cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SPATIAL RETENTION OF IONS PRODUCING THE IBEX RIBBON

The ribbon observed by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission is a narrow, ~20° wide feature that stretches across much of the sky in the global flux of energetic neutral atoms from the outer heliosphere. The ribbon remains an enigma despite its persistence after 3 years of IBEX observations and after almost a dozen theories that attempt to explain it. While each theory that has been posed has its strengths, each one also contradicts IBEX observations or demonstrates significant flaws in internal consistency. Here, we present a new theory that is different than any of the existing ideas and yet accounts for many of the key observations. We argue that the ribbon could be produced by a spatial region in the local interstellar medium where newly ionized atoms are temporarily contained through increased rates of scattering by locally generated waves in the electromagnetic fields. The particles in the ribbon are created predominantly from neutralized solar wind and neutralized pickup ions from inside the solar wind termination shock.
The real danger of lamivudine‐resistant hepatitis B virus infection in the immunocompromised host

In many transplant centres lamivudine is an important component of prophylaxis against, and treatment of, hepatitis B virus (HBV) graft infection. Drug resistant HBV species with specific polymerase mutations may emerge during lamivudine treatment. Aims: To examine the clinical consequences of graft infection by lamivudine resistant virus. Methods: The clinical course of four liver transplant patients who developed graft infection with lamivudine resistant virus was reviewed. The response of HBV infection to reduction of immunosuppression and to manipulation of antiviral therapy was assessed. For each patient, serum viral titre was measured and the viral polymerase gene was sequenced at multiple time points. Results: High serum titres were observed following emergence of the lamivudine resistant species. Wild type HBV re-emerged as the dominant serum species after lamivudine withdrawal. All patients developed liver failure, and onset of liver dysfunction was observed when resistant virus was the dominant serum species. In three patients, liver recovery was observed when immunosuppression was stopped and when alternative antivirals were given. Wild type virus appeared to respond to ganciclovir, and to reintroduction of lamivudine. For one patient, introduction of famciclovir was associated with clinical, virological, and histological response. Conclusions: Failure of lamivudine prophylaxis may identify patients at special risk for the development of severe graft infection. Treatment of graft reinfection should include reduction of immunosuppression, and systematic exposure to alternative antivirals. Viral quantitation and genetic sequencing are essential components of therapeutic monitoring.
Ab-initio studies of cyclic phosphazine systems (NPX2)n.: A study of the structure and bonding in such systems and a search for model systems for the polymer

Abstract Ab-initio molecular orbital calculations were carried out for a series of phosphazine compounds, (NPX 2 ) n , X=H, F, Cl, and Br, n =2 through 6, in order to study the electronic structure of such compounds and explore their use as model compounds for the bulk polymer. Calculations were carried out at the Hartree–Fock level of theory, using all-electron triple-zeta plus polarization basis sets for all atoms. Full geometry optimizations followed by frequency calculations were performed. Although most species adopted hightly symmetric geometries they were often significantly nonplanar. Optimized geometries are general agreement with geometry's inferred from solution phase IR studies. The geometries of the eight membered and larger rings are very dependent on the identity of X. Ionization energies for this series were calculated using electron propagator theory. Good agreement with experimentally observed values is found. Phosphorus d basis functions appear to be serving as polarization functions rather than being formally involved in bonding.
Multivalent Protein Polymer MRI Contrast Agents: Controlling Relaxivity via Modulation of Amino Acid Sequence

Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive imaging modality with high spatial and temporal resolution. Contrast agents (CAs) are frequently used to increase the contrast between tissues of interest. To increase the effectiveness of MR agents, small molecule CAs have been attached to macromolecules. We have created a family of biodegradable, macromolecular CAs based on protein polymers, allowing control over the CA properties. The protein polymers are monodisperse, random coil, and contain evenly spaced lysines that serve as reactive sites for Gd(III) chelates. The exact sequence and length of the protein can be specified, enabling controlled variation in lysine spacing and molecular weight. Relaxivity could be modulated by changing protein polymer length and lysine spacing. Relaxivities of up to ∼14 mM−1 s−1 per Gd(III) and ∼461 mM−1 s−1 per conjugate were observed. These CAs are biodegradable by incubation with plasmin, such that they can be easily excreted after use. They do not reduce cell viability, ...
A brief survey on multispectral face recognition and multimodal score fusion

In this paper, we explore and compare four face recognition methods and their performance with multispectral face images, and further investigate the performance improvement using multimodal score fusion. The four face recognition methods include three classical methods, PCA, LDA and EBGM (elastic bunch graph matching), and one new method, FPB (face pattern byte). The FPB method actually extracts orientational facial features by Gabor wavelet transform and uses Hamming distance for face identification. When the multispectral images from the same subject are available, the identification accuracy and reliability can be significantly enhanced using score fusion. Four score fusion methods, mean fusion, LDA fusion, KNN (k-nearest neighbor) fusion, and HMM (hidden Markov model) fusion are implemented and compared. Our experiments are conducted with the ASUMS face database that currently consists of two-band images (visible and thermal) from 96 subjects. We compare the identification performance of applying the four recognition methods to the two-band face images, and compare the fusion performance of combing the multiple scores from different methods (matcher) and from different bands (modality) of face images. The experimental results show that the face identification rate can achieve 100% when fusing two FPB scores from two-band face images; overall, the FPB method performs the best; the score modality is a key factor in biometric score fusion; when the number of score modalities is fixed, the fusion method becomes next important factor to score fusion; and the HMM fusion is the most reliable score fusion method.
Reaction of Folin's Reagent with Proteins and Biuret Compounds in Presence of Cupric Ion:

In an earlier paper1 the writer noted that traces of copper sulfate increased the blue color obtained by treating such proteins as pepsin or gelatin with Folin's phenol reagent.It has now been found that a number of organic substances reduce the Folin's phenol reagent only if a small amount of cupric ion is present. These same substances also show a positive biuret reaction.The copper-phenol values in Table I represent the amount of color per milligram of substance produced as a result of adding m/1300 copper sulfate to the solution under examination with the phenol reagent. One obtains this value from the difference in color values produced with and without copper ion. For many substances no color is produced in the absence of copper but most proteins contain tyrosine and tryptophane and must, therefore, be analyzed with and without cupric ion. No attempt has been made to determine whether each of the substances in Table I produces a blue color exactly in proportion to its concentration. With leucyl-glyc...
Association of low unconjugated estriol in the second trimester and adverse pregnancy outcome

Abstract Objective: To investigate the association between a low unconjugated estriol (uE3) in the second trimester and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Three hundred nine women who underwent second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-hCG-uE3 screening were divided into two groups: those with uE3 at most 0.75 multiples of the median (MoM) (n = 81) and those with uE3 exceeding 0.75 MoM (n = 228). Entry criteria included: hCG below 2 MoM, AFP below 2 MoM, age less than 35 years at delivery, complete prenatal records, and completed delivery. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: After adjusting for smoking and hCG, women with uE3 at or below 0.75 MoM were found to have significantly higher odds of developing fetal growth restriction, low amniotic fluid index (AFI), and small for gestational age (SGA) with ORs (and 95% CIs) of 6.73 (2.55,17.74), 3.85 (1.53, 9.68), and 2.89 (1.27, 6.57), respectively, for each of the outcomes. Conclusion: Low uE3 in the second trimester appears to be associated with fetal growth restriction, low AN, and SGA, and the risk seems to be independent of risk for adverse infant outcome associated with elevated AFP or hCG.
A social epidemiology of back pain in a general population

Abstract This paper presented data on the prevalence of persistent back pain and associated disabilities in a general population, the distribution of these symptoms according to selected socio-demographic and psychological characteristics, and the patterns of utilization of health services by persons who did and did not report suffering from back problems. Data represent self-reports of a probability sample of the general population in the SMSA of Columbus, Ohio, between the ages of 18 and 64. About 18 per cent of the total sample reported persistent back pain. All of the sociodemographic and psychological factors showed significant differential distributions except race and occupation. Explanations were offered within the framework of emotional or physical stress that may precipitate or aggravate conditions conducive to back pain, and differential exposure risks of accidents and injury. Persons with back complaints reported greater utilization of health services even when comparisons were limited to those with functional limitations. More of the people with persistent back pain who report limitations in functioning have used health care services compared with others in the sample who also reported functional limitations, presumably resulting from health conditions other than back pain.
Citizens against the State: the riddle of high impact, low functionality courts in Brazil

The Brazilian federal judiciary offers an interesting riddle to scholars of judicial politics and policy change. While the courts have played a major policy role over the past two decades, constraining and altering federal policy across a range of subjects, the court system has simultaneously been labeled "dysfunctional." This paper investigates this riddle: a system plagued by major systemic flaws in its day-to-day operations, which nonetheless still manages to exert a powerful influence on public policy in Brazil. I adopt a new institutional perspective, focusing on how the institutional and normative structure within which judges and other legal actors operate affects policy outcomes.
Fast and slow neutrons in an 18-MV photon beam from a Philips SL/75-20 linear accelerator

Fast- and slow-neutron contamination in an 18-MV photon beam from a Philips SL/75-20 linear accelerator has been measured. Aluminum and indium foils were activated to determine fast- and slow-neutron fluence, which were largely independent of field sizes. Measured fast-neutron fluences were typically 13.9 x 10/sup 4/ and 4.4 x 10/sup 4/ neutrons/cm/sup 2//rad of x ray inside and 5 cm outside the field, respectively. Slow-neutron fluences, 1.3 x 10/sup 4/ neutrons/cm/sup 2//rad of x ray, remained relatively constant inside and outside the field. The reported results are about three times higher than neutron fluences recently reported with a betatron operated at the same energy.
Earth science data records sharing supported by the Spatial Web Portal

This paper reports our research on utilizing OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) or de facto standards to support the ESDRs (Earth Science Data Records) sharing within the SWP (Spatial Web Portal). In MEaSUREs (Making Earth Science Data Records for Use in Research Environments) project, we leverage our extensive experience with emerging technologies to develop a SWP to provide distributed data access, distributed data analysis and integrated data display. In this study, three parts are investigated on how to share ESDRs by MEaSUREs SWP including a) establishing a publicly-accessible ESDR data portal, b) developing an on-line meta-database to enable quick discovery of relevant ESDR resources, c) using intelligent, web-enabled services that simplifies for users data access, processing and exchange to distribute ESDRs.
Detection of scene obstructions and persistent view changes in transportation camera systems

Unattended camera devices are increasingly being used in various intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for applications such as surveillance, toll collection, and photo enforcement. In these fielded systems, a variety of factors can cause camera obstructions and persistent view changes that may adversely affect their performance. Examples include camera misalignment, intentional blockage resulting from vandalism, and natural elements causing obstruction, such as foliage growing into the scene and ice forming on the porthole. In addition, other persistent view changes resulting from new scene elements of interest being captured, such as stalled cars, suspicious packages, etc. might warrant alarms. Since these systems are often unattended, it is often important to automatically detect such incidents early. In this paper, we describe innovative algorithms to address these problems. A novel approach that uses the image edge map to detect near-field obstructions without a reference image of the unobstructed scene is presented. A second algorithm that can be used to detect more generic obstructions and persistent view changes using a learned scene element cluster map is then discussed. Lastly, an approach to detect and distinguish persistent view changes from changes in the orientation of the fixed camera system is explained. Together, these algorithms can be useful in a variety of camera-based ITS.
Hypervelocity impact simulation using membrane particle-elements

Abstract A series of three-dimensional simulations have been performed to evaluate the use of membrane particle-elements to model hypervelocity impact effects in fabrics. The simulations employed an improved hybrid particle-finite element method and material models recently developed for conventional Kevlar and for Kevlar treated with a shear thickening fluid. The simulation results were compared with experimental data from tests conducted by NASA Johnson Space Center. The results suggest that membrane particle-elements can provide a computationally efficient description of hypervelocity impact dynamics in flexible multi-layered structures.
Inheritance of resistance to angular leaf spot in Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivars burley 21 and kentucky 14

The genetics of resistance to angular leaf spot caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci in Nicotiana tabacum cultivars Burley 21 and Kentucky 14 was investigated by studying disease reactions to three isolates of parental, F1, F2 and backcross generations derived from crosses between the resistant cultivars and the susceptible cultivar Judy's Pride. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse and in field plant beds. Chi-square values were computed to determine whether the observed ratios for disease reactions deviated from expected Mendelian ratios for a single, dominant gene controlling resistance to angular leaf spot in tobacco. Based on the resistance of the F1 and the backcross generation to the resistant parent (BC-R), a 3 resistant: 1 susceptible segregation ratio in the F2, and a 1 resistant: 1 susceptible segregation ratio in the backcross generation to the susceptible parent (BC-S), it was concluded that resistance to three isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci is governed by a single, dominant gene.
Exploring Virtual Recruiting From Employers’ Perspective Using “Second Life”

In a constantly evolving economy it is crucial to think outside the traditional way and utilize newly emerging methods and technologies available for effective human resource management. One of such cutting edge technologies is Second Life, a computer-based simulated virtual environment that allows global users to travel through the virtual space, meet and interact with people in real time, and leave with an impression that they have visited a parallel world that is interactive and full of opportunities. In the past two years, businesses have started exploring ways in which virtual worlds such as Second Life can be used for interviewing and recruiting people in real life. This study explores the trend of Second Life job fairs and evaluates the employers’ perspective on the advantages and challenges of using it for Human Resource recruitment. Several crucial questions were asked from the top executives of businesses that have conducted job fairs in Second Life to understand the concept of virtual recruitin...
Composition and Consumer Acceptability of a Novel Extrusion-Cooked Salmon Snack

The objectives of this study were to develop a value-added jerky-style snack from salmon flesh and to minimize loss of healthful lipids during processing. Three formulations were extruded in a laboratory-scale twin-screw extruder. The base formulation included Atlantic salmon (82%, w/w), sucrose (4%), pregelatinized starch (3%), modified tapioca starch (3%), salt (2%), and teriyaki flavoring (2%). Three oil binding agents (tapioca starch, high-amylose cornstarch, oat fiber) were each studied at the 4% level. Barrel temperature, from feed to die, was 65, 155, 155, and 80 degrees C. Screw speed was 250 rpm. Feed rate was 220 g/min. Extrudates were convection-dried at 93 degrees C for 40 min. A texture analyzer was used to evaluate textural properties. Sixty-three consumers evaluated the hedonic attributes of the snacks. Extrusion cooking did not adversely affect content of omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in Atlantic salmon. The oat fiber formulation had the highest lipid (17.49%) content. The other formulations had higher moisture content. A serving (28 g) of the oat formulation provides 0.6 g EPA + DHA. Snacks containing oat fiber had the highest CIE L* and b* values. Snacks containing oat fiber required greater force to bend, cut, and puncture. The oat fiber formulation had the lowest overall acceptability. This portable snack could appeal to consumers who are interested in the health benefits of fish and omega-3 fatty acids and provide salmon processors with a value-added solution for processing by-products.
A Toxic Factor in Tissues in cases of Nonspecific Ulcerative Colitis.

SummaryA toxic factor was demonstrated in extracts of the liver and lungs in cases of nonspecific ulcerative colitis. A factor with similar toxic properties was present in lesser amounts or in milder form in an occasional control extract of liver, and in lungs of stillborn infants, but not in adult control lungs or infant livers.
Seeing what we mean: visual knowledge and critical epistemology

As knowledge production, interpretation, and representation in educational settings rolls along Guttenberg’s (text‐based) track, the twenty‐first‐century world outside the doors of the schools and universities is exploding with visual ways of knowing and being. As visual text is silenced in education, it is simultaneously exploited in the marketplace. This article will examine some of the political, epistemological, and ontological questions that are raised by education’s steadfast adherence to the reductionism of ‘text only’ in a richly multimodal/visual world. The author uses a short autoethnographic journey as a starting point to examine the connections between critical pedagogy and visual knowledge in the quest for an educational world that literally and figuratively sees more.
On being importantly necessary for consciousness

Engel et al. (1999) claim that ‘‘appropriate synchronization among cortical neurons may be one of the necessary conditions for the buildup of perceptual states and awareness of sensory stimuli.’’ The question I wish to examine in this brief comment is exactly what they mean by a ‘‘necessary condition’’ for consciousness. For example, gravity is surely necessary for human consciousness, for without gravity life itself would not be possible. On the other hand, when singling out the items of study for consciousness in the brain, gravity does not rank high on the list of possible suspects since there are other things also necessary that somehow seem closer to being sufficient for consciousness as well. I want to examine where on the continuum of items of interest for the study of consciousness neuronal synchronization is likely to rank: Does it resemble gravity or does it resemble substance(s) C, the sufficient factor(s)? Let me put my query another way. When we devise scientific theories to explain phenomena in the world, we single out some causal relations among the vast web of interactions as the important connections for understanding some event. Some causal influences are too trivial to matter much in a general theory; others are too far removed from the phenomenon in question to fall within the scope of a finite theory. Under normal circumstances, UV radiation would fall in the former category for any general theory of consciousness and breathable air would fall into the latter. Though my skull is constantly bombarded by ultraviolet radiation, its effects on my conscious experiences are quite minimal. Hence even a complete theory of consciousness can ignore UV effects, for successful theories highlight only the most important components and interactions in getting to the specified end state. Mutatis mutandis, oxygen supports mammalian life and being alive is a prerequisite for my being conscious. However, that I and creatures like me are alive and consuming oxygen are not going to be facts included in a theory explaining our conscious awareness. We can take life sustained in part by oxygen as a given background assumption and build a theory of consciousness on top of such facts. The question is what sort of phenomenon is neural synchrony? Is it too trivial or too far removed from conscious processing to matter in theory, even if it is necessary? Or is it more important than that?
Sti-571: an anticancer protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor

STI-571 (imatinib, Gleevec, Glivec, CGP 57148) is an inhibitor of the Abl group of protein-tyrosine kinases. One of these enzymes, the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein, results from the fusion of the BCR and ABL genes that result from the reciprocal chromosomal translocation that forms the Philadelphia chromosome. The Philadelphia chromosome occurs in 95% of people with chronic myeloid leukemia. ABL is the cellular homologue of the oncogene found in murine Abelson leukemia virus, and BCR refers to breakpoint cluster region. The Bcr-Abl oncoprotein exhibits elevated protein-tyrosine kinase activity, which is strongly implicated in the mechanism of development of chronic myeloid leukemia. STI-571 is effective in the treatment of the stable phase of chronic myeloid leukemia. The c-Abl protein kinase domain exists in an active and inactive conformation. STI-571 binds only to the inactive state of the enzyme as shown by X-ray crystallography. The drug binds to a portion of the ATP-binding site and extends from there into adjacent hydrophobic regions. STI-571 is a competitive inhibitor of Abl kinase with respect to ATP. Resistance to STI-571 is often the result of mutations in residues of the Bcr-Abl kinase that ordinarily bind to the drug. Inhibition of target protein kinases represents an emerging therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer.
Planning Support Systems for Cities and Regions

Richard K. Brail, editor. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, MA, 2008. 312 pages. $35 (paperback). Ever since Harris coined the term planning support systems (PSS), its practitioners have...
Fabrication, calibration and evaluation of a phosphate ion-selective microelectrode.

Abstract To conduct the micro-environment study of flocs in an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process, a phosphate ion-selective microelectrode was developed. The cobalt-based microelectrodes have tip diameters of 5–20 μm and respond to all the three forms of phosphate ions, namely, H 2 PO 4 − , HPO 4 2− , and PO 4 3− . The calibration curve at pH 7.5 had a slope of 31.5 mV per decade change of concentration and a R 2 value of 0.99. Other characteristics of this microelectrode, such as response time, interferences from pH, ion strength, DO and other anions were also evaluated.
Learning acceptable windows of contingency

By learning a range of possible times over which the effect of an action can take place, a robot can reason more effectively about causal and contingent relationships in the world. An algorithm is presented for learning the interval of possible times during which a response to an action can take place. The algorithm was implemented on a physical robot for the domains of visual self-recognition and auditory social-partner recognition. The environment model assumes that natural environments generate Poisson distributions of random events at all scales. A linear-time algorithm called Poisson threshold learning can generate a threshold T that provides an arbitrarily small rate of background events λ (T), if such a threshold exists for the specified error rate.
Elastic buckling of cylindrical shells with elastic cores—I. Analysis

Abstract Thin walled cylindrical shell structures are widespread in nature; examples include plant stems, porcupine quills and hedgehog spines. All have an outer shell of almost fully dense material supported by a low density, cellular core. In nature, all are loaded in some combination of axial compression and bending; failure is typically by buckling. Natural structures are often optimized. Here we have analysed the elastic buckling of a thin cylindrical shell supported by an elastic core to show that this structural configuration achieves significant weight saving over a hollow cylinder. Biomimicking of natural cylindrical shell structures may offer the potential to increase the mechanical efficiency of engineering cylindrical shells. The results of the analysis are compared with data in the following, companion paper.
Motherhood, and its “lack:” Personal loss, and political community among Shiv Sena women in Mumbai

Synopsis Religious-nationalist parties in contemporary India actively mobilize women in their political projects. Party leaders utilize a variety of motherhood tropes in their mobilization of women for nationalist ends. The assumption is that such politics is appealing to women because it reinforces a maternal valor at the same time that it upholds the patriarchal status quo within the party. This paper complicates the relationships between motherhood and political community. Through ethnographic research with women of the political party Shiv Sena (Shivaji's Army) it argues that motherhood and politics are interlinked in ways that are at odds with dominant party rhetoric. It finds that for working-class women who live on the urban margins of the city of Mumbai, and who are marginalized from the centers of politics, grief over loss of a child mobilizes women to seek particular kinds of political community. Therefore, it is the “lack” of motherhood that becomes the source of affirmation and political action. It uses the life-history and narrative approach to analyze the ways in which the “lack” of motherhood gets constructed, narrated and experienced. It explores ways in which political parties that promise cultural community become sites through which this “lack” of motherhood gets negotiated. Finally, it urges feminist scholarship on gender and politics to take intimate emotions seriously in an analysis of political agency and political community.
Fine structure of schizonts and merozoites of Eimeria nieschulzi.

SYNOPSIS. Schizonts of E. nieschulzi lie in a vacuole within the host cell. After nuclear division the cell membrane invaginates forming merozoites. Differentiation of the pellicle and other organelles occurs while merozoites are still attached to the schizont cytoplasm. Merozoites have a pellicle thickened at the anterior end to form a polar ring. Radiating posteriorly from the ring, directly beneath the pellicle, are about 25 microtubules. Within the polar ring is a dense conoid. Extending posteriorly from within the conoid is a paired organelle. The paired organelle varies in size and shape in each generation of merozoites. Numerous toxonemes occupy the anterior half of the merozoites. Two paranuclear bodies are present in 1st generation merozoites. One or 2 granular bodies were seen in the anterior end of 2nd generation merozoites. In 3rd generation merozoites 6 or more granular bodies were seen anterior to the nucleus. Each merozoite has a single nucleus containing diffuse chromatin material. Elongate mitochondria and glycogen granules are present. The vacuole surrounding mature merozoites contains residual cytoplasm of the schizont and some granular material. Microvilli project into the vacuole from the host cell membrane.
Development of Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Formulations of Calcium Alendronate Salts

AbstractPoorly soluble calcium-alendronate salts were prepared and investigated as potential candidates for subcutaneous or intramuscular formulations. Three such formulations containing calcium-alendronate salts with different stoichiometries were developed for testing in safety, disposition and efficacy studies in animals. All formulations demonstrated a drastic reduction in pain on injection and tissue damaging propensity compared to the soluble salts of ABP. All three were efficacious and showed prolonged absorption from the injection site with the deposition of a large percentage of the dose into the bone. Complex formation between alendronate and calcium was also studied.
Infected CD8α− dendritic cells are the predominant source of IL-10 during establishment of persistent viral infection

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important factor involved in T-cell dysfunction during persistent viral infection. Although several factors can negatively regulate T-cell activity, targeting of the IL-10 pathway alone is sufficient to regenerate T-cell activity and increase viral control. How IL-10 mediates these effects is unclear. Here, we investigated the cellular source of IL-10 necessary for establishing T-cell exhaustion and viral persistence, using IL-10 reporter mice (VertX), cell-type–specific IL-10 and IL-10 receptor deletion mice, and bone marrow chimeric mice. During establishment of viral persistence, the cellular subset with the most prevalent expression of IL-10 was CD8α−CD4+ dendritic cells (DCs), which produced IL-10 with increasing kinetics until 9 d postinfection. After this time point, DCs exhibited a modest decline in percentage of IL-10+ cells whereas B cells and CD4+ T cells increased minimally. Further analysis of the DC population demonstrated that IL-10 was primarily expressed in infected DCs. These DCs were a notable source of IL-10 as mutant mice with a DC-specific deletion of IL-10 had significantly decreased serum levels. Interestingly, viral infection was not directly causative of IL-10 expression; rather, IL-10 production appeared to be linked to type I IFN signaling. Our findings further illuminate the contribution of DCs to the production of IL-10 and to viral persistence.
Electron hopping in lithiated spinels: A temperature dependent Mössbauer study

Abstract Lithium ions can be inserted into the cubic spinel-type compounds AFe2O4 (A = Zn, Cd) by reversible topotactic electron/ion transfer. 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy shows that the insertion proceeds via reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II), resulting in mixed-valence systems. The temperature dependent Mossbauer results on Li0.8CdFe2O4 are indicative of thermally activated charge hopping on the Mossbauer timescale. The experimental spectra can be simulated by a modified relaxation model which simultaneously takes into account the delocalization of the transferred electron in the band structure of the host material. The electron relaxation time obeys an Arrhenius law with an activation energy of 0.025 eV.
Interactions between Steller's jays and yellow pine chipmunks over scatter-hoarded sugar pine seeds

Summary 1 Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas) seeds are dispersed by wind, but yellow pine chipmunks (Tamias amoenus Allen) and Steller's jays (Cyanocitta stelleri Gmelin) gather the seeds and scatter-hoard them. Chipmunks and jays store seeds in a similar manner, and during cache recovery they appear to compete for stored seeds. 2 A series of aviary studies and radioactive seed studies in the field were used to examine how chipmunks and jays interact over stored seeds. 3 Aviary studies revealed that chipmunks use spatial memory and olfaction to find seeds, including those stored by conspecifics and jays, whereas jays use spatial memory and observational learning, so they usually find only the seeds that they have stored. Use of olfaction makes chipmunks much better pilferers than jays. 4 In the field, both chipmunks and jays have a recovery advantage (they retrieve their own caches 3·6 faster than do pilferers), and chipmunk caches disappear 3·4 faster than jay caches. 5 Steller's jays appear to avoid chipmunk pilferage by caching seeds in closed-canopy pine forests with little shrub understorey where chipmunks seldom forage, whereas chipmunks cache under shrubs in forest openings. The risk of pilferage by chipmunks appears to force jays to cache in forests. 6 Competition between chipmunks and jays for stored seeds might have indirect effects on sugar pine seedling establishment because seedlings survive better when under shrubs.
Management of ovarian carcinoid syndrome.

4 28 Term after IVF 15 Amenorrhea 3 months and bleeding 19 days 48.67 I 2 Hysterectomy AWNED 5 35 Term 4 Bleeding 1 month 157.0 I 2.5 Hysterectomy AWNED 6 27 Term 6 Bleeding 4 months 175.2 I 2.5 Hysterectomy AWNED 7 36 Term after IVF 10 Amenorrhea 56 days and bleeding 7 days 204.03 I 5 Hysterectomy AWNED 8 33 Abortion 12 Bleeding 2 days 1,024 I 4 Hysterectomy+EMA-CO AWNED 9 30 Term 24 Bleeding 24 months 5.02 I 2 Hysterectomy+EMA-CO AWNED 10 31 Term 10 Bleeding 7 months 175.78 I 2.7 Hysterectomy AWNED 11. 29 Term 7 Bleeding 7 months 48.29 I 6 Hysterectomy AWNED 12. 28 Term 10 Bleeding 4 months 145 I 3 Hysterectomy AWNED 13 29 Term 18 Amenorrhea 2 months 389.25 I 2 Hysterectomy AWNED 14 32 Term 10 Bleeding 10 months 125.8 III 2 Hysterectomy+lobectomy+ EMA-CO AWNED
The Effects of the MgO Support and Alkali Doping on the CO Interaction with Au

First-principle calculations have been performed to examine the CO interaction with unsupported and supported Au clusters on a (001) MgO surface. It is found that the support plays a minor role on the CO chemisorption on the edge and corners of the supported clusters, induces minor structural changes, and transfers a small charge to the clusters. Linear relationships for the CO binding energy vs the Au atom coordination number are found. The support strengthens the physisorption of CO on some planar sites of the clusters. It is found that small supported Au clusters behave like molecules, and classical concepts (e.g., the expansive strain of metals) may not be appropriate to describe adsorption. Alkali doping of the structures is also investigated. We found that the presence of two alkali metals deforms completely the gold clusters. Upon alkali doping, no linear relationships for the CO binding energy vs the Au coordination number are found.
Elevation gradients and lizard assemblage structure in the Bonneville Basin, western USA

We analyzed lizard assemblage structure as a function of elevation in the Bonneville Basin region of the Great Basin Desert using data from visual surveys performed between 2000 and 2003. A total of 1221 lizard observations were recorded, representing eight of the nine species known to occur in the Bonneville Basin. Individual species response curves showed Gaussian and truncated Gaussian distributions for most taxa, and most species demonstrated a nonrandom dispersion of occurrences along the elevation gradient. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) revealed hierarchical structuring of lizard species, and strong correlation of NMS axes with elevation provided evidence of uniform lizard community assembly with respect to elevation throughout the study region. Species richness averaged between 2 and 3 across surveys and specific species pairs were frequently associated with each other. Collectively our analyses provide insight into the possible roles of history and habitat heterogeneity in the structuring of a depauperate lizard fauna at the mesoscale.
High Speed Motion Neutron Radiography Of Dynamic Events

This paper describes the development of a technique that enables the neutron radiographic analysis of dynamic processes over a period lasting from one to ten milliseconds. The key to the technique is the use of a neutron pulse that is broad enough to span the duration of the brief event of interest and intense enough to permit recording of the results on a high-speed movie film at frame rates up to 10,000 frames/second. A system has been developed which utilizes the pulsing capability of the OSU TRIGA reactor. The system consists of the Oregon State University TRIGA reactor (pulsing to 3000 MW peak power), a neutron beam collimator, a scintillator neutron conversion screen coupled to an image intensifier, and a 16 mm high speed movie camera. The peak neutron flux incident at the object position is approximately 4 x 1011 n/cm2s with a pulse, full width at half maximum, of 9 ms. The system has been operated in the range of 2000 to 10,000 frames/second and has provided high-speed-motion neutron radiographs for evaluation of the firing cycle of 7.62 mm munition rounds within a steel rifle barrel. The system has also been used to demonstrate the ability to produce neutron radiographic movies of two-phase flow.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Effects of Total Knee Arthroplasty on Physical Functioning and Health among the Under Age 65 Population

Abstract Objectives This study examined the effects of total knee arthroplasty on six measures of physical functioning, self-rated health, pain, earnings, and employment status among US adults aged 51 to 63 years at baseline. Methods Data came from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study conducted biannually. The analysis sample consisted of individuals aged 51 to 63 years at baseline with arthritis who were resurveyed at 2-year intervals from 1996 to 2010. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes of persons receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with those of matched controls. Six measures of physical functioning were examined: lower-body mobility problems, instrumental activities of daily living limitations, activities of daily living limitations, and large muscle, fine motor, and gross motor limitations. Self-rated health and pain were also examined. The two employment-related outcomes were earnings and employment status. Results Receipt of TKA was associated with better outcomes for several measures of physical functioning, especially mobility limitations, pain, and self-rated health. Receipt of TKA was not associated with increased earnings or employment. Conclusions Receipt of TKA yields important improvements in physical function among persons with an arthritis diagnosis who received the procedure before reaching the age of 65 years. This study contributes to knowledge about the benefits of TKA in a community setting among nonelderly recipients of TKA.
The inkjet printing of catalyst Pd ink for selective metallization apply to product antenna on PC/ABS substrate

In this paper, a simple and effective method to fabricate conductive antenna metal pattern on plastic substrates PC/ABS (poly(carbonate/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene)) is described. This methods involves inkjet printing of copolymer/noble metal nanopartical-based ink on a PC/ABS substrate to create the catalyst site, onto which is subsequently deposited by an electroless plating method, to obtain metal pattern. The main challenge in electroless plating on plastics is to establish a good adhesion between the substrate and metallic film. The PC/ABS substrate was etching by environmental friendly etching solution, after printing, the plastic were immersed in an electroless plating bath to deposition Ni-P pattern. The prepared nickel film thickness is 11μm, which is excellent adhesion of the deposited Ni-P coating to the substrate according to ASTM D3359-78. Finally, a WWAN antenna was formed then test the Radiation characteristics.
Improved methodology for monitoring poly(amidoamine) dendrimers surface transformations and product quality by ultra performance liquid chromatography

Ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis was utilized for the first time as a methodology for monitoring poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer surface transformations and product quality. Results were compared to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and were found to provide a vastly improved analytical method for the characterization of dendrimer polydispersity and variance in a typical surface modification. The application of UPLC increased the average number of theoretical plates by a factor of 7 and reduced retention times of analytes by 36%, while improving the resolution capability to discriminate surface variances in dendrimers. The new UPLC procedures were used to monitor surface modification of [core: ethylenediamine]; (G=4); dendri-poly(amidoamine)-(NH2)64 (i.e., [EDA]; (G4); dendri-PAMAM-(NH2)64) to produce biotinylated dendrimer conjugates. The enhanced sensitivity and efficiency of the UPLC analyses allowed resolution of biotin substituent levels and a better characterization of the targeted dendrimer conjugates compared to traditional HPLC methodology.
Comparative In Vitro Activity of Moxalactam (LY127935), Other Beta-Lactam Antibiotics, and Aminoglycosides

Moxalactam (LY127935), a novel beta-lactam antibiotic, was compared with semisynthetic penicillins, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides by the agar dilution method against 5,317 recent clinical isolates of facultative and anaerobic bactria. At 0.5 μg/ml, moxalactam inhibited 90% of all Gram-negative bacilli tested except forPseudomonas aeruginosa (81% inhibited by 32 μg/ml) andAcinetobacter calcoaceticus (88% inhibited by 32 μg/ml). More than 90% ofBacteroides fragilis andStaphylococcus aureus were inhibited by 4 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml, respectively. Moxalactam was at least 16-fold more active by weight than cephalothin, cefamandole, and cefoxitin forEscherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, andEnterobacter species, and 2- to 4-fold more active than cefoxitin forB. fragilis. Moxalactam was 4-fold less active than cefamandole and cephalothin forS. aureus and 2- to 4-fold less active than piperacillin forP. aeruginosa. Moxalactam was as active or more active than the aminoglycosides for all facultative Gram-negative bacilli except forP. aeruginosa. Moxalactam was inhibitory (minimal inhibitory concentration <16 μg/ml) for 20/27 gentamicin-resistant isolates and 8/13 amikacin-resistant organisms. Moxalactam’s in vitro activity against Gram-negative bacilli is markedly superior to presently available cephalosporins and, except forP. aeruginosa, is comparable to the aminoglycosides.
An improved functional form for the temperature scaling factors of the components of the mesoscopic UNRES force field for simulations of protein structure and dynamics

Coarse-grained or mesoscopic models of proteins and the corresponding force fields are of great importance because they enable us to reduce the folding simulation time by several orders of magnitude compared to the all-atom approach and, consequently, reach the millisecond time scale of simulations. In the coarse-grained UNRES model for simulations of protein structure and dynamics, developed by our group, each amino-acid residue is represented by a united side chain and a united peptide group located in the middle between the two neighboring α-carbon atoms, which assist only in the definition of the geometry.. The prototype of the UNRES force field has been defined as a potential of mean force or restricted free energy function corresponding to averaging out the degrees of freedom not present in the coarse-grained representation, which has further been approximated by a truncated Kubo cumulant series to enable us to derive analytical expressions for the corresponding terms. This force field should depend on temperature and, in its simplest form, a term corresponding to the cumulant of order n should be multiplied by fn = 1/Tn−1. The temperature dependence has been introduced in recent work (J. Phys. Chem. B, 2007, 111, 260–285) and, in order to prevent too steep a variation with temperature, the factors at the n-th order cumulant terms were assumed to have a form fn=ln[exp(1)+exp(−1)]/ln{exp[(T/To)n−1]+exp[−(T/To)n−1]}, where To = 300 K is the reference temperature. In this work, we have introduced a modified scaling factor fn = ln[exp(c)+exp(−c)]/ln{exp[c(T/To)n−1]+exp[−c(T/To)n−1]} where c is an adjustable parameter, and determined c by fitting the analytical approximation of the temperature dependence of the virtual-bond torsional term corresponding to rotation about the Cα … Cα virtual bond in terminally-blocked di-alanine to the respective potential of mean force calculated from the MP2/6-31G(d,p) ab initio energy surfaces of terminally-blocked alanine (Ac-Ala-NHMe) and, independently, by optimizing it to obtain a sharp heat-capacity curve and the lowest ensemble-averaged root-mean-square deviation over the Cα atoms of 1GAB used as a training protein. Both approaches gave consistent results, and c = 1.4 has been selected as the optimal value of this parameter. The force field with the new temperature-scaling factors has been optimized using 1GAB as the training protein. The new force field has been tested on a series of medium size α-helical proteins and found to perform better than that with the original temperature-scaling factors.
Mitochondrial DNA Content as Risk Factor for Bladder Cancer and Its Association with Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content has been shown to be associated with cancer susceptibility. We identified 926 bladder cancer patients and compared these with 926 healthy controls frequency matched on age, gender, and ethnicity. Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer had significantly decreased mtDNA content when compared with control subjects (median, 0.98 vs. 1.04, P 65 years), male sex and positive smoking history were significantly associated with low mtDNA content and increased risk of bladder cancer. We identified two unique mtDNA polymorphisms significantly associated with risk of bladder cancer: mitot10464c (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.00-1.93; P = 0.048) and mitoa4918g (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.00-1.95; P = 0.049). Analysis of the joint effect of low mtDNA content and unfavorable mtDNA polymorphisms revealed a 2.5-fold increased risk of bladder cancer (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.60-3.94; P < 0.001). Significant interaction was observed between mitoa4918g and mtDNA content (Pinteraction = 0.028). Low mtDNA content was associated with increased risk of bladder cancer and we identified new susceptibility mtDNA alleles associated with increased risk that require further investigation into the biologic underpinnings of bladder carcinogenesis.