cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis an autoimmune model of multiple sclerosis

R-EAE is a valuable model for human MS. Table 2 outlines the similarities between R-EAE and MS. The clinical course and pathologic changes seen in this model accurately reflect the pattern of MS. The immunologic changes seen in animals with R-EAE also are similar to those seen in MS. Therefore, the clinicopathologic features of MS can be duplicated with a purely autoimmune model. Although this is of considerable pathogenic significance in understanding MS, we do not know what the inciting event is in MS that would be the equivalent of immunizing an animal with neural antigen. Despite this, R-EAE has and should continue to provide experimental data of considerable importance to an understanding of the mechanisms involved in the evolution of inflammatory demyelination. Other important models of MS utilize viral-induced demyelination. Although the clinical picture of most of the chronic demyelinating viral infections does not show as clear a relapsing or remitting pattern as seen in R-EAE, viral etiologies better fit the epidemiology of MS [16]. Several studies have demonstrated development of an acute EAE-like disease with sensitization to neural antigens following viral infection [12, 30, 56]. Thus, one can hypothesize an initial viral illness causing sensitization of the host to a neural antigen (?MBP) with a subsequent immunopathogenic course similar to that seen in R-EAE. Whether this will in fact be the case remains unproven as yet. Our understanding of the immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying inflammatory demyelination has been enlarged through studies of R-EAE. It is now clear that the minimal myelin antigen necessary for production of the disease is MBP, although this may differ in some species. The relapsing nature of this disorder is mediated in part through lymphocytes, as demonstrated in transfer studies, and thus does not require persistent antigenic depots. There is a genetic susceptibility to development of the CNS autoimmune state, and we speculate that an as yet unidentified perturbation of the host immune system allows for the occurrence of relapsing disease (Table 3).
Inversion barriers in NH2X, PH2X, NHXY, and PHXY species

Abstract Ab initio calculations are presented on the inversion barriers in mono-substituted amines and phosphines (NH2X and PH2X) and their radical analogs. As expected, using MP3/6-31G* energies, phosphine barriers are rather larger than those for the corresponding amines, and electronegative substituents increase the barriers. Cyano substitution causes a dramatic decrease in the ammonia barrier. All of the radical nitrogen species studied are predicted to have small or zero barriers, and the radical NH2O is predicted to be planar. PH2O also has a very small barrier.
Queer Critical Rhetoric Bites Back

Queer critical rhetoric queers rhetorical theory, disrupting easy delineations of theory, criticism, and the archive. Privileging the unpredictable innovation of queer movement, queer critical rhetoric builds upon rhetorical traditions even as it challenges the normative logics by which the rhetorical canon is assembled, preserved, and deployed.
Rosuvastatin selectively stimulates apolipoprotein A-I but not apolipoprotein A-II synthesis in Hep G2 cells.

Abstract Hydroxymethylglutaryl–coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are extensively used to regulate dyslipidemia and to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In addition to effectively lowering cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels, rosuvastatin and certain other statins can also increase plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol modestly. However, the mechanism of action of rosuvastatin on HDL metabolic processes is not understood. Using cultured human hepatoblastoma cells (Hep G2) as an in vitro model system, we assessed the effect of rosuvastatin on apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apo A-II (the major proteins of HDL) synthesis and HDL catabolic processes. Rosuvastatin dose-dependently increased messenger RNA expression and de novo synthesis of apo A-I but not apo A-II. Rosuvastatin selectively increased the synthesis of HDL particles containing only apo A-I (LP A-I) but not particles containing both apo A-I and A-II (LP A-I + A-II). The HDL 3 -protein or HDL 3 -cholesterol ester uptake by Hep G2 cells was not affected by rosuvastatin. The apo A-I–containing particles secreted by rosuvastatin-treated Hep G2 significantly increased cholesterol efflux from fibroblasts. The data indicate that rosuvastatin increases hepatic apo A-I but not apo A-II messenger RNA transcription, thereby selectively increasing the synthesis of functionally active apo A-I–containing HDL particles, which mediate cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues. We suggest that this mechanism of action of rosuvastatin to increase apo A-I production without apo A-I/HDL removal may result in increased apo A-I turnover that results in accelerated reverse cholesterol transport.
Effects of Reflection and Refraction on Spatial Coherence of an Electromagnetic Beam

We study the change in spatial coherence of an electromagnetic beam on reflection and refraction. The results are obtained by applying the recently developed theory of refraction and reflection of a partially coherent beam.
The Role of Globalization in Technical and Occupational Programs.

This chapter describes how globalism is changing the U.S. economy and the job market for community college students. Special emphasis is given to the changes required of technical and occupational programs in order to internationalize their curricula and the roles that administrative leadership and faculty play in the process of internationalization.
Routes To Development Of Near-Surface Alloy Composition Anomaly

Thermophysical data in the literature for metallic alloys, including single-element specimens, exhibit a high degree of variability. Of interest is if the reasons are intrinsic. That there exists as a rule a surface layer whose elemental composition differs from that of the bulk has been demonstrated. Such a near-surface composition anomaly can, in principle, account for the significant part of the variability. The method of time-resolved spectroscopy of emissions from laser-produced plasma (LPP) plumes has been the key in this new development because both the elemental composition and thermal diffusivity can be measured simultaneously. Multiple application of LPP analysis leads to depth-resolved measurements. A variety of alloy specimens have been subjected to different scenarios of thermal cycling to find that thermal cycling modifies the near-surface composition profile of a given specimen. A new study has been carried out with Wood’s alloy as a model system by forcing the specimen into melting at increasing temperature. This investigation has revealed that the near-surface composition undergoes sharp irreversible changes when the highest elemental melting point has been exceeded before the specimen is cooled to resolidification. A possible mechanism is suggested.
Organotypic (raft) epithelial tissue culture system for the differentiation-dependent replication of papillomavirus

We have developed an in vitro organotypic (raft) culture system capable of reproducing the differentiation-dependent replication cycle of human papillomavirus. A dermal equivalent is made from a mixture of type I collagen and fibroblasts. Cells of a line derived from a cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type 1 (CIN-1) are placed on top of the dermal equivalent and while submerged allowed to grow to confluence. The dermal equivalent with epithelial cells on top is then lifted onto a wire grid where it remains at an air-liquid interface. From this point on the epithelial cells never come in contact with the culture media. Feeding of the epithelial cells is done by diffusion through the dermal equivalent similar to the in vivo situation. The epithelial cells under these conditions will stratify and differentiate over approximately a two week period. When an inducer of protein kinase C is added to the media our CIN-1 derived cell lines, which maintains episomal copies of a high risk human papillomavirus will biosynthesize virion. We describe in detail how to perform this procedure and provide information on how to use this system for the study of the interaction of human papillomavirus with its host tissue, squamous epithelium.
Multispectral microscopy for cell differentiation in thyroid cytology

This paper presents a multispectral microscopy system for quantitative cytology. The automated system aims to classify cytology samples of follicular lesions for the purpose of disease diagnosis. While conventional practices rely on the analysis of grey scale or RGB color images, presented system uses thirty one spectral bands for analysis. An intelligent system designed for image acquisition, image segmentation, feature extraction, and classification is presented. Results are presented for the problem of discriminating among four lesion types. In addition, classification performance is compared to the case where multispectral information is not taken into consideration. Results show that the developed system and the use of multispectral information along with morphometric information extracted from spectral images can significantly improve the classification performance and aid in the process of disease diagnosis.
Alexis de Tocqueville in the twenty-first century: plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose?

Some recent scholarship concerning Alexis de Tocqueville has sought to emphasize aspects of his work that have not previously been seen as central to his ideas. This review essay examines the argument by Swedberg that Tocqueville’s writings on economics are a missing and important theme of his analysis, and those in Locke and Botting’s book that claim he also made significant contributions to feminism. These unorthodox views are explored against the assessments found in Hugh Brogan’s latest biography of the nineteenth century, social and political theorist.
Age-Related Differences in Neuropsychological Testing Among High School Athletes

Abstract Context: Clinicians have questioned the need to obtain annual baseline neuropsychological tests in high school athletes. If no difference among academic grades exists, annual baseline testing may not be necessary. Objective: To examine differences at baseline testing on pencil-and-paper neuropsychological tests among grade levels in high school athletes. Design: Cross-sectional, between-groups design. Setting: Schools participating in a Georgia high school athletics association. Patients or Other Participants: High school football players (n = 198) in the 9th through 12th grades, with a mean age of 15.78 ± 1.16 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants were divided into 4 groups by grade and were administered a symptom checklist and brief neuropsychological test battery. Grade level served as the independent variable. Symptom and individual test scores within the neuropsychological test battery served as dependent variables. Results: Differences were noted among grades on the Trail Making Te...
Light Pulse Duration Differentially Regulates Mouse Locomotor Suppression and Phase Shifts

Brief exposure of mice to nocturnal light causes circadian rhythm phase shifts, simultaneously inducing locomotor suppression, a drop in body temperature, and associated sleep. The exact nature of the relationship between these light-induced responses is uncertain, although locomotor suppression and phase shift magnitudes are related to stimulus irradiance. Whether stimulus duration has similar effects is less clear. Here, the relationship between stimulus duration and response magnitude was evaluated further using 100 µW/cm(2) white light-emitting diode pulses administered for 30, 300, 1200, or 3000 sec. The results show that, in general, shorter pulses yielded smaller responses and larger pulses yielded larger responses. However, the 300-sec pulse failed to augment locomotor suppression compared with the effect of a 30-sec pulse (44.7 ± 4.8 vs 40.6 ± 2.0 min) but simultaneously induced much larger phase shifts (1.28 ± 0.20 vs 0.52 ± 0.11 h). The larger phase shifts induced by the 300-sec stimulus did not differ from those induced by either the 1200- or 3000-sec pulses (1.43 ± 0.10 and 1.30 ± 0.17 h, respectively). The results demonstrate differential photic regulation of the two response types. Pulses ranging from 300 to 3000 sec produce equal phase shifts (present data); pulses ranging from 30 to 600 sec produce equal locomotor suppression levels. Greater suppression can occur additively in response to pulses of 1200 sec or more (present data), but this is not true for phase shifts. Nocturnal light appears to trigger a fixed duration event, locomotor suppression, or phase shift, with the latter followed by a light-refractory interval during which locomotor suppression can additively increase. The results also provide further support for the view that temporal integration of photic energy applies, at best, across a limited set of stimulus durations for both light-induced locomotor suppression/sleep and phase shift regulation.
Are excimers formed along with hydrated electrons in the UV excitation of cyanocuprate(I) ions in aqueous solution

Abstract The three cyanocuprate(I) complexes, Cu(CN)2−, Cu(CN)32−, and Cu(CN)43−, photoeject electrons with high efficiency when excited in aqueous solution by 266 nm laser pulses of 7 ns duration with quantum yields of 0.37±0.06, 0.224±0.021, and 0.240±0.005, for Cu(CN)2− (at 2 M ionic strength), Cu(CN)32−, and Cu(CN)43− (both measured at 1 M ionic strength). Along with hydrated electrons, two transient intermediates, absorbing at 460 and 340 nm, respectively, form consecutively after excitation through bimolecular reactions with ground-state Cu(I) in solutions of Cu(CN)2−, and Cu(CN)32−, but not in Cu(CN)43−. All photoprocesses are essentially monophotonic. A mechanism is proposed that suggests the formation of a dinuclear excited-state complex such as an excimer.
Properties of finite nuclei in a relativistic quantum field theory

Abstract A renormalizable relativistic quantum field theory is used to study finite nuclei in the mean-field Thomas-Fermi approximation. Mass formula parameters are calculated and proton densities illustrated for 40 Ca and 208 Pb. The Dirac equation is solved to determine single-particle spectra.
Amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites.

For almost 20 years laboratory experiments have advanced the concepts of chemical evolution, particularly with regard to formation of the amino acids. What has been generally lacking is concrete natural evidence for this chemical evolution hypothesis. The recent development of sophisticated analytical techniques and availability of carbonaceous chondrites with a minimum of terrestrial contamination has resulted in the identification of amino acids which provide strong evidence for a natural extraterrestrial chemical synthesis. Since the initial find in the Murchison meteorite (a type II carbonaceous chondrite) of both protein and nonprotein amino acids and amino acids with nearly equal abundances of D and L isomers, further studies have been carried out. These studies have revealed the presence of at least 35 amino acids; the population consists of a wide variety of linear, cyclic and polyfunctional amino acids which shows a trend of decreasing concentration with increasing carbon number. Investigations of the Murray meteorite (a type II carbonaceous chondrite) has produced similar results, but studies of the Orgueil meteorite (a type I carbonaceous chondrite) show only a limited suite of amino acids, some of which appear to be indigenous while others appear to be terrestrial contaminants. A sample of the Murchison meteorite was extracted with D2O and in addition to ‘free’ amino acids, showing no deuterium incorporation, some amino acids showed the presence of deuterium suggesting either a ‘precursor(s)’ or hydrogen-deuterium exchange which require(s) formation of carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Solution and use of chronofunctions in studying soil development

Thirty-two chronosequences from 27 areas were selected from the literature for constructing chronofunctions and for correlating rates of change in soil properties with variables representing climate and parent material. The chronosequences originate from areas situated between 66°N and 78°S latitude and represent seven climatic regions, ranging from tropical rainy to cold desert, and seven types of parent materials, including till, aeolian sand, alluvium, mine spoil, volcanic ash, raised beach deposits, and mudflows. Fourteen of the chronosequences contain soils which range in age from 0 to 500 yr; seven span a 12,000-yr period, three a 100,000-yr period, and eight a period of greater than one million yr. Three linear and non-linear models were tested on 15 soil properties. The single-logarithmic (Y = a + b log X) model yielded the best correlation coefficients, when soil property (Y) was correlated with time (X), using linear regression techniques. The dates and equations allow for the following conclusions: 1. (1) The rates of decrease in pH and in base saturation are similar, regardless of the nature of the parent material or climate. 2. (2) The rates of increase in clay content of the B horizon and solum thickness are positively correlated with clay content of the parent material. 3. (3) The rates of increase in solum thickness, oxidation depth, soluble salt content of the salt-enriched horizon, and clay content of the B horizon are positively correlated with mean annual temperature whereas the rate of increase in total N in the surface mineral soil is negatively correlated with present-day mean annual temperature. 4. (4) The increase in bulk density of the surface soil is positively correlated with present mean annual precipitation. 5. (5) The rate of change in C:N is not correlated with variables representing climate and parent material.
Effects of Total and Partial Feedback in Multiple-Choice Testing Upon Learning

AbstractPosttest performance resulting from total feedback, partial feedback, and no feedback in a multiple-choice test were compared. About 1,400 fifth and sixth graders first took a completion-format pretest which was used to match triads. Next, they all took a multiple-choice test, one-third under each of three experimental feedback conditions-total immediate feedback, partial immediate feedback, and no feedback. Finally, all examinees took a completion-format posttest. As predicted, those taking the multiple-choice test without feedback had significantly lower posttest performance than either feedback group. An hypothesized aptitude-treatment interaction was found between achievement level and feedback treatment. An unexpected interaction between sex and feedback also emerged.
Robust approximate optimal plane change guidance using differential game theoretic methods

This paper presents a method for determining robust approximate optimal guidance laws for aeroassisted plane change missions in the presence of atmospheric density uncertainties. To account for these uncertainties, the guidance problem is reformulated as a differential game problem with the guidance law and Nature as opposing players. The calculus of variations approach is used to obtain the necessary conditions for the optimal closed loop guidance strategy in the presence of worst case density variations. Since the equations of motion during atmospheric flight can be written as a function of a small parameter E , the state and costate equations resulting from the necessary conditions for optimality can be solved approximately using a regular perturbation methodology. By setting the parameter 6 to zero, the zeroth order solution is obtained analytically. Higher order terms are obtained through numerical quadrature. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the insensitivity of the resulting guidance law to atmospheric density dispersions.
Overexpression of TUF1 restores respiratory growth and fluconazole sensitivity to a Cryptococcus neoformans vad1Δ mutant

The yeast-like fungus Cryptococcus neoformans favours respiration as a mechanism of energy production, and thus depends heavily on mitochondrial function. Previous studies of a C. neoformans vad1Δ mutant revealed reduced expression of the mitochondrial elongation factor TUF1 and defects in glycerol utilization, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we found that in trans expression of TUF1 in the vad1Δ mutant suppressed the mitochondrial defects, including growth on respiration-dependent carbon sources and fluconazole resistance, associated with VAD1 deletion. Tetracycline, an inhibitor of mitochondrial translation, was found to confer resistance to fluconazole in the wild-type and vad1Δ mutant, whereas the fluconazole susceptibility of the TUF1-overexpressing strain was unaffected by tetracycline treatment. In the presence of fluconazole, the vad1Δ mutant exhibited increased activation of the global transcriptional regulator Sre1. TUF1 overexpression failed to alter cleavage of Sre1 in response to fluconazole in the vad1Δ mutant, suggesting that TUF1 repression in the vad1Δ mutant is distal to Sre1, or that it occurs through an independent pathway.
Curcumin suppressed anti-apoptotic signals and activated cysteine proteases for apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells.

Glioblastoma is the most malignant human brain tumor that shows poor response to existing therapeutic agents. Search continues for an effective therapy for controlling this deadliest brain tumor. Curcumin (CCM), a polyphenolic compound from Curcuma longa, possesses anti-cancer properties in both in vitro and in vivo. In the present investigation, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of CCM against human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells. Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed decreased viability of U87MG cells with increasing dose of CCM. Wright staining and ApopTag assay, respectively, showed the morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis in U87MG cells treated with 25 μM and 50 μM of CCM for 24 h. Western blotting showed activation of caspase-8, cleavage of Bid to tBid, increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria followed by activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 for apoptosis. Also, CCM treatments increased cytosolic level of Smac/Diablo to suppress the inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins and down regulated anti-apoptotic nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), favoring the apoptosis. Increased activities of calpain and caspase-3 cleaved 270 kDa α-spectrin at specific sites generating 145 kDa spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kDa SBDP, respectively, leading to apoptosis in U87MG cells. Results show that CCM is an effective therapeutic agent for suppression of anti-apoptotic factors and activation of calpain and caspase proteolytic cascades for apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma cells.
Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on dopamine systems in C57BL/6J mice

Young rats prenatally exposed to ethanol exhibit heightened responses to dopaminergie (DA) drugs, altered brain concentrations of dopamine, and its metabolite dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and transient reductions in DA receptor binding. Adult mice exposed to ethanol prenatally also exhibit increased responses to DA drugs; however, brain concentrations of DA and DOPAC are unaltered. The effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on DA or DOPAC concentrations in young mice or on DA receptor binding in mice of any age are unknown. Therefore, to determine if the different effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on rats and mice are due to age at time of testing or species, we determined its effects on DA concentrations and turnover in young mice under conditions previously reported for adult offspring and on DA D1 and D2 receptor binding in both young and adult offspring. Consistent with our previous report for adult offspring, prenatal ethanol exposure did not alter DA concentrations or turnover. The treatment did, however, diminish periadolescent growth as previously reported and produced a transient increase in DA D1, but not DA D2 receptor binding. DA receptor binding was not altered in adult offspring. Although unrelated to prenatal ethanol exposure, the sexes differed on all of the DA measures. Combined with previous reports, the present study suggests that species rather than age is more likely to account for the different effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on DA systems, and that sex differences in DA systems should be further examined.
Efficacy of Intervention to Increase Thorough Skin Self-Examination and Effect on Surgery on the Skin: Results of the Check-it-out Project

Monthly thorough skin self-examination (TSSE) is increasingly recommended for early detection of melanoma, and it may be effective in reducing melanoma mortality. However, it has been the focus of relatively little research given the associated publicity. We report results of the Check-It-Out Project, a randomized trial of an intervention designed to encourage monthly TSSE.
A Novel Implantation Free Raised Source/Drain Mosfet Process Using Selective Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition Of In-Situ Boron Doped SixGe1-x

In this paper, we report electrical characterization of raised source/drain MOS transistors fabricated using selectively deposited, in-situ boron doped Si x Ge 1-x as a solid diffusion source to form the source/drain junctions. The alloy can be deposited with an enhanced selectivity at temperatures as low as 600°C resulting in an abrupt doping profile at the Si x Ge 1-x /Si interface. After deposition, junctions are formed by diffusion of boron from the deposited layer into the silicon substrate. The selectively deposited alloy can serve as a sacrificial layer for self-aligned silicide formation elimintaing the problem of silicon consumption in the substrate. In this work, selective depositions were performed in a typical cold-walled, lamp heated rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD) system at ∼ 610 °C using SiH 2 C1 2 , GeH 4 and B 2 H 6 as the reactive gases. Using this process, MOS transistors with effective channel lengths down to 0.45 gtm were successfully fabricated.
Duodenal Aspirates for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth: Yield, PPIs, and Outcomes after Treatment at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center

Duodenal aspirates are not commonly collected, but they can be easily used in detection of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has been proposed to contribute to the development of SIBO. We aimed to determine the yield of SIBO-positive cultures detected in duodenal aspirates, the relationship between SIBO and PPI use, and the clinical outcomes of patients identified by this method. In a retrospective study, we analyzed electronic medical records from 1263 consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy at a tertiary medical center. Aspirates were collected thought out the third and fourth portions of the duodenum, and cultures were considered to be positive for SIBO if they produced more than 100,000 cfu/mL. Culture analysis of duodenal aspirates identified SIBO in one-third of patients. A significantly higher percentage of patients with SIBO use PPIs than patients without SIBO, indicating a possible association. Similar proportions of patients with SIBO improved whether or not they received antibiotic treatment, calling into question the use of this expensive therapy for this disorder.
A replication study testing the validity of AR simulation in VR for controlled experiments

It is extremely challenging to run controlled studies comparing multiple Augmented Reality (AR) systems. We use an “AR simulation” approach, in which a Virtual Reality (VR) system is used to simulate multiple AR systems. In order to validate this approach, we carefully replicated a well-known study by Ellis et al. using our simulator, obtaining comparable results.
In vitro evaluation of ScopeSafe fibers and the scope guardian sheath in prevention of ureteroscope endolumenal working damage.

Abstract Background and Purpose: Ureteroscope breakage is commonly related to laser fiber damage. Often, the damage is mechanical and not energy related. As such, we evaluated a novel laser fiber and sheath system in preventing mechanical ureteroscope damage during fiber insertion. Materials and Methods: We assessed 200-μm/272/3-μm laser fibers with the laser sheath in a flexible ureteroscope. Diminishment of active deflection and irrigation flow rates were compared with a standard laser fiber alone. Eight nonassembled working channel components were tested in a 0-degree/90-degree/210-degree deflection model. After insertion cycles, external and endolumenal damage to the working channel were classified. We also tested the sheath system in a 0-degree/90-degree/210-degree deflection model for fiber failure and laser damage. Results: In all test trials with the sheath and for standard laser fibers in the 0-degree model, there were no channel perforations or damage. With standard laser fibers, in the 210-degr...
The role of tryptophan in neutral fructose diphosphatase.

Summary Neutral rabbit liver fructose-1,6-diphosphatase which does not contain tryptophan has been isolated and shown to possess catalytic properties identical to that for the neutral enzyme which contains tryptophan. Criteria include pH activity optimum, EDTA and oleate activation, AMP inhibition and specific activity. However, the enzyme lacking tryptophan responds differently to proteolysis by subtilisin exhibiting a more rapid loss of sensitivity to AMP inhibition.
Mast cell histamine secretion in response to somatostatin analogues: Structural considerations

Comparative studies of the activity of somatostatin and of several of its analogues in releasing histamine from rat mast cells suggest that the integrity of the positively charged amino terminus and of lysines at positions four and nine of somatostatin may be necessary to preserve its histamine releasing activity. D-Lys4 substitution reduced activity by 80% while D-Lys9 substitution increased it four fold. Replacement of the amino terminal Ala by Tyr or simultaneous removal of Ala1,Gly2 and the amino portion of the now terminal Cys3 inhibited the activity by about 95%. Finally, dihydrosomatostatin retained 33% activity while an analogue where both Cys sulfur atoms were permanently blocked by acetamidomethyl groups retained only about 13% activity. Using information from these studies and from the literature, two-dimensional and space-filling models approximating the conformation of somatostatin were constructed and compared with a plausible corresponding model of the hexameric form of 48/80, the most active congener of this classic mast cell secretagogue. By such modelling it was possible to show that the orientation of the cationic moieties in the two molecules could be similarly arranged thereby perhaps explaining the ability of these compounds to induce mast cell secretion.
Detecting Wikipedia vandalism via spatio-temporal analysis of revision metadata?

Blatantly unproductive edits undermine the quality of the collaboratively-edited encyclopedia, Wikipedia. They not only disseminate dishonest and offensive content, but force editors to waste time undoing such acts of vandalism. Language-processing has been applied to combat these malicious edits, but as with email spam, these filters are evadable and computationally complex. Meanwhile, recent research has shown spatial and temporal features effective in mitigating email spam, while being lightweight and robust.In this paper, we leverage the spatio-temporal properties of revision metadata to detect vandalism on Wikipedia. An administrative form of reversion called rollback enables the tagging of malicious edits, which are contrasted with non-offending edits in numerous dimensions. Crucially, none of these features require inspection of the article or revision text. Ultimately, a classifier is produced which flags vandalism at performance comparable to the natural-language efforts we intend to complement (85% accuracy at 50% recall). The classifier is scalable (processing 100+ edits a second) and has been used to locate over 5,000 manually-confirmed incidents of vandalism outside our labeled set.
High-dose tamoxifen in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract The effectiveness of high-dose Tamoxifen in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma was evaluated. Fifteen patients were treated for eight weeks with 80 mg. of Tamoxifen daily. Side effects were minimal. Results showed progression of disease in 47 per cent of the patients, no change in disease was seen in 40 per cent, and 13 per cent showed a partial objective response. Twenty per cent of patients showed deterioration of performance status. High-dose Tamoxifen does not appear to be useful in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Storm-Centered Ensemble Data Assimilation for Tropical Cyclones

AbstractA significant challenge for tropical cyclone ensemble data assimilation is that storm-scale observations tend to make analyses that are more asymmetric than the prior forecasts. Compromised structure and intensity, such as an increase of amplitude across the azimuthal Fourier spectrum, are a routine property of ensemble-based analyses, even with accurate position observations and frequent assimilation. Storm dynamics in subsequent forecasts evolve these states toward axisymmetry, creating difficulty in distinguishing between model-induced and actual storm asymmetries for predictability studies and forecasting. To address this issue, a novel algorithm using a storm-centered approach is proposed. The method is designed for use with existing ensemble filters with little or no modification, facilitating its adoption and maintenance. The algorithm consists of 1) an analysis of the environment using conventional coordinates, 2) a storm-centered analysis using storm-relative coordinates, and 3) a merged ...
ICT and digital libraries

The National Science Foundation has recently funded a variety of projects through its NSDL digital library initiative. One such project is the Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library project, also known as CITIDEL, which is part of NSDL’s Collection Track activities. CITIDEL is a consortium of five universities that includes Virginia Tech (the lead institution), Hofstra University, Penn State University, The College of New Jersey, and Villanova University. CITIDEL will establish, operate, and maintain part of the digital library that includes information systems, computer science, information science, information technology, software engineering, computer engineering, and other computing-related fields. It will manage a front-end portal to all educational activities related to computing and information technology, harvest metadata from applicable repositories, provide an integrated access and linking process to related collections, and encourage and actively support content developers to make new resources available to others. CITIDEL will also address the need to develop and disseminate quality courseware by providing a mechanism for the preservation of educational prototypes. Additionally, it will provide a single location where searches conducted by educators and students can link them educational websites.
Assimilation of stratospheric and mesospheric temperatures from MLS and SABER into a global NWP model

The forecast model and three-dimensional variational data assimilation components of the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) have each been extended into the upper stratosphere and mesosphere to form an Advanced Level Physics High Altitude (ALPHA) version of NOGAPS extending to ~100 km. This NOGAPS-ALPHA NWP prototype is used to assimilate stratospheric and mesospheric temperature data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instruments. A 60-day analysis period in January and February 2006, was chosen that includes a well documented stratospheric sudden warming. SABER and MLS temperatures indicate that the SSW caused the polar winter stratopause at ~40 km to disappear, then reform at ~80 km altitude and slowly descend during February. The NOGAPS-ALPHA analysis reproduces this observed stratospheric and mesospheric temperature structure, as well as realistic evolution of zonal winds, residual velocities, and Eliassen-Palm fluxes that aid interpretation of the vertically deep circulation and eddy flux anomalies that developed in response to this wave-breaking event. The observation minus forecast (O-F) standard deviations for MLS and SABER are ~2 K in the mid-stratosphere and increase monotonically to about 6 K in the upper mesosphere. Increasing O-F standard deviations in the mesosphere are expected due to increasing instrument error and increasing geophysical variance at small spatial scales in the forecast model. In the mid/high latitude winter regions, 10-day forecast skill is improved throughout the upper stratosphere and mesosphere when the model is initialized using the high-altitude analysis based on assimilation of both SABER and MLS data.
A new and simple robust control design for linear systems with structured time varying real parameter uncertainty

In this paper, a new methodology for robust control design of linear systems with structured real parameter uncertainty is presented. The distinctive feature of this method is that it explicitly offers robustness guarantees for real parameter uncertainty. This provides a much needed alternative design method compared to existing robust control design methods such as H ∞ and μ -synthesis which tend to be conservative when specialized to real parameter uncertainty. The proposed robust control design method is inspired by the concept of sign (qualitative) stability in ecology, leading to a specific structure of the desired closed loop system matrix involving pseudosymmetry. Thus, this design method focuses on achieving a specific closed loop system structure that promises the desired robustness measure as opposed to building a controller as a function of the uncertainty. This design procedure is simple and straightforward without requiring intensive computation. The proposed algorithm is promising with considerable scope for extensions and improvements adding to the bank of available control design methods for linear state space systems.
Answering queries from statistics and probabilistic views

Systems integrating dozens of databases, in the scientific domain or in a large corporation, need to cope with a wide variety of imprecisions, such as: different representations of the same object in different sources; imperfect and noisy schema alignments; contradictory information across sources; constraint violations; or insufficient evidence to answer a given query. If standard query semantics were applied to such data, all but the most trivial queries will return an empty answer.
Childhood unintentional injuries: Factors predicting injury risk among preschoolers

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between maternal perceptions of risk, stress, social support, safety-proofing behaviors, supervision practices and unintentional injuries to children under 5 years old. METHODS: Household interviews were conducted with 159 mothers who had a preschool-age child. The secondary data were part of a population-based study that collected self-report data and home observational data. Diaries were used for collecting prospective injury data. RESULTS: White children whose mothers were unemployed and whose homes needed repair were reported to be at higher injury risk than other children. Predicting a higher injury risk were children's behavioral characteristics as well as their being older than 2.5 years. Maternal social support, stress, and coping variables were not related to injury risk. Maternal perceptions of risk variables interacted with maternal safety behavior variables when predicting injury risk. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood injuries are predicted by a set of interrelated sociodemographic, cognitive, behavioral, and child-related factors. Language: en
Compact modeling approaches to multiple die stacked chip scale packages [thermal modeling]

This paper compares several approaches to create compact models for simple and quick prediction of the thermal performance of stacked-die packages. The first approach is the so-called compact conduction model (CCM) by simplifying the die attach with a planar contact resistance and by lumping the solder balls and vias into simplified blocks. The second approach is to further simplify the CCM by lumping the stack dice into a single die with the power dissipation from each die superimposed into one die. The third approach is the so-called two-resistor (2R) compact model that consists of a junction-to-top resistance (/spl theta/jc) and a junction-to-board resistance (/spl theta/jb). These compact models are compared to the detailed model under different boundary condition scenarios: still air enclosure (JESD51-2), ring cold plate test (JESD51-8), and top cold plate test. The modeling result indicates the compact model can reasonably predict the thermal performance when compared to the detailed model in most boundary conditions. The lumped package substrate layer and the superimposition of multiple dice into an equivalent die can significantly simplify the model, reducing the computer memory and simulation time without scarifying modeling accuracy. Since different levels of errors are associated with different modeling approaches in different boundary conditions, further examination of the possible numerical error in each model approach and further thermal measurements using the actual packages with thermal test dice are needed for thermal model validation.
Plant diversity, CO2, and N influence inorganic and organic N leaching in grasslands.

In nitrogen (N)-limited systems, the potential to sequester carbon depends on the balance between N inputs and losses as well as on how efficiently N is used, yet little is known about responses of these processes to changes in plant species richness, atmospheric CO2 concentration ((CO2)), and N deposition. We examined how plant species richness (1 or 16 species), elevated (CO2) (ambient or 560 ppm), and inorganic N addition (0 or 4 gm � 2 � yr � 1 ) affected ecosystem N losses, specifically leaching of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and organic N (DON) in a grassland field experiment in Minnesota, USA. We observed greater DIN leaching below 60 cm soil depth in the monoculture plots (on average 1.8 and 3.1 g Nm � 2 � yr � 1 for ambient N and N-fertilized plots respectively) than in the 16-species plots (0.2 g Nm � 2 � yr � 1 for both ambient N and N-fertilized plots), particularly when inorganic N was added. Most likely, loss of complementary resource use and reduced biological N demand in the monoculture plots caused the increase in DIN leaching relative to the high-diversity plots. Elevated (CO2) reduced DIN concentrations under conditions when DIN concentrations were high (i.e., in N-fertilized and monoculture plots). Contrary to the results for DIN, DON leaching was greater in the 16-species plots than in the monoculture plots (on average 0.4 g Nm � 2 � yr � 1 in 16-species plots and 0.2 g Nm � 2 � yr � 1 in monoculture plots). In fact, DON dominated N leaching in the 16-species plots (64% of total N leaching as DON), suggesting that, even with high biological demand for N, substantial amounts of N can be lost as DON. We found no significant main effects of elevated (CO2) on DIN or DON leaching; however, elevated (CO2) reduced the positive effect of inorganic N addition on DON leaching, especially during the second year of observation. Our results suggest that plant species richness, elevated (CO2), and N deposition alter DIN loss primarily through changes in biological N demand. DON losses can be as large as DIN loss but are more sensitive to organic matter production and turnover.
A response to a Platonistic and to a set-theoretic objection to the Kalam cosmological argument

The first premise of the Kalam cosmological argument has come under fire in the last few years. The premise states that the universe had a beginning, and one of two prominent arguments for it turns on the claim that an actual infinite collection of entities cannot exist. After stating the Kalam cosmological argument and the two approaches to defending its first premise, I respond to two objections against the notion that an actual infinite collection is impossible: a Platonistic objection from abstract objects and a set-theoretic objection from an ambiguity in the definition of '=' and '<' as applied to sets. The thought-experiment involving Hilbert's Hotel is central to the dialectic, and the discussion clarifies its use in supporting the Kalam cosmological argument.
A complex z-transform technique for speckle reduction

The ubiquitous speckle artifact manifests itself as a fine noise-like structure superimposed on an ultrasound image. Conventional speckle reduction techniques rely on a stochastic description of the artifact, but there are difficulties associated with such a definition. It is shown that a deterministic definition of a speckle corrected signal is feasible and can lead to a new method of removing the speckle artifact. The algorithm implementing this is presented and consists of two stages. Stage 1 deterministically identifies a local center of destructive interference, and stage 2 provides an additive local correction to (only a subset of) the RF-Aline data. Processing operates on a one-dimensional data sequence via complex z-transform techniques. No resolution tradeoff exists, and the scheme is shown to be robust to noise and ultimately applicable on a real time-basis. The efficacy of the technique is assessed via B-mode images obtained from a tissue-equivalent phantom and suppression of partially developed speckle is demonstrated. Although the algorithm is presented in the medical ultrasonic context, it is applicable to all imaging modalities that are corrupted by speckle and implemented via a coherent detection system. >
Robust Edge Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks

The ability to geometrically represent sensed phenomena within a wireless sensor network can provide a more concise view than enumeration of all nodes identifying a phenomenon. A more concise view of sensed data can reduce the communication and energy costs of data analysis and extend the lifetime of the network. We propose a distributed edge detection technique that identifies connected perimeters for sensed phenomena within wireless sensor networks. The technique operates in arbitrarily deployed wireless sensor networks, such as those containing connectivity holes, and is capable of correctly identifying the perimeters of irregularly shaped phenomena. We implemented our technique and conducted extensive experiments; results show that our technique provides accurate perimeters for all sensed phenomena within a wireless sensor network even in the presence of irregularly shaped phenomena.
Magnetic resonance imaging: a noninvasive tool for fetal and placental physiology.

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a technique that utilizes biochemical information reflected in nuclear magnetic moments, can be used to image the uterus, fetus, and placenta of the human and nonhuman primate. MR! studies during pregnancy in the human and nonhuman primate provide soft-tissue structural information of considerable detail. MRI also offers the opportunity for noninvasive pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic studies during pregnancy. Paramagnetic ions (Cu, Ni, Gd, Fe, Mn) alter spin-lattice (Ti) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times in reproductive tissues. Changes in Ti and T2 alter the MRI image, reflecting uptake of pqramagnetic ions by the uterus, placenta, or fetus. MRI provides a noninvasive method of monitoring body burden of selected xenobiotics during gestation. The use of paramagnetic labels on endogenous substances may also allow noninvasive determination of physiological parameters such as intervillous blood flow, placental metabolism, and placental transport during gestation.