cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of the Growth of Myeloma Tumor Cells and Non-Neoplastic B Cell Clones by Antiidiotypic Antibodies

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses network theory and experimental data that support the functional implications of regulatory role of anti-idiotypic antibodies on the expression of normal B clones and tumor B cells. The three important immunological findings, namely, the dual character of antibody molecule, the presence of idiotypic determinants on antigen binding receptor of T and B cells, and the regulation of function of lymphocytes, represent the experimental basis from which the network concept has emerged. In his network theory, Jerne regarded the immune response an interacting web of idiotypes and anti-idiotypes. The presence of VH region determinants on antibody molecules produced by various clones and on the receptor of T and B cells permits various clones to speak to each other or to interact even in absence of antigen. The basic pattern of this interaction between clones or their products is essentially suppression since only this can guarantee the maintenance of a steady state. According to network theory, the presence of an antibody (Abl) that expresses Idl can cause the production of anti-Id antibody (Ab2) bearing Id2. The idiotype-anti-idiotype system could represent a powerful mechanism of the regulation of expression and growth of both normal B cell clones and tumor B cell. The network regulation prevents any immune reaction and cyto differentiation of lymphocytes from escalating unnecessarily in an aberrant way.
Direct relationship between increased expression and mistrafficking of the Charcot–Marie–Tooth–associated protein PMP22

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is a neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system that afflicts ∼1:2500 people. The most common form of this disease (CMT1A, 1:4000) is associated with duplication of chromosome fragment 17p11.2-12, which results in a third WT PMP22 allele. In rodent models overexpressing the PMP22 (peripheral myelin protein 22) protein and in dermal fibroblasts from patients with CMT1A, PMP22 aggregates have been observed. This suggests that overexpression of PMP22 under CMT1A conditions overwhelms the endoplasmic reticulum quality control system, leading to formation of cytotoxic aggregates. In this work, we used a single-cell flow-cytometry trafficking assay to quantitatively examine the relationship between PMP22 expression and trafficking efficiency in individual cells. We observed that as expression of WT or disease variants of PMP22 is increased, the amount of intracellular PMP22 increases to a greater extent than the amount of surface-trafficked protein. This was true for both transiently transfected cells and PMP22 stable expressing cells. Our results support the notion that overexpression of PMP22 in CMT1A leads to a disproportionate increase in misfolding and mistrafficking of PMP22, which is likely a contributor to disease pathology and progression.
Transit Deserts: Equity analysis of public transit accessibility

Abstract Areas, where disadvantaged and transit-dependent populations are provided with inadequate amounts of transit supply, can be labeled transit deserts. Exploring transit deserts may help transit agencies improve accessibility to services while improving transit distribution and equity. This study utilizes the concepts of transit demand and transit supply to identify transit deserts in the City of Dallas. The comprehensive public transit accessibility (CPTA) score is introduced to evaluate accessibility to transit and to provide a holistic view of transit supply. While previous studies have primarily used proximity or spatial indicators to describe accessibility, this study utilizes a comprehensive set of spatial and temporal measures (connectivity to the network, connectivity to destinations, service frequency, flexibility, and time efficiency) to estimate accessibility to transit. Overlapping areas of high demand (transit dependency) and low supply (as measured using the CPTA) are then characterized as transit deserts. The CPTA score and its application to the analysis of transit deserts provides a universal framework which can be broadly applied by transit agencies, city officials, and transit stakeholders. The contributions of this study are as follows: first, developing a comprehensive framework to estimate transit supply or accessibility; and second, introducing a methodology for identifying transit deserts.
Identifying Barriers to and Facilitators of Using a Mobile Fruit and Vegetable Market Intervention Delivered to Low-Income Housing Sites: A Concept Mapping Study.

BackgroundMobile fruit and vegetable (F&V) markets may be a promising strategy to improve F&V intake among low-income and racial/ethnic minority groups. However, challenges remain in terms of maxim...
A 7-milligram miniature catalytic-combustion engine for millimeter-scale robotic actuation

Abstract Microrobots at the subcentimeter scale have the potential to perform useful complex tasks if they were to become energy independent and could operate autonomously. The vast majority of current microrobotic systems lack the ability to carry sufficient onboard power to operate and, therefore, remain tethered to stationary sources of energy in laboratory environments. Recent published work demonstrated that chemical fuels can react under feedback control on the surfaces of tensioned shape-memory alloy (SMA) nickel-titanium (NiTi) wires coated with platinum (Pt) catalyst. Combining catalytic combustion of fuels with high energy densities with the high work densities of SMA wires is a promising approach to provide onboard power to microrobots. In this article, we present a novel 7-mg SMA-based miniature catalytic-combustion engine for millimeter-scale robotic actuation that is composed of a looped NiTi-Pt composite wire with a core diameter of 38 μ m and a flat carbon-fiber beam with a length of 13 mm. This beam acts as a leaf spring during operation. The proposed design of the engine has a flat and narrow geometry, functions according to a periodic-unimorph actuation mode, and can operate at frequencies as high as 6 Hz and lift 650 times its own weight while functioning at 1 Hz, thus producing 39.5 μ W of average power in the process. For the purposes of design and analysis, we derived a model of the heat transfer processes involved during actuation, which combined with a Preisach-model-based description of the SMA wire dynamics, enabled us to numerically simulate the response of the miniature system, and thus predict its performance in terms of frequency and actuation output. The suitability for microrobotics and functionality of the proposed approach is demonstrated through experimental results using a custom-built fast-response high-precision system of fuel delivery.
Micromechanically enabled microcavity on optical fiber tips

We report micromechanically enabled 3D optical microcavities fabricated directly onto cleaved ends of low-loss optical fibers by a two-photon polymerization (2PP) process. This fabrication technique is quick, simple, and inexpensive compared to planar microfabrication processes, which enables rapid prototyping and the ability to adapt to new design specifications. These devices also utilize true 3D design freedom, facilitating the realization of microscale optomechanical elements with challenging geometries. A released hemispherical Fabry–Perot (FP) cavity was sculpted on a fiber tip using 2PP process and demonstrated an extinction ratio of around 253. In addition, a mechanically enabled FP cavity featuring a multi-positional hinged mirror was fabricated by 2PP on a fiber tip. The hinged mirror enables both a concave optical surface and high-reflective (HR) coating to be integrated into a cavity less than $30\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ long. The addition of micromechanical components and HR coating has improved the FP cavity’s resonant quality by better than 10x compared to the FP cavity without HR coating.
Bilaterally Qualified Majority: A Calculus of Consent Model of Repeal

In The Calculus of Consent, Buchanan and Tullock evaluate qualified/super-majority rules as a means of minimizing the total costs of collective action. However, they consider only a single decision-making rule for both passing and repealing policy. In fact, the costs of collective action may be further reduced by instituting different rules for passage and repeal. Thus, combining super-majority with a special repeal rule reduces the costs of collective action more than super-majority alone and mitigates some of the shortcomings of super-majority highlighted by critics. This combination of qualified majority with special repeal is referred to as “bilaterally qualified majority.” One example of such a special repeal rule is a sunsetting rule. In addition, this model helps explain why the U.S. Supreme Court applies different standards of scrutiny to different kinds of policy, making it easier to declare some kinds of policies unconstitutional than others.
Common Features of the DNA Methylation Landscape of Human Naïve and Memory CD4, CD8 T Cells and B Cells

Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation are critical drivers of immune cell lineage differentiation and activation. However, there has been limited coordinated investigation of common pathways in distinct cell types for immunological processes such as immune memory. Further, it remains unclear if the genesis of memory in both CD4 and CD8 lineages proceeds via a linear course of differentiation or progresses in a circular ‘on-off-on’ sequence, which is epigenetically driven. Here, we scanned genome-wide differences in DNA methylation among CD4 and CD8 naive and memory cells states and combined this data with similar data on naive and memory B cell states. Our findings, overall, are consistent with the literature describing the DNA methylome as a major driver of individual central and effector T cell memory states as well as in memory B cells. We observed unusually large differences in DNA methylation in thousands of CpG sites in hundreds of genes associated with the development of memory in each lineage, contributing considerably to our knowledge of the loci regulated during lymphocyte memory generation. Our data similarly describe considerable overlap in genes with altered DNA methylation in the T cell lineage, with primarily a loss of DNA methylation in over 125,000 CpGs significantly associated with the generation of central memory in both CD4 and CD8 cells Furthermore, our analyses revealed specific CpG dinucleotides in both CD4 and CD8 cells whose methylation pattern is consistent with the circular model of memory generation. Finally, as evidence of common pathways in the generation of immune memory we highlight 22 gene loci, including several within the promoter region of the AIM2 gene, with dramatically altered DNA methylation in all three memory lineages.
Moving Away from Distance Classifications as Measures of Resource Uncertainty

Distance classifications of portions of a deposit, such as cells, are prepared based solely on Euclidean distances from cell centers to the closest control point(s). Although they have been widely used because of its simplicity, it has been demonstrated that distance alone is a poor proxy for uncertainty. We propose superseding these classifications by two probability distributions, which can be displayed as: (a) each cell’s 90 % confidence interval versus cumulative cell tonnage, and (b) a histogram of total resources. The first graph offers the capability of dividing resources into any number of bins, with dividers to be decided by the assessor based now on a statistics that, differently from Euclidean distance, is universally accepted as a measure of uncertainty. More importantly, the second graph eliminates the primary shortcoming of traditional resource classifications by providing a measure of uncertainty for total resource tonnage, an answer that distance classifications cannot provide.
Direct observation of Calpha-Halpha...O=C hydrogen bonds in proteins by interresidue h3JCalphaC' scalar couplings.

The role of C-H...O hydrogen bonds in the stabilization of biomolecules is increasingly being recognized from the evidence of close C-H...O contacts in crystal structures. However, relatively little is known about their strength. Here, we report the observation of NMR scalar couplings (h3JCalphaC') between the two carbons on each side of Calpha-Halpha...O=C H-bonds in proteins. These couplings give direct evidence of the correlation of the electronic wave functions in the donor and acceptor groups of Calpha-Halpha...O=C H-bonds. A long-range H(NCO)CA experiment or a selective long-range H(NCA)CO experiment was used for the detection of h3JCalphaC' correlations in the beta-sheet regions of the immunoglobulin binding domain of protein G. In total, six such correlations were detectable. These correspond to half of the Calpha-Halpha...O=C H-bonds of protein G with Halpha...O distances shorter than 2.5 A. The h3JCalphaC' couplings range from 0.2 to 0.3 Hz and are in good agreement with predicted average values based on DFT/FPT calculations. An anticorrelation is observed with the size of h3JNC' coupling constants across N-HN...O=C H-bonds, which share the same acceptor carbonyl oxygen.
SU-E-T-403: Evaluation of the Beam Performance of a Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator Under External Device-Based Gated Delivery Conditions

Purpose: To examine the beam performance of a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator under external device-based gated delivery conditions. Methods: Six gating cycles were used to evaluate the gating performance of a standard production TrueBeam system that was not specially tuned in any way. The system was equipped with a factory installed external gating interface (EXGI). An in-house EXGI tester box was used to simulate the input gating signals. The gating cycles were selected based on long beam-on and short beam-off times, short beam-on and long beam-off times, or equal beam on and off times to check linac performance. The beam latencies were measured as the time difference between the logic high gating signal and the first or last target pulses with an oscilloscope. Tissue-Phantom Ratio, beam flatness, and dose distributions from 5 different plans were measured using the 6 different gating durations and the un-gated irradiation. A PTW 729 2-D array was used to compare 5 plans versus the un-gated delivery with a 1%/1mm gamma index passing criteria. Results: The beam latencies of the linac were based off of 20 samples for beam-on and beam-off, for each gating cycle. The average beam-on delays were measured to be between 57 and 66msec, with a maximum of 88 msec. The beam off latencies averaged between 19 and 26msec, with a maximum of 48 msec. TPR20,10 measurements showed beam energy stability within 0.5% of the un-gated delivery. Beam flatness was better than 2.5% for all gated cycles. All but two deliveries, the open field with 4 seconds on, 1 second off, and a five field IMRT plan with 0.5 seconds on, 2.5 seconds off, had >90% passing rate. Conclusion: TrueBeam demonstrates excellent beam stability with minimal beam latencies under external device-based gated operations. Dosimetric measurements show minimal variation in beam energy, flatness, and plan delivery. Authors are employees of Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Neurotrophins in cell survival/death decisions.

Neurotrophins are target-derived soluble factors required for neuronal survival. Nerve growth factor (NGF) the founding member of the neurotrophin family, binds to two types of receptors: Trk tyrosine kinase and the p75 neurotrophin receptor, which belongs to the Fas-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. Binding of neurotrophins to Trk receptor tyrosine kinases initiate signaling cascades that promote cell survival sand differentiation. In contrast, p75 NGFR has been shown to modulate the susceptibility to death of selective cellular populations—including differentiated rat oligodendrocytes—in specific conditions. Notably, NGF effect on viability was only observed in fully differentiated oligodendrocytes and not in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. The effect of p75 activation on oligodendrocyte survival correlates with increased activity of the stress related kinase JNK-1 and cleavage of specific caspases. Indeed, activation of additional stress pathways or impairment of survival signals may be required for p75 mediated activation of cell death execution programs. Interestingly, co-expression of the TrkA receptor in the same cell type abolishes the JNK-1 mediated death signal and induces MAP kinase activity, resulting in cell survival. This suggests that glial cell survival results from a balance between positive and negative regulators modulated by selective signalling pathways by tyrosine kinases and cytokine receptors.
Towards European Energy Policy

The struggle over a common European energy policy is a special case of Europeanization of policy-making and up to the 1980s it was regarded as a spectacular failure (George 1985:100). Energy policy has been characterized by strong conflicts between a common policy, on the one hand, and divergent national policies, on the other. The focus of this project is the emergence of a common EU energy policy during the 1990s. Despite its inclusion in the very first treaties on the European Community, energy was until very recently more or less unaffected by common market legislation, and few energy policy decisions were taken at the central EU level. Therefore, explaining the emergence of Common European Energy policy in 1990s is not only puzzling, but also a relevant as it is happening in front of our eyes and represents an understudied topic in European studies literature so far. In addition, the research carries a practical relevance as energy dependence is one of the most important challenges currently facing Europe. The ensuing paper will try to explain the emergence of a common EU energy policy by looking at conditions under which the policy area previously dominated by national authorities is driven to the European level and processes underpinning the expansion of supranational authority and subsequent development of a common policy. Institutional/Supranational Governance perspective with a generous interpretation of the influence of institutions will serve to elucidate the movement toward the common energy policy in the EU. I will conduct a case study through process tracing supplanted by extensive content analysis of primary sources, such as official documents of the EU institutions and the member states, primary and secondary EU legislation and ECJ case law.The broader theoretical contribution of the research to the field of European Studies is two-fold: First, no coherent theoretical attempt has been made so far to explain the emergence of European energy policy and the proposed research represents a pioneering study. Second, the proposed research will make a significant contribution to the body of literature on integration, supranational governance and institutionalization as the creation of European energy policy can serve as a crucial case for theory building as well as testing existing theoretical propositions.
Ruptured appendiceal cystadenoma presenting as right inguinal hernia in a patient with left colon cancer: A case report and review of literature

Mucoceles resulting from cystadenomas of the appendix are uncommon. Although rare, rupture of the mucoceles can occur with or without causing any abdominal complaint. There are several reports associating colonic malignancy with cystadenomas of the appendix. Herein, we report an unusual and interesting case of right inguinal hernia associated with left colon cancer. A case of ruptured mucocele resulting from cystadenoma of the appendix was presented as right inguinal hernia in a 70-year-old male. The patient underwent colonoscopy, x-ray, ultrasound and computed tomography. Localized pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with adenocarcinoma of the descending colon was diagnosed. The patient underwent segmental resection of the colon, appendectomy, debridement of pseudomyxoma and closure of the internal ring of right inguinal canal. He is free of symptoms in one year follow-up. Synchronous colon cancer may occur in patients with appendiceal mucoceles. In such patients, the colon should be investigated and colonoscopy can be performed meticulously in cases of ruptured mucoceles and localized pseudomyxoma peritonei. Surgical intervention is the current choice of management.
Multicast Service Differentiation in Core-Stateless Networks

Diffserv has emerged as a popular architectural paradigm for providing service differentiation for future internetworks. The key principle of Diffserv is to move per-flow state out of the core and into the fringes of network clouds. Using core-stateless networks, techniques such as Core Stateless Fair Queueing (CSFQ) have been proposed for achieving unicast service differentiation in core routers. In this paper, we propose a core-stateless network architecture called mCorelite that extends CSFQ in order to provide multi-rate weighted max-min fairness for layered multicast flows, and eliminates the need for multicast receivers to perform rate adaptation using join experiments. Preliminary performance results using the ns-2 simulator demonstrate that it is possible to achieve service differentiation for multicast flows without maintaining any per-flow state in the core of the network.
Spray Targeting to Minimize Soot and CO Formation in Premixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI) Combustion with a HSDI Diesel Engine

The effect of spray targeting on exhaust emissions, especially soot and carbon monoxide (CO) formation, were investigated in a single-cylinder, high-speed, direct-injection (HSDI) diesel engine. The spray targeting was examined by sweeping the start-ofinjection (SOI) timing with several nozzles which had different spray angles ranging from 50 to 154. The tests were organized to monitor the emissions in Premixed Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI) combustion by introducing high levels of EGR (55%) with a relatively low compression ratio (16.0) and an open-crater type piston bowl. The study showed that there were optimum targeting spots on the piston bowl with respect to soot and CO formation, while nitric oxide (NOx) formation was not affected by the targeting. The soot and CO production were minimized when the spray was targeted at the edge of the piston bowl near the squish zone, regardless of the spray angle. Targeting this spot is believed to enhance the pre-ignition mixing of air and the spray effectively with the help of the squish flow. The results from the narrow angle nozzles (50 and 85) indicated that soot could be optimized when the spray was targeted at the bottom of the piston bowl which provided the longest spray travel distance. However, CO emission increased but was significantly reduced when the spray was targeted at the inner surface of the bowl with a corresponding increase in soot emission. In the standard diesel combustion regime, the soot and CO increased as SOI was retarded, and the minimum soot was achieved with SOI of about -20 degree ATDC. This SOI timing provides a rough boundary between conventional diesel and PCCI combustion as seen from the heat release rate data.
A Microstructure Based Multi-Site Crack Growth Model

A simple computational method to simulate component failures in engineered structures based on microstructure characteristics has been developed. The computational model deals directly with a large set of cracks in a defined geometrical region, and is capable of tracking the simultaneous growth and interaction of those cracks, including crack-tip shielding and link-up, until final failure. The Multi-Site Crack Growth (MSCG) tool is designed to start from either an initial uncracked state where cracks may nucleate from cracked particles or other microstructural features, or from an initial cracked state such as might be expected at a percentage of fatigue life expended. Alternatively, the input can be expected crack nucleation sites from microstructure simulations. The MSCG tool is designed based on microstructural origins of fatigue cracks, and the statistical distributions of microstructural parameters. Thus it is possible to extend this framework to corrosion-fatigue. The computational algorithms used enable rapid calculation of the complete crack growth geometry for the current loading cycle, including the current number of cracks, the maximum crack length, the average crack length, and the total cracked area. This makes application to life predictions possible as crack length, area, and number distribution are predicted for given number of load cycles. Example simulations of crack nucleation from large second phase particles will be given.
Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia Caused by 16p11.2 Microdeletion

Background : Four cases of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) have been reported in individuals with proximal 16p11.2 microdeletions that include PRRT2. Case Report : We describe a fifth patient with PKD, features of Asperger’s syndrome, and mild language delays. Sanger sequencing of the PRRT2 gene did not identify any mutations implicated in PKD. However, microarray‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) detected a 533.9‐kb deletion on chromosome 16, encompassing over 20 genes and transcripts. Discussion : This case underscores the importance of aCGH testing for individuals with PKD who do not have PRRT2 mutations, particularly when developmental delays, speech problems, intellectual disability, and/or autism spectrum disorder are present.
Control of Networked Multiagent Systems With Uncertain Graph Topologies

Multiagent systems consist of agents that locally exchange information through a physical network subject to a graph topology. Current control methods for networked multiagent systems assume the knowledge of graph topologies in order to design distributed control laws for achieving desired global system behaviors. However, this assumption may not be valid for situations where graph topologies are subject to uncertainties either due to changes in the physical network or the presence of modeling errors especially for multiagent systems involving a large number of interacting agents. Motivating from this standpoint, this paper studies distributed control of networked multiagent systems with uncertain graph topologies. The proposed framework involves a controller architecture that has an ability to adapt its feedback gains in response to system variations. Specifically, we analytically show that the proposed controller drives the trajectories of a networked multiagent system subject to a graph topology with time-varying uncertainties to a close neighborhood of the trajectories of a given reference model having a desired graph topology. As a special case, we also show that a networked multiagent system subject to a graph topology with constant uncertainties asymptotically converges to the trajectories of a given reference model. Although the main result of this paper is presented in the context of average consensus problem, the proposed framework can be used for many other problems related to networked multiagent systems with uncertain graph topologies.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Free Cooling Investigation of SEECS Data Center

Abstract Cooling equipment consume most of the electric power inside data centers, which serve as a back bone of modern-day information technology infrastructure. Most data centers use traditional vapor compression systems, which not only consume a lot of energy, but also have to be continually operated round the year to ensure optimum operation of all the equipment and servers within. A lot of attention is therefore focused on energy saving methods and free cooling is one of these technologies. In this study, the free cooling potential of Islamabad has been determined. Outside dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity are used as control parameters, and have been estimated using meteorology data of past sixteen years. This data is then used to optimize energy efficiency of the Research Center for Modeling and Simulation (RCMS) data center at National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). Using the load data obtained from detailed analysis of RCMS data center, it is determined that significant savings in energy through free cooling can be achieved during the months of December, January, and February.
Presence, or the sense of being-there and being-with in the new media society

This essay argues that the ways in which we come to feel connectivity and intimacy are often inconsistent with and irreducible to traditional markers like physical proximity, the human face or the synchronicity of message transmission. It identifies this non-objective and affective property as presence : conventionalised ways of intuiting sociability and publicness. The new media society is a specific situation where such habits of being affected are socially and historically parametrised. The essay provides two case studies. First: how do we derive a diffuse, indirect, intuitive sense of communicative participation — and yet also manage to convince ourselves of anonymity online? The second describes surveillance and data-mining as a kind of alienation: I am told my personal data is being exploited, but I do not quite ‘feel’ it. Surveillance practices increasingly withdraw from everyday experience, yet this withdrawal actually contributes to its strong presence.
Reinforcing Effects of Extended Inhalation of Nitrous Oxide in Humans

The subjective, psychomotor and reinforcing effects of nitrous oxide at subanesthetic doses (30% and 40% in oxygen) were determined in normal healthy volunteers using a choice paradigm. Thirty percent nitrous oxide was chosen no more often than oxygen (41.6% choice rate), indicating that, for most of the subjects tested, extended inhalation of this nitrous oxide concentration was no more reinforcing than oxygen inhalation. Forty percent nitrous oxide was chosen significantly less often than oxygen (22% choice rate), indicating that, for most of the subjects tested, extended inhalation of this nitrous oxide concentration was less reinforcing than oxygen. Nitrous oxide produced robust subjective effects (e.g., increased ratings of 'high,' 'tingling,' and 'dizzy'). Subjects who chose nitrous oxide reported pleasant subjective effects and liked it, while those who chose placebo reported unpleasant subjective effects and disliked it. Both concentrations of nitrous oxide impaired psychomotor performance in all subjects. The lack of reinforcing effects noted in the present study, given nitrous oxide's known abuse potential, is discussed.
Rapid influenza A testing for novel H1N1: point-of-care performance.

AbstractObjectives: The 2009 outbreak of novel influenza A H1N1 reached a pandemic status on June 11, 2009. Early detection is a key factor for management and infection-control practices. Recent studies have suggested a difference in performance of rapid influenza kits for influenza A H1N1. Our goal was to evaluate the performance of the QuickVue® influenza A+B test (Quidel Corp., San Diego, CA) in an emergency department setting and determine the most current epidemiologic trends in our community. Methods: Results from 1137 samples for influenza A collected between April 8, 2009 and June 30, 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Results of QuickVue® influenza A+B test were compared with R-Mix viral culture and DFA results. Age distribution and hospitalization rates by age group were analyzed to further delineate the epidemiology of influenza A in a suburban hospital. Results: The sensitivity of the rapid test was 77%, the specificity was 85%, the positive predictive value was 74%, and the negative predicti...
Flies on steroids — Drosophila metamorphosis and the mechanisms of steroid hormone action

Abstract Recent studies have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers the larval-to-adult metamoprhosis of Drosophila. Ecdysome-induced transcription factors activate large sets of secondary-response genes and provide the competence for subsequent regulatory responses to the hormone. It seems likely that similar hormone-triggered regulatory hierarchies exist in other higher organisms and that Drosophila is providing our first glimpses of the complexities of these gene networks.
Tuition Discounting without Tears.

Abstract This paper contains a policy model for tuition discounting that avoids the major financial pitfalls encountered in the administration of institutional scholarships. The dual objective of maximizing the funded scholarship discount rate and minimizing the unfunded discount rate is explained. Marginal cost pricing is the accepted criterion for tuition discounting among college and university administrators. This pricing rule leads to the same problem created by marginal cost pricing in public utilities and for the same reason. An alternative model based on average cost pricing is presented. Financial equilibrium is made explicit and its relationship to the institution’s general long run equilibrium is illustrated.
Gain, speed and sensitivity of GTP binding vs PDE activation in visual excitation

About 2000 PDE molecules are gradually activated by one bleached rhodopsin molecule, R*, on a toad disk membrane to yield a final enzymic velocity of about 2.5 × 106 cGMP hydrolyzed sec−1 bleached rhodopsin−1. This amplified effect of a single photon requires GTP, whose function we originally proposed (Yee and Liebman, 1978; Liebman and Pugh, 1979) to serve as a “memory” label attached to each PDE as it is contacted via lateral diffusion by R*. Thus, the binding of GTP was explicitly seen as an identically-amplified casual link in the amplified PDE activation. We have subjected our GTP-PDE coupling hypothesis to both stoichiometric and kinetic tests using radioactive GTP labelling techniques. We find agreement in principle with our original hypothesis with modifications to allow for (1) GTP binding to a separate G-protein (Γ) which activates PDE; (2) evidence that there are fewer PDE's activated than GTP's bound in response to a light flash; (3) evidence of reversible binding of Γ to PDE with incomplete activation of the latter; (4) multisecond delay of GTP binding compatible with lateral diffusionally-mediated activation of thousands of Γ's by single R*'s; (5) gain regulation by ATP that reduces both PDE activation and GTP binding.
Matching Perspective Views Of A Polyhedron

We present an approach for automaticaly finding corresponding points between two perspective views (images) of a moving polyhedron when the two imges exhibit considerable perspective shape distortions. The approach consists of two phases. In the first phase a heuristic search process is used to extract two line drawings (graphs) from the gray level images, and in the second phase a relexation process is used to get a reliable matching between the two drawings.
The Two Sides of Complement C3d: Evolution of Electrostatics in a Link between Innate and Adaptive Immunity

The interaction between complement fragment C3d and complement receptor 2 (CR2) is a key aspect of complement immune system activation, and is a component in a link between innate and adaptive immunities. The complement immune system is an ancient mechanism for defense, and can be found in species that have been on Earth for the last 600 million years. However, the link between the complement system and adaptive immunity, which is formed through the association of the B-cell co-receptor complex, including the C3d-CR2 interaction, is a much more recent adaptation. Human C3d and CR2 have net charges of -1 and +7 respectively, and are believed to have evolved favoring the role of electrostatics in their functions. To investigate the role of electrostatics in the function and evolution of human C3d and CR2, we have applied electrostatic similarity methods to identify regions of evolutionarily conserved electrostatic potential based on 24 homologues of complement C3d and 4 homologues of CR2. We also examine the effects of structural perturbation, as introduced through molecular dynamics and mutations, on spatial distributions of electrostatic potential to identify perturbation resistant regions, generated by so-called electrostatic "hot-spots". Distributions of electrostatic similarity based on families of perturbed structures illustrate the presence of electrostatic "hot-spots" at the two functional sites of C3d, while the surface of CR2 lacks electrostatic "hot-spots" despite its excessively positive nature. We propose that the electrostatic "hot-spots" of C3d have evolved to optimize its dual-functionality (covalently attaching to pathogen surfaces and interaction with CR2), which are both necessary for the formation B-cell co-receptor complexes. Comparison of the perturbation resistance of the electrostatic character of the homologues of C3d suggests that there was an emergence of a new role of electrostatics, and a transition in the function of C3d, after the divergence of jawless fish.
The specificity of the active sugar transport in kidney cortex cells

Abstract The transport of some monosaccharides into renal tubular cells was investigated using slices of rabbit kidney cortex: 1. 1. An active, Na + -dependent and phlorrhizin-sensitive cellular accumulation of β-methyl- d -glucoside, d -glucosamine and d -galactosamine was demonstrated. d -Mannitol, d -glucose, N- acetyl- d -glucosamine , 3-deoxy- d -glucose, d -allose, d -ribose and 2,6-dideoxy- d -altrose were not actively accumulated against their concentration gradients. 2-Deoxy- d -allose, 2-deoxy- d -ribose and possibly 2-deoxy- d -xylose were transported against a small concentration gradient by a Na + -independent mechanism. A comparison of the transport properties of 26 monosaccharides indicates the following structural requirements for active transport: a hemiacetal group, C-3-OH (in a configuration identical with that of d -glucose) and C-6-OH. The Na + requirement for active transport is related to the presence of a hydrophilic (-OH or -NH 2 ) group on C-2. 2. 2. The apparent kinetic parameters, K m and v max , are given for the active transport of a α-methyl- d -glucoside, d -galactose, 2-deoxy- d -glucose and 2-deoxy- d -galactose into renal tubular cells. The values of the apparent transport K m for these sugars varied only slightly between 0.79 ± 0.07 for d -galactose to 3.0 ± 0.11 for 2-deoxy- d -galactose; rather wide variations of v max were found (12 μmoles per g cell water per h for 2-deoxy- d -glucose to 62 ± 4.7 for α-methyl- d -glucoside). 3. 3. The competition for transport between a variety of monosaccharides was investigated: the found K i was within the range of independently determined K m for the inhibition of galactose of 2-deoxy- d -galactose and 2-deoxy- d -glucose transport. However, the K i for the inhibition of d -galactose transport by 2-deoxy- d -galactose was one order of magnitude higher than the K m of the latter sugar. Similarly, no agreement between the respective K i and K m was found for the competitive inhibition between α-methyl- d -glucoside and galactose. d -Glucose, which competitively inhibited the transport of 2-deoxy- d -glucose, had practically no effect on the transport of 2-deoxy- d -galactose even at a molar ratio of 1:50. 4. 4. These kinetic data indicate the existence of several pathways for the active sugar transport into renal tubular cells. 5. 5. A correlation between the reabsorption of sugars in the kidney tubule ( in vivo ) and their active cellular accumulation ( in vitro ) is demonstrated.
Model dependency of error thresholds: the role of fitness functions and contrasts between the finite and infinite sites models

Based on a deterministic mutation–selection model the concept of error thresholds is critically examined. It has often been argued that genetic information – for instance, an advantageous allele – can be selectively maintained in a population only if the mutation rate is below a certain limit, the error threshold, which is inversely related to the genome size. Here, I will show that such an inverse relationship strongly depends on the fitness model. To produce the error threshold, as given by Eigen (1971), requires that the fitness model is an extreme form of diminishing epistasis. The error threshold, in a strict sense, vanishes as epistasis changes from diminishing to synergistic. In the latter case even the usual definition of error thresholds becomes ambiguous. Initially, a finite sites model has been used to describe error thresholds. However, they can also be defined within the framework of the infinite sites model. I study both models in parallel and compare their properties as far as error thresholds are concerned. It is concluded that error thresholds possibly play a much less important role in molecular evolution than has often been assumed in the past.
Automation of a wide-range, general-purpose spectrophotometric system

The application of an IBM 1800 computer to the control and data acquisition functions of a wide-range spectrophotometric system is described. The optical part of the system is designed primarily for solid-state spectroscopy in the reflectance mode, the energy range of interest being roughly 1 to 12 eV (104 to 105 cm-1). The operations of the computer include regulation of the wavelength setting, determination of the system gain, analog-to-digital conversioonf the output signal, and positioning of the sample and detector. Two experimental configurations are employed, depending on whether or not the sample and detectot are to remain stationary or to be repositioned during a run. The former holds for electroreflectance, fluorescence, and photoconductivity studies, while the latter pertains to ordinary reflectance and transmittance measurements. The principal advantage to be derived from on-line computer control of such experiments, besides more rapid accumulation and reduction of data, is the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio by averaging many repetitive scans over the same energy range. The emphasis in this paper is on the software used to implement these operations.
“Restructuring” justifications in annual reports: Legitimizing job loss and sweeping change

This research examines corporate public rhetoric used to describe and justify business restructuring activities in the past decade, during which more than 40 million American jobs were eliminated. The study is grounded in content analysis of 340 Shareholder Letters found within the annual reports of 53 corporations which restructured operations during the period 1989‐1997. The findings suggest that American CEOs use isomorphic restructuring idioms and three common justification themes in public statements. These common idioms, along with the prevalence of restructuring actions by well‐known corporate actors, and incorporation of restructuring responsibilities into the job requirements of employee teams, may contribute to the legitimation of ongoing business restructuring practices and corresponding job losses.
Epithelial regeneration and cancer: news from the Src front.

Src family kinases (SFKs) have long been implicated in tumorigenesis, but the exact requirement for individual kinase members, and their specific spatially and temporally defined roles in the maintenance of epithelial homeostasis remained unclear. A study by Cordero et al (2014) now combines the strengths of Drosophila and mouse models for intestinal epithelial regeneration to characterize the role of individual SFKs in epithelial stem cells, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis.
Acquisition pricing and remanufacturing decisions in a closed-loop supply chain

Abstract This paper models a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) with a manufacturer and its supply channels – recycle channel and reliable supply channel. We assume that the manufacturer may reuse the recycled main product component and remanufacture the product. The recycle channel shows stochastic recovery rate. Both the centralized (integrated) recycle channel CLSC and the decentralized recycle channel CLSC are studied. The optimal production decision and the optimal acquisition pricing decision are obtained for both the deterministic demand and the stochastic demand cases. Further, the paper discusses the supply chain inefficiency in this CLSC. It is shown that under decentralized recycle channel structure, the optimal acquisition price is always lower than the optimal acquisition price under centralized recycle channel structure, causing reduced recycle quantity and lower remanufactured quantity, which is similar to the effect of double marginalization in the normal forward supply chain. The cost difference between the two supply channels also increases such double marginalization impact. In order to reduce such supply chain inefficiency, two contracts (complete compensation and partial compensation) are proposed. It is shown that under certain conditions, both contracts are Pareto improving for the decentralized supply chain and can be used to coordinate the CLSC. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the results. The numerical examples show the different preferences of supply chain parties on different risk reductions in the decentralized system. In general, the interests on demand risk reduction is aligned between the recycle channel supplier and the manufacturer with the manufacturer showing higher motivation; on the other hand, recycle channel supplier and the manufacturer may have conflict of interests in supply risk reduction when the supply risk is low, and their interests are aligned when the supply risk is high.
Parity simulation of static power conversion systems

An analog/digital simulation technique employing a high degree of parity between the topology of the model and the topology of the modeled system is described. The existence of such topological Isomorphism allows a true "breadboard" approach to simulation. The application, components, and versatility of the system are discussed. Results of a current commutated chopper simulation are presented and compared with the actual circuit behavior.
Reversible trapping on a cubic lattice: Comparison of theory and simulations

Simulations of the kinetics of the reversible diffusion-influenced reaction A+B⇄AB on a cubic lattice, with initial conditions [A] = [B], [AB]=0, are compared with the predictions of two approximate theoretical formalisms. The first involves a simple rate equation with rate coefficients that are proportional to the time-dependent rate coefficient for an irreversible reaction. The second, which is based on a superposition approximation, contains a rate coefficient that explicitly depends on the bulk concentrations. Both reduce to the Smoluchowski approach in the irreversible limit. The results obtained using the modified rate equation formalism are exact at short times, but tend to approach equilibrium too rapidly. The predictions of the computationally more demanding superposition formalism agree remarkably well with the simulations for all times for the range of parameters examined.
Diverse mechanisms in the generation of human beta-tubulin pseudogenes

The sequence of two human beta-tubulin pseudogenes is described. One contains an intervening sequence but lacks sequences encoding the 55 N-terminal amino acids of the polypeptide chain. A second has no introns but has a polyadenylate signal and an oligoadenylate tract at its 3' end, and it is flanked by a short direct repeat. These sequences have arisen by different mechanisms, including one that probably involves reverse transcription of a processed messenger RNA and reintegration of the complementary DNA copy into the genome.