprinting experiments using extracts of a CooA-overproducing strain. CooA- and CO-dependent protection was observed for a region with 2-fold symmetry (5′-TGTCA-N6-CGACA) that is highly similar to the consensus core motifs recognized by cAMP receptor protein/FNR family. In vivo analysis in a heterologous background indicates that CooA is sufficient for CO-dependent expression, implicating it as the likely CO sensor.
FLORAL HERBIVORY IN PASTINACA SATIVA: DO COMPENSATORY RESPONSES OFFSET REDUCTIONS IN FITNESS?

In this field study, we assessed the ability of P. sativa to offset the effects of herbivory on maternal fitness by examining population recruitment from seeds produced by the different inflorescences of Pastinaca. We measured maternal fitness in terms of the number of offspring from damaged and undamaged plants that survived to reproduce
Effectiveness of an Electrical Barrier in Blocking a Sea Lamprey Spawning Migration on the Jordan River, Michigan

Abstract Mark–recapture studies indicated that a pulsed-DC electrical barrier set to a 2-ms pulse width and 10 pulses/s completely blocked the spawning migration of sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus in the Jordan River, Michigan. Capture efficiency of fyke nets averaged 24% for four groups, about 300 tagged sea lampreys each, released upstream of the barrier; no unmarked sea lampreys and none of the 1,194 sea lampreys tagged and released downstream of the barrier were captured in the fyke nets while the barrier was energized. At a lower pulsator setting (1-ms pulse width; 10 pulses/s), 1 of 900 sea lampreys released below the barrier was recaptured in the nets. Sea lampreys from downstream were captured in the fyke nets after the barrier was de-energized, indicating that the barrier should remain in operation later than mid-Jul. Both sea lampreys and teleosts exposed to the electrical field were stunned but exhibited no apparent damage at either barrier setting. The pulsed-DC electrical barrier should help ...
Kinetics of N2O decomposition on polycrystalline platinum

The kinetics of N2O decomposition on polycrystalline Pt is studied over a wide range of surface temperatures (400 < T < 1200 °C) and pressures (0.01 < PN2O < 0.50 Torr) in a steady-state flow system with conversions less than 6% so that differential rates are obtained. It is found that a single Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) rate expression correlates all rate data within ± 10% at all temperatures and pressures to give a reaction activation energy of 34.9 kcal/mole and a heat of adsorption of N2O of 21.3 kcal/mole. A simple reaction mechanism which can give this rate expression is also proposed.
The effects of modifications of lysyl and arginyl groups on the biological and immunological activity of human chorionic gonadotropin

Summary Modification of lysine or arginine residues of human chorionic gonadotropin results in a partial loss of immunoreactivity and in a severe loss of biological activity. The arginine and lysine residues of the alpha subunit, but not the beta subunit, are essential for recombination of the subunits to form a biologically active molecule. The determinants on the beta subunit responsible for the formation of a specific anti-beta hCG serum are located at or nearsome of the arginine residues.
Rescuing Observed Fixed Effects: Using the Hausman-Taylor Method for Out-of-Sample Trade Projections

In this analysis, we propose the Hausman-Taylor (1981) method as an alternative estimation technique for estimating the gravity model of trade. We use an application to highlight the benefits of this technique for panel data estimation in general. Specifically, we compare the Hausman-Taylor method for estimating the unrealized US-Cuban trade potential to the OLS, fixed-effects, and random-effects methods using the out-of-sample approach. The Hausman-Taylor method is ideal because it allows for the inclusion of time-invariant variables in trade projections and circumvents the problem of an ad hoc estimation of the country-specific dummy variable needed for a projection based on the fixed-effects estimator. In addition, it removes the correlation between the error term and included variables which often plagues random-effects estimation.
Some remarks on elastic crack-tip stress fields

It is shown that if the displacement field and stress intensity factor are known as functions of crack length for any symmetrical load system acting on a linear elastic body in plane strain, then the stress intensity factor for any other symmetrical load system whatsoever on the same body may be directly determined. The result is closely related to Bueckner's (1970) weight function, through which the stress intensity factor is expressed as a sum of work-like products between applied forces and values of the weight function at their points of application. An example of the method is given wherein the solution for a crack in a remotely uniform stress field is used to generate the expression for the stress intensity factor due to an arbitrary traction distribution on the faces of a crack. A corresponding theory is developed in an appendix for three-dimensional crack problems, although this appears to be directly useful chiefly for problems in which there is axial symmetry.
Perceived discrimination and self-rated health in South Korea: a nationally representative survey.

Background There is mounting evidence that discriminatory experiences can harm health. However, previous research has mainly focused on the health effects of racial discrimination in U.S. or European countries although there is pervasive discrimination by gender, age, education and other factors in Asian countries. Methods We analyzed the data from the 7th wave of Korean Labor and Income Panel Study to investigate the association between perceived discriminatory experience and poor self-rated health in South Korea. Perceived discriminatory experiences were measured in eight situations through a modified Experience of Discrimination questionnaire. In each of eight situations, the lifetime prevalence of perceived discriminatory experience was compared between men and women and the main causes of those experiences were identified separately by gender. After adjusting for potential confounders, we examined the association between perceived discriminatory experience and poor self-rated health in each of eight social situations and also checked the association using the number of situations of perceived discriminatory experiences. Results For both men and women, education level and age were the main sources of work-related perceived discriminatory experiences. Gender was one of the main causes among women across eight situations and more than 90% of women reported their gender as a main cause of discriminatory experience in getting higher education and at home. Discriminatory experiences in four situations were positively associated with poor self-rated health. The odds ratio for poor self-rated health for those exposed to one, two, three or four or more social situations of perceived discrimination were respectively 1.06 (95% CI : 0.87–1.29), 1.15 (95% CI : 0.96–1.55), 1.59 (95% CI : 1.19–2.14), and 1.78 (95% CI :1.26–2.51). Conclusion There is consistent association between perceived discriminatory experience and poor self-rated health across eight social situations in South Korea.
Cyberdemocracy and Online Politics: A New Model of Interactivity.

Building on McMillan's two-way model of interactivity, this study presents a three-way model of interactive communication, which is used to assess political Web sites' progress toward the ideals of cyberdemocracy and the fostering of public deliberation. Results of a 3-year study of state legislature Web sites, an analysis of the community networks, and a review of purely political sites such as MoveOn.org, RNC.org, and DNC.org are reported. Little deliberation was found on the legislature sites, but opportunities for such were greater on the other types of sites.
MobileAccessibility: camera focalization for blind and low-vision users on the go

There is a significant need for access to low-cost assistive mobile services through standard devices. Many special purpose devices that provide services are specialized for few functions, are usually not networked, and are expensive and difficult to sustain. Mobile devices and their sensors, along with audio or tactile output, show immense promise for improved daily accessibility to the world for blind people on the go. Particularly, the camera has the potential to expand environmental knowledge using context and computer vision. This research will investigate general camera interaction techniques, mobile device and camera accessibility for blind users, and computer vision techniques for recognition given mobile phone limitations. These studies along with formative studies and focus groups with users will inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of future lab and field studies for semi-autonomous focalization with the camera for blind users.
Nonoptimality of the steady-state cruise for aircraft

For a fairly general aircraft model and a large class of drag models, steady-state cruise for a long time span is nonoptimal with respect to fuel economy. This is proved by a second-order variational analysis, using a frequency-domain version of the classical Jacobi (conjugate point) optimality condition. The variational analysis suggests a sinusoidal perturbation away from steady-state cruise which improves fuel economy (as confirmed numerically), but is still not optimal. The form of the optimal trajectory for long duration cruise is unknown. However, two intuitive reasons for improved fuel economy using cycle cruise paths are given.
Three-dimensional finite element analysis on open-die block forging design

Three-dimensional rigid-plastic finite element method was used to analyze the practice of open-die block forging, focusing on the effects of die configurations and forging pass designs. Four combinations of die configurations were investigated: conventional flat dies, top flat/bottom V-shaped dies, and double V-shaped dies with 120 and 135 deg included angles. Two different pass designs, 90 and 180 deg rotation angles between succeeding passes, were applied to each die set. The results include the magnitude and distribution of effective strains along the center line of the cylindrical workpiece and the final shape of the workpiece. Good agreement was observed in comparison with experimental data from physical modeling method, and several suggestions were made for choosing suitable dies.
Observable weight distributions and children's individual weight assessment.

Social networks theory suggests obesity is “contagious” within peer groups in that known friends highly influence weight. On the other hand, an alternative model suggests that observable weight distributions affect perception of one's own obesity level. We examine whether the BMI levels of the most obese classmates in the individual student's grade by gender is positively associated with “under-assessment” of obesity and overweight (i.e., independently measured obesity or overweight, but subjective self-assessment of normal weight). The data are the 2004–2005 School Physical Activity and Nutrition III (SPAN), a stratified, multistage probability sample of 4th, 8th, and 11th grade public school children in Texas. We used logistic regression to test whether the gender-specific 85th percentile BMI level within the individual student's grade at their school is positively associated with “under-assessment” of obesity and overweight. The results show that students are much more likely to under-assess their own weight if the gender-specific 85th percentile BMI level is higher in their grade at their school. These data suggest that observable weight distributions play a key role in the obesity epidemic.
Micro-size ball lenses for micro-optics: theory and experiment

Two modeling approaches for analyzing micro-size ball lenses will be described. Due to the low divergence angle of the light coming out of a single mode fiber (SMF), a Gaussian Optics analysis, integrated with ray tracing, is needed to design the optical subsystems such as fiber collimators. On the other hand, due to the large divergence angle of the light coming out of the laser diode (LD), an exact solution of Maxwell's equation which can be obtained by spherical harmonic expansion, is needed in order to predict the coupling efficiency from a LD to a SMF accurately. These models were applied to the cases of forward coupling and back reflections with various arrangements of the optical elements. Excellent agreement was found between the predictions of these two models and the experimental results. These models are very important for assemblies using micro-machined micro-optical parts since they have little or no allowance for alignment adjustments.
Dilworth's principal elements

Principal elements were introduced in multiplicative lattices by R. P. Dilworth, following an earlier but less successful attempt in the joint work of Ward and Dilworth. As suggested by their name, principal elements are the analogue in multiplicative lattices of principal ideals in (commutative) rings. Principal elements are the cornerstone on which the theory of multiplicative lattices and abstract ideal theory now largely rests. In this paper, we obtain some new results regarding principal elements and extend some others. In addition, we try to convey what is known and what is not known about the subject. We conclude with a fairly extensive (but likely not exhaustive) bibliography on principal elements.
Self-consistent kinetic model of the cathode fall of a glow discharge

The electrons in the cathode-fall (CF) region of a helium dc glow discharge have been modeled at the kinetic level with a self-consistent electric field using a ``convective-scheme'' (CS) (propagator or Green's-function) solution method. The CS is both straightforward to implement and numerically efficient. CS electron calculations using one spatial and two velocity variables are shown to match Monte Carlo simulations of swarms in uniform E/N and in the CF. The CS predictions are also shown to match experimental swarm results. A self-consistent CF solution is obtained through a slow relaxation of the electric field to that indicated by Poisson's equation. The electric field configuration as predicted by the CS agrees well with optogalvanic measurements. The discussion emphasizes both the physical nature of, and the difficulties associated with, a self-consistent-field calculation.
The Fixed W Arch for Correction of Posterior Crossbites in Children

A modified W arch can be used to treat children who have posterior crossbites that have been correctly diagnosed. A careful orthodontic evaluation should be made before treatment is undertaken. A modification of the prosthesis, with a removable lingual arch, can be made if the possibility of a future adjustment exists. No retaining device is required and no posttreatment retention is needed.
Current Management of Pyogenic Liver Abscess: Surgery is Now Second-Line Treatment

Background The objective of this study was to examine the current treatment for liver abscess and to assess the factors associated with failure of percutaneous drainage. Study Design Records of 58 patients with pyogenic hepatic abscess, from 1998 to 2009, were examined. Clinicopathologic variables were analyzed as predictors of failure of percutaneous drainage using multivariable logistic regression. The results of surgical intervention after failure of percutaneous treatment were also examined. Results Fifty-one patients (88%) had a history of malignancy including pancreas (36%), cholangiocarcinoma (17%), colon (12%), and gallbladder (10%). Recent hepatic artery embolization or radiofrequency ablation preceded development of abscess in 13 patients (22%). Fifteen patients (26%) had evidence of biliary tract communication, and 14 of 15 (93%) of these patients had concomitant biliary tract obstruction. Percutaneous drainage was successful in 38 patients (66%) with a median drain dwell time of 26 days (range 3 to 319 days). Five patients (9%) required operative intervention and 2 of these patients (3% overall) died postoperatively from septic complications. Fifteen patients (26%) died with percutaneous drains in place; 9 (60%) of these patients died of cancer progression without evidence of sepsis. Independent predictors of failure of percutaneous drainage included abscesses containing yeast (p = 0.003) and communication of the abscess cavity with the biliary tree (p = 0.02). Conclusions Pyogenic hepatic abscess was treated successfully in the majority of patients with advanced malignancy, although mortality remained high. The presence of yeast and communication with an untreated obstructed biliary tree were associated with failure of percutaneous drainage. The need for surgical salvage was associated with a high mortality.
31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of enzymatically phosphorylated glycophorin A

Glycophorin A was phosphorylated using protein kinases and the new protein was investigated using31P NMR spectroscopy. Most of these ∼30 moles of phosphate were found to be attached to Ser and Thr. Some of these phosphate residues appear to be affected by the carbohydrate residues present. The phosphorylated protein appears to be in a severe state of aggregation, with the degree of aggregationpH-dependent.
Invariants of Finite Groups over Fields of Characteristicp

Abstract Let V denote a finite-dimensional K vector space and let G denote a finite group of K -linear automorphisms of V . Let V m denote the direct sum of m copies of V and let G act on the symmetric algebra K [ V m ] of V m by the diagonal action on V m . A result of Noether implies that, if char K =0, then K [ V m ] G can be generated as a K -algebra by polynomials whose degrees are ⩽| G |, no matter how large m is. This paper proves that this result no longer holds when the characteristic of K divides | G |. More precisely, it is proved in this case that there is a positive number α , depending only on | G | and char K , such that every set of K -algebra generators of K [ V m ] G contains a generator whose degree is ⩾ αm .
SERUM HETEROPHILE ANTIBODIES INTERFERE WITH PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN TEST AND RESULT IN OVER TREATMENT IN A PATIENT WITH PROSTATE CANCER

Purpose: We evaluated how naturally occurring heterophile antibodies in patient serum interfered with prostate specific antigen (PSA) immunoassay, resulting in over treatment for prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: Serum samples were treated with heterophilic blocking reagent (Scantibodies Laboratory, Inc., Santee, California). Treated and untreated samples were tested by the Medics (Tosoh, Foster City, California) Tandem-R (Beckman-Coulter Inc., Chaska, Minnesota) and Elecsys (Roche Molecular Biochemical, Indianapolis, Indiana) PSA assays. Heterophile antibodies were measured directly in treated and untreated samples by the human anti-mouse antibody immunoradiometric assay and heterophilic antibody identification enzyme immunoassay (Scantibodies Laboratories, Inc.).Results: Human anti-mouse Ig heterophile antibodies in patient serum caused false-positive PSA test findings after radical prostatectomy, resulting in over treatment for presumed disease recurrence.Conclusions: If PSA is detectable after ra...
The Right of Children to Be Loved

This chapter aims to satisfy critics of rights who believe correctly that rights should not be claimed without consideration as to whether they can be justified. To restrict the scope of the chapter, it assumes the following: there are rights, in particular human rights; children, even very young ones, can have rights; and there are positive rights. The chapter proposes that this right can be grounded as a human right and by showing that love can be an appropriate object of a duty. Furthermore, it also challenges the common notion that the duty to love a child belongs only to the biological parents. If the right of children to be loved is in fact a human right grounded in the fact that children need to be loved to develop essential capacities needed for a good life, then we, as a society, also need to accept part of the duty to promote a child's being loved as our responsibility.
Redefining Drug-Nutrient Interactions

Currently, a standardized definition and classification system for drug-nutrient interactions does not exist. This may explain the disparity in the perception, recognition, and management of drug-nutrient interactions among clinicians and researchers. The purpose of this article is to redefine and systematically classify drug-nutrient interactions according to the most recent understanding in drug and nutrient metabolism and drug-drug interactions. Drug-nutrient interactions can be broadly classified into four types based on their mechanisms. This definition and classification system should facilitate patient management, clinical and didactic training for practitioners, and future research direction in this area.
DNA Shuffling of Adeno-associated Virus Yields Functionally Diverse Viral Progeny

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are extremely effective gene-delivery vehicles for a broad range of applications. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these and other vectors is currently limited by barriers to safe, efficient gene delivery, including pre-existing antiviral immunity, and infection of off-target cells. Recently, we have implemented directed evolution of AAV, involving the generation of randomly mutagenized viral libraries based on serotype 2 and high-throughput selection, to engineer enhanced viral vectors. Here, we significantly extend this capability by performing high-efficiency in vitro recombination to create a large (107), diverse library of random chimeras of numerous parent AAV serotypes (AAV1, 2, 4–6, 8, and 9). In order to analyze the extent to which such highly chimeric viruses can be viable, we selected the library for efficient viral packaging and infection, and successfully recovered numerous novel chimeras. These new viruses exhibited a broad range of cell tropism both in vitro and in vivo and enhanced resistance to human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), highlighting numerous functional differences between these chimeras and their parent serotypes. Thus, directed evolution can potentially yield unlimited numbers of new AAV variants with novel gene-delivery properties, and subsequent analysis of these variants can further extend basic knowledge of AAV biology.
Drop Impact Dynamics: Splashing, Spreading, Receding, Bouncing ...

The review deals with drop impacts on thin liquid layers and dry surfaces. The impacts resulting in crown formation are referred to as splashing. Crowns and their propagation are discussed in detail, as well as some additional kindred, albeit nonsplashing, phenomena like drop spreading and deposition, receding (recoil), jetting, fingering, and rebound. The review begins with an explanation of various practical motivations feeding the interest in the fascinating phenomena of drop impact, and the above-mentioned topics are then considered in their experimental, theoretical, and computational aspects.
Feature generation based on maximum normalized acoustic likelihood for improved speech recognition

Feature representation is a very important factor that has a great effect on the performance of speech recognition systems. In this paper we focus on a feature generation process that is based on the linear transformation of an original log-spectral representation. While conventional linear feature generation methods generally use objective functions that are not closely related to recognition accuracy, our linear feature generation method attempts to find a transformation matrix that maximizes the normalized acoustic likelihood of the most likely state training data, a measure that is directly related to the classification error rate in speech recognition. The transformation matrix is generated using a gradient ascent optimization process, with the normalized acoustic likelihood of the most likely state sequence as the objective function. Experimental results using the DARPA RM corpus show that the proposed method consistently decreases word error rates compared to conventional linear feature generation methods.
A reduction in intestinal cell pHi due to loss of the Caenorhabditis elegans Na+/H+ exchanger NHX-2 increases life span.

Na+/H+ exchangers are involved in cell volume regulation, fluid secretion and absorption, and pH homeostasis. NHX-2 is a Caenorhabditis elegans Na+/H+ exchanger expressed exclusively at the apical membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. The inactivation of various intestinal nutrient transport proteins has been shown previously to influence aging via metabolic potential and a mechanism resembling caloric restriction. We report here a functional coupling of NHX-2 activity with nutrient uptake that results in long lived worms. Gene inactivation of nhx-2 by RNAi led to a loss of fat stores in the intestine and a 40% increase in longevity. The NHX-2 protein was coincidentally expressed with OPT-2, an oligopeptide transporter that is driven by a transmembrane proton gradient and that is also known to be involved in fat accumulation. Gene inactivation of opt-2 led to a phenotype resembling that of nhx-2, although not as severe. In order to explore this potential functional interaction, we combined RNA interference with a genetically encoded, fluorescence-based reagent to measure intestinal intracellular pH (pH i) in live worms under physiological conditions. Our results suggest first that OPT-2 is the main dipeptide uptake pathway in the nematode intestine, and second that dipeptide uptake results in intestinal cell acidification, and finally that recovery following dipeptide-induced acidification is normally a function of NHX-2. The loss of NHX-2 protein results in decreased steady-state intestinal cell pH i , and we hypothesize that this change perturbs proton-coupled nutrient uptake processes such as performed by OPT-2. Our data demonstrate a functional role for a Na+/H+ exchanger in nutrient absorption in vivo and lays the groundwork for examining integrated acid-base physiology in a non-mammalian model organism.
Effect of imidazolium room-temperature ionic liquids on aggregation of amphotericin B: a circular dichroism study

The nature of the anion of imidazolium-based ionic liquids was found to control the aggregate–monomer equilibrium of amphotericin B. This is in contrast to aqueous solutions of inorganic salts and imidazolium-based ionic liquids, which were previously found to favor the disaggregation of amphotericin B. The results further establish the designer solvent ability of ionic liquids, specifically as it relates to their ability to influence intermolecular interactions.
Immunological tolerance as an adjunct to allogeneic tissue grafting.

Since its clinical inception, our group has worked in clinical and experimental transplantation. The exciting early results of composite tissue allografts (CTA) attracted our attention during the 1980s, when some of the first experimental CTA literature appeared. The recent extraordinary results of clinical CTA grafts, primarily the Louisville and Lyon results, have been highlighted at this meeting. Interestingly, this success followed not long after the first International meeting in Louisville in 1997. This is clearly an exciting new application of transplant techniques to one of the newest and most unique types of transplants. Previous studies used immunosuppression for skin allografting. Early results seem quite exciting and we expect to see a rapid growth of interest and activity in this area. We believe that the entire field would benefit from the novel, highly effective and minimally toxic immune tolerance induction using CD3-immunotoxin (CD3-IT) and deoxyspergualin (DSG). © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 20:435–440 2000
Cooperative regulation of AJM-1 controls junctional integrity in Caenorhabditis elegans epithelia

The function of epithelial cell sheets depends on the integrity of specialized cell‐cell junctions that connect neighbouring cells. We have characterized the novel coiled-coil protein AJM-1, which localizes to an apical junctional domain of Caenorhabditis elegans epithelia basal to the HMR‐HMP (cadherin‐catenin) complex. In the absence of AJM-1, the integrity of this domain is compromised. Proper AJM-1 localization requires LET-413 and DLG-1, homologues of the Drosophila tumour suppressors Scribble and Discs large, respectively. DLG-1 physically interacts with AJM-1 and is required for its normal apical distribution, and LET-413 mediates the rapid accumulation of both DLG1 and AJM-1 in the apical domain. In the absence of both dlg-1 and let-413 function AJM-1 is almost completely lost from apical junctions in embryos, whereas HMP-1 (α-catenin) localization is only mildly affected. We conclude that LET-413 and DLG-1 cooperatively control AJM-1 localization and that AJM-1 controls the integrity of a distinct apical junctional domain in C. elegans.
Model-Constrained Recognition Of Line Drawings Of Objects By Production Rules And Hierarchical Structures

A model-constrained rule-based object recognition system for line drawings is considered. The system is composed of three subsystems: preprocessing (segmentation), feature extraction, and pattern matching. The subsystems and the processes within each system are arranged in a hierarchical structure. The actual implementation is centered around the ideas of view-angle-independent object recognition and robustness with incomplete or noisy line drawings of objects. The line drawing of a scene containing simple objects is first segmented into independent objects using a set of heuristics stored in the knowledge base. The segmented object is then mapped into a newly devised structural-symbolic representation that is independent of small view-angle changes. Large view-angle independence is achieved by multiple models for the same object. Incomplete line drawings and noisy line drawings are detected and modified by the preprocessing module before being presented to the pattern matcher. The matching process is carried out by production rule inferencing. The system implemented has the characteristics of being flexible and easy to modify. These advantages are rooted in the utilization of the rule-based approach. A test of the system has been carried out, with a satisfactory result.