cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of lipid/gramicidin dispersions and cocrystals by Raman scattering.

Gramicidin crystals, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC)/gramicidin dispersions, and DMPC/gramicidin cocrystals were examined by Raman scattering to determine lipid/gramicidin stoichiometries and lipid organization. Calibrations of the choline (716-cm-1) and tryptophan (756-cm-1) peaks indicate that the cocrystals contain two lipids for each gramicidin monomer, a result confirmed by chemical analyses of washed crystals. In dispersions with high lipid/gramicidin ratios (e.g., 25:1), the lipid is ordered but becomes increasingly disordered as the gramicidin content is increased. Paradoxically, the DMPC/gramicidin cocrystals have highly ordered lipids that possibly contain no gauche bonds at all, despite their low lipid/gramicidin ratio. In addition, the polypeptide amide I peak position near 1670 cm-1 is found to be independent of the lipid/gramicidin ratio in the complexes and may indicate a beta-helix-type secondary structure at all ratios. However, the amide I peak broadens significantly at low lipid/gramicidin ratios and broadens still further in the cocrystals, suggesting that protein-protein interactions may induce band-broadening distortions of the polypeptide structure.
Gross delay defect evaluation for a CMOS logic design system product

Randomly occurring gross delay defects allow chips to pass full stuck-fault testing at both wafer and module levels, but cause them to fail when operated at system speeds. This paper describes the results of an experiment designed to determine the actual delay defect component of shipped product quality level (SPQL) for a CMOS combination standard cell/gate array design system. More than 60,000 modules, representing chips from the same IBM computer system, have been delay-tested using the technique presented in this paper. The test technique uses the stuck-fault patterns for level-sensitive scan design (LSSD) product. The stuck-fault patterns are modified or “twisted” according to specific algorithms to propagate transitions through paths just prior to the output measure. The patterns are applied at system speed timings provided by the chip designers. Any gross delay defect present in a tested path causes a fail. The failing modules were characterized to determine the size of the delay defects. Failure diagnostics were performed on the defective modules by using existing stuck-fault diagnostic tools and a development version of a transition fault simulator. These were sent to physical failure analysis for delayering, visual verification, and electrical characterization. A summary of physical defects which produced gross delay defects is presented.
E-cadherin repression contributes to c-Myc-induced epithelial cell transformation

c-Myc oncoprotein is overexpressed in a significant proportion of human epithelial cancers, and experimental overexpression of c-Myc in epithelial cells promotes tumour formation. However, it is not known how c-Myc promotes epithelial cell tumour formation. We report that c-Myc expression in human mammary epithelial cells induces a dramatic change in cell morphology, with some characteristics of an 'epithelial to mesenchymal transition'. E-cadherin expression is repressed by a post-transcriptional mechanism in cells expressing c-Myc. Furthermore, E-cadherin repression is necessary for c-Myc-induced cell transformation.
CD and MCD of CytC3 and Taurine Dioxygenase: Role of the Facial Triad in α-KG-Dependent Oxygenases

The alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG)-dependent oxygenases are a large and diverse class of mononuclear non-heme iron enzymes that require FeII, alpha-KG, and dioxygen for catalysis with the alpha-KG cosubstrate supplying the additional reducing equivalents for oxygen activation. While these systems exhibit a diverse array of reactivities (i.e., hydroxylation, desaturation, ring closure, etc.), they all share a common structural motif at the FeII active site, termed the 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad. Recently, a new subclass of alpha-KG-dependent oxygenases has been identified that exhibits novel reactivity, the oxidative halogenation of unactivated carbon centers. These enzymes are also structurally unique in that they do not contain the standard facial triad, as a Cl- ligand is coordinated in place of the carboxylate. An FeII methodology involving CD, MCD, and VTVH MCD spectroscopies was applied to CytC3 to elucidate the active-site structural effects of this perturbation of the coordination sphere. A significant decrease in the affinity of FeII for apo-CytC3 was observed, supporting the necessity of the facial triad for iron coordination to form the resting site. In addition, interesting differences observed in the FeII/alpha-KG complex relative to the cognate complex in other alpha-KG-dependent oxygenases indicate the presence of a distorted 6C site with a weak water ligand. Combined with parallel studies of taurine dioxygenase and past studies of clavaminate synthase, these results define a role of the carboxylate ligand of the facial triad in stabilizing water coordination via a H-bonding interaction between the noncoordinating oxygen of the carboxylate and the coordinated water. These studies provide initial insight into the active-site features that favor chlorination by CytC3 over the hydroxylation reactions occurring in related enzymes.
A comparison of combinations of clinical and radiographic examinations in evaluation of a dental clinic population

Panoramic periapical anterior and posterior bitewing radiographic, mirror-explorer, and transillumination clinical examinations were performed on 300 patients. Various combinations of the radiographic and clinical examination techniques were compared in terms of their ability to diagnose caries, alveolar bone loss, calculus, periapical bone lesions, impacted teeth, root tips, and miscellaneous conditions. A mirror-explorer clinical examination with panoramic and posterior bitewing radiographs and either anterior bitewing radiographs or transillumination proved to be as efficient in the initial examination of patients as the mirror-explorer clinical examination with periapical and posterior bitewing radiographs.
Complications of Cobalt Plaque Therapy of Choroidal Melanomas

We treated a small series of patients with choroidal melanomas with radioactive cobalt plaques. To assess the effectiveness of radiation, we performed radioactive phosphorus (/sup 32/P) uptake determinations before and after treatment. The /sup 32/P results did not tumor destruction. In five of seven patients with posterior pole melanomas, radiation retinopathy developed after treatment with resultant decrease in vision.
Guide to credible computer simulations of fluid flows

The significance of computer simulations depends solely on their credibility. A user of computer products, simulations and software, expects that these products are credible for the intended use. Because no standards exist for fluid-flow simulations by which to establish this credibility, a guide is presented here. The credibility is established by conducting verification and validation of simulation models and certification of simulations and of simulation software. Verification assesses whether the problem is solved correctly and estimates the level of computational accuracy of simulations; validation determines whether the right problem is solved and assesses the level of the validity of the simulation model by estimating the degree to which simulations accurately represent reality. These processes are achieved by identifying the intended uses of the simulations and the sources of uncertainties in them and by conducting sensitivity-uncertainty analyses. Certification determines 1) whether a software in terms of its logic, conceptual and computational models, procedures, rules, and documentation and 2) whether the simulations derived from the software are in compliance with specified requirements.
Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities with anisotropic lithospheric viscosity

SUMMARY Rocks often develop fabric when subject to deformation, and this fabric causes anisotropy of physical properties such as viscosity and seismic velocities. We employ 2-D analytical solutions and numerical flow models to investigate the effect of anisotropic viscosity (AV) on the development of Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities, a process strongly connected to lithospheric instabilities. Our results demonstrate a dramatic effect of AV on the development of instabilities—their timing, location, and, most notably, their wavelength are strongly affected by the initial fabric. Specifically, we find a significant increase in the wavelength of instability in the presence of AV which favours horizontal shear. We also find that an interplay between regions with different initial fabric gives rise to striking irregularities in the downwellings. Our study shows that for investigations of lithospheric instabilities, and likely of other mantle processes, the approximation of isotropic viscosity may not be adequate, and that AV should be included.
"Scalded mouth syndrome" caused by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: two case reports.

Two cases of "scalded mouth syndrome" are presented and discussed. This condition is a rare side effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are known to cause several other oral and extra-oral side effects. In scalded mouth syndrome, the patient's complaints concern a burning pain of the oral soft tissues. There are no clinical findings.
On the extensional vibrations of rotating bars

Abstract The extensional equations of motion for a cantilever bar rotating about an axis fixed in space are derived. It is shown that the form of the non-linear strain-displacement relation is important in determining the nature of the relationship between the frequency of extensional oscillations and the rotational speed. In particular, the frequency may or may not increase monotonically with rotational speed, depending on the degree of hardening in the effective extensional spring. The determination whether an instability occurs as the rotational speed increases is beyond the limits of engineering beam theory.
The graft helps to define the character of the alloimmune response

Abstract Introduction : In mice, kidney and liver allografts may be spontaneously accepted, whereas cardiac and skin allografts in the same strain combinations are rapidly rejected. The reasons for this dichotomy in murine response outcomes remains to be determined. Methods and results : When DBA/2 (H-2 d ) cardiac allografts were placed in C57BL/6 (H-2 b ) recipients, they were rejected within 10 days, unless the allograft recipients were transiently treated with gallium nitrate (GN), at which time the allografts were accepted for >150 days. The cardiac allograft rejector mice displayed DBA/2-reactive DTH responses, whereas the cardiac allograft acceptor mice displayed both TGFβ- and IL10-mediated inhibition of DTH responses. In contrast, DBA/2 kidney allografts placed at the same location in C57BL/6 mice were spontaneously accepted without immunosuppression. These kidney allograft acceptor mice displayed TGFβ-mediated, but not IL10-mediated inhibition of donor-reactive DTH responses. Conclusions : In the DBA/2-> C57Bl/6 strain combination, cardiac allografts induce pro-inflammatory immunity and allograft rejection, while kidney allografts induce anti-inflammatory immunity and allograft acceptance despite the fact that both organs display the same strong MHC disparities and are implanted at the same location. Anti-inflammatory immunity and allograft acceptance are displayed by cardiac allograft recipients when they are transiently treated with select immunosuppressants. Thus, multiple immune response options are available to the organ allograft recipient, and the choice is determined, to some degree, by the allograft, itself.
Revision Proceedings under the ICSID Convention: Suggestions for a Possible Interpretation of the Prerequisites of Article 51 of the ICSID Convention

Recently, not only the number of ICSID proceedings in general has increased but also the number of annulment and revision proceedings challenging the finality of an ICSID award. This development can be seen as reflecting the increasing dissatisfaction among certain of the players in the field with the outcome of an ICSID award specifically and the ICSID system in general. It thus appears not unlikely that the number of revision proceedings as one of the currently available remedies to challenge the finality of an ICSID award will further increase. While three applications for revision have been filed so far, only one decision in an ICSID revision proceeding has been rendered by an arbitral tribunal. In view of the scarcity of jurisprudence and literature in the field of ICSID revision proceedings, the authors discuss legal standards governing ICSID revision proceedings in general and the burden of proof and weighing of evidence in ICSID revision proceedings specifically. In applying these standards to each of the prerequisites of Article 51 of the ICSID Convention, which must be met in order for an application for revision to be successful, the authors provide guidance for determining the prospects of success of an Article 51 revision application. The authors conclude that, in light of the presumption in the ICSID Convention in favour of the finality of an award, revision should be an exceptional remedy. The prerequisites of Article 51 of the ICSID Convention should be interpreted restrictively. A balance needs to be struck between the principle of res judicata and legal stability, on the one hand, and the interests of justice and procedural fairness, on the other hand. In view of the fact that the ICSID Convention provides generally for the finality of an award and does not foresee an appeal mechanism, such a mechanism should not be introduced through the ‘back door’ in the guise of an application for revision.
Concentrations of xenobiotic chemicals in the maternal-fetal unit

Exposure to a variety of toxic chemicals has been associated with adverse health outcomes. Presumably, the most vulnerable population for these adverse health outcomes are fetuses that are exposed to toxicants in utero. Fetuses have immature organ systems and often their detoxification enzymes or enzymatic processes are not fully developed when exposures occur. Many xenobiotic chemicals have been shown to pass through the placental barrier and into the fetal blood stream. These exposures have been associated with adverse birth outcomes, neurocognitive delays and adult onset disease. Exposures associated with interuterine growth retardation have been linked to a variety of adult onset diseases such as coronary artery disease and diabetes. In this article, we review a variety of chemicals that have been known to enter the fetal environment and their potential to affect both early childhood and subsequently adult health. We restrict our review to chemicals shown to be present in umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, or meconium, thus unequivocally demonstrating the chemicals have entered the fetal environment. In some instances where known health outcomes have occurred from these exposures, we note these and any caveats associated with the exposures.
On the sensitivity of electron channelling line shapes to dislocation distribution

Considerations of the electron channelling pattern formation in a medium consisting of subcells with orientations oscillating in a range, α±δα, are presented. These are followed by an experiment which compares well with theoretical expectations. It is shown that selected area channelling pattern (SACP) line resolution not only depends on the total density of dislocations but also on their distribution. It is also shown that for a given dislocation density, the degradation of SACPs is more pronounced for a random distribution than for one with a subcell structure. The arrangement of the dislocations into subcells make the body a two-component medium in which the undeformed spaces are penetrated by a high density dislocation array forming a three-dimensional network of subcell walls. This kind of structure will generate an SACP which is a superposition of relatively undeformed channelling patterns. These are shifted each from the other by an angle α which is a function of subcell misorientation. The increase in the width of SACP-lines is mostly influenced by the value of ±δα which can be considered as a scattering band for an average subcell misorientation typical for a given dislocation density.
Mediation of gender role conflict and eating pathology in gay men.

This study examined the role of negative affect and social sensitivity in the relationship between gender role conflict and eating disorder symptomatology and body dissatisfaction. Participants were 228 gay men who responded to an online survey. Findings revealed that the combined effects of negative affect and social sensitivity mediated the relationships between gender role conflict and eating disorder symptomatology and body dissatisfaction. Additionally, independently both negative affect and social sensitivity were significant mediators when measuring eating disorder symptomatology. However, when examining body dissatisfaction, only social sensitivity served as a significant mediator. Results suggest the importance of addressing self-conceptions of gender and rejection sensitivity among gay men with body dissatisfaction and eating disturbances.
Computer games application within alternative classroom goal structures: cognitive, metacognitive, and affective evaluation

This article reports findings on a study of educational computer games used within various classroom situations. Employing an across-stage, mixed method model, the study examined whether educational computer games, in comparison to traditional paper-and-pencil drills, would be more effective in facilitating comprehensive math learning outcomes, and whether alternative classroom goal structures would enhance or reduce the effects of computer games. The findings indicated that computer games, compared with paper-and-pencil drills, were significantly more effective in promoting learning motivation but not significantly different in facilitating cognitive math test performance and metacognitive awareness. Additionally, this study established that alternative classroom goal structures mediated the effects of computer games on mathematical learning outcomes. Cooperative goal structure, as opposed to competitive and individualistic structures, significantly enhanced the effects of computer games on attitudes toward math learning.
AUGMENTATION OF HUMAN NATURAL KILLER CYTOTOXICITY BY ALPHA-INTERFERON AND INDUCERS OF GAMMA-INTERFERON. ANALYSIS BY MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an analysis of the augmentation of human natural killer (NK) cells by IFN-α and inducers of gamma interferon, using monoclonal antibodies to lymphoid and monocytoid cell populations. Treatment of the cells with monoclonal antibody and complement resulted in complete depletion of the population of interest, as judged by immunofluorescence analysis. In vitro treatment of purified OKT11a-positive, clone 9.6-positive, or OKMl-positive cells with human leukocyte interferon resulted in significant augmentation of their NK cytotoxicity. It is possible that IFN-α induces the differentiation of pre-NK cells to NK effector cells. Additional studies are in progress using combinations of monoclonal antibodies to identify the NK cell populations that are augmented by the modifiers. Treatment with the OKT11a monoclonal antibody and complement significantly decreased the augmentation of NK cytotoxicity by subsequent treatment with IFN-α. It was observed that the OKT3 monoclonal antibody in the absence of complement augments the NK and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of monocyte-depleted peripheral blood lymphocytes from certain donors.
Plasma antioxidant concentrations in a population of elderly women: Findings from the nun study

Abstract Low plasma alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations have been associated with an increased risk of numerous degenerative diseases, including cancer. Several characteristics that accompany aging, including changes in dietary habits and physiologic capacity, may place elderly populations at a high risk of low plasma antioxidant concentrations. Thus, the present study was undertaken to characterize plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and several other carotenoids in elderly subjects, to describe the relationship between age and plasma antioxidant concentrations in this population and to compare the concentrations of plasma antioxidants in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The study recruited 94 participants from the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer disease. Women in this population were unique for their advanced age, 77–99 years old, and their comparability across age groups due to the absence of several potential confounders of plasma antioxidant concentrations. The population mean and standard deviation of several plasma carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol concentrations (μg/dl) were as follows: lycopene, 15.0+− 10.0; beta-carotene, 30.0+− 19.7; alpha-carotene, 15.0 +− 9.6; zeaxanthin plus lutein, 22.0+− 7.4; beta-cryptoxanthin, 14.0 +− 8.6 and alpha-tocopherol, 980 +− 310. Concentrations of all analytes, except lycopene, were similar to or higher than those reported for several middle-aged American populations. Lycopene concentrations were significantly lower in the population of sisters as compared with the middle-aged populations and tended to decrease across age groups within the population of sisters. Age appeared to be a relatively minor determinant of plasma alpha-tocopherol and the concentrations of carotenoids, other than lycopene, in this population. Importantly, the plasma concentrations of most carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol in this population of independent elderly women were apparently adequate on the basis of population comparisons. Further studies of this population may define determinants essential for the maintenance of antioxidant status in elderly populations.
Effects of Non-Geometric Features and Incentive Schemes on Manual Assembly of System Variants: An Experimental Study

Although numerous firms have been shifting toward automated assembly, most still rely on manual assembly when complex assembly operation is required for large-scaled systems. Furthermore, because firms design variants of a system to satisfy diverse customer needs, they may manufacture these system variants in the same assembly line. This type of operation, called mixed model assembly, may improve the utilization of existing manufacturing facilities; however, it may also increase assembly errors due to interchanging geometrically similar parts between system variants. Design for Assembly (DFA) is a design guideline that assists engineers in designing systems that are easier to assemble. However, because DFA guidelines group geometrically similar parts in the same part category, it may be impossible to distinguish geometrically similar but functionally different parts (modules) used in different systems. This paper proposes experimenting how cognitive effects of non-geometric part features influence the productivity and quality in mixed model assembly operations. Furthermore, because the productivity and quality of manual assembly may be influenced by the motivation of operators, this paper examines how productivity and quality may be influenced by different incentive schemes.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Localization of the mouse kidney disease (kd) gene to a YAC/BAC contig on Chromosome 10.

Mice that are homozygous for the kidney disease (kd) gene on Chromosome (Chr) 10 spontaneously develop a progressive and fatal interstitial nephritis. The disease phenotype is similar to that of the human disease, juvenile nephronophthisis. Using a backcross and intercross breeding strategy and analysis of over 900 resultant progeny, this genetic locus has now been mapped to a minimal co-segregating region of approximately two megabases between D10Mit 193 and D10Mit 38. The location assigned to kd by this study is over 3 cM from the current Mouse Genome Database location. The entire interval has been cloned in yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Recombinant analysis has permitted assignment of 13 Mit microsatellite markers to positions near or within the region. Two new markers have been identified by using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of sequenced BAC ends. Several BAC end sequences align with human BAC clones from Chr 6q21 that contain NR2E1, Snx3, and Ros1. Three murine genes, CD24a, fyn, and ColX reported to map in or near the kd region as defined by this study have been evaluated. Though not definitely excluded, they appear to be unlikely candidates.
The pathology of pancreatic cancer and its possible relationship to pain

A recent study’ from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, New York City, summarizes the pathology from 645 patients with pancreatic cancer treated from 1947 to 1978. This report comprises both retrospective2 and prospective parts, 3 and contains those cases with adequate histological and clinical material, including 128 who underwent “curative” resections of the cancer. This material can be reviewed for potential insights into the cause of pain in this disorder. As seen in Table 1, there are 30 different morphological varieties of carcinoma. About 75% are the classical ductal, mucin-producing adenocarcinomas (Figure 1). The remaining 25% include both other well-recognized morphological patterns and unclassified cancers. Primary malignant lymphomas and sarcomas are rare. The pancreaticoblastoma occurs primarily in childhood and the papillary-cystic tumor is an uncommon type that occurs in young women and is essentially benign. The latter must not be too rare, for I have seen a dozen cases since we finished this study in 1978, and Oertel at the Armed Forces Pathology Institute has accumulated over 70 cases. However, further subtypes of the predominant adenocarcinoma4 are possible and the unclassified probably could be fitted into known categories with the aid of recently developed techniques. Reported cases of carcinoma in situ are rare.5 The classical carcinoma of the head of the pancreas is a relatively large tumor mass at diagnosis, averaging about 5 cm in diameter. It occludes terminal portions of the bile duct and main pancreatic duct in a majority of cases. With the occlusion of the duct of Wirsung, there is obstruction of the flow of pancreatic secretion and atrophy of the acinar cell tissue of
Resonant tunneling structures to significantly reduce the voltage drop in contacting pZnSe layer in blue-green lasers: simulation of voltage-current behavior

This paper describes the usage of a novel asymmetric resonant tunneling structure (RTS) to obtain low voltage drop contacts to pZnSe and other wide energy gap semiconductors. Generally, the contact to p-ZnSe is achieved by the formation of a Schottky barrier or by forming a graded layer interface to pZnSe. These techniques have been employed in fabricating ZnSe based blue-green lasers, reported during the past few years using structures grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. Most of these approaches result in contact voltage drops ranging from 6-30 volts for a typical current above laser threshold. In the case of pGaAs-pZnSe (or pZnCdSe) interface, the presence of a large valence energy band offset results in high voltage drop due to a rectifying interface. The use of asymmetric resonant tunneling structure(s) at these heterointerfaces is shown to result in a significantly low (0.4 volts) voltage drops at current densities above threshold (approximately equals 600 A/Cm2). The incorporation of asymmetric resonant tunneling structures is also proposed for lasers on InP substrates. It is a generic technique which can be used for realizing low resistance contacts in material systems where standard contact techniques produce poor results. This technique is applicable for both p- and n-type heterojunction interfaces.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Is Money Smart? A Study of Mutual Fund Investors' Fund Selection Ability

A previous study finds evidence to support selection ability among active fund investors for equity funds listed in 1982. Using a large sample of equity funds, I find evidence that funds that receive more money subsequently perform significantly better than those that lose money. This effect is short-lived and is largely but not completely explained by a strategy of betting on winners. In the aggregate, there is no significant evidence that funds that receive more money subsequently beat the market. However, it is possible to earn positive abnormal returns by using the cash flow information for small funds. HAVING EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC GROWTH in the past two decades, the mutual fund industry plays an important role in the U.S. economy. As a major investment vehicle, open-end mutual funds at the end of the first quarter of 1998 managed about $3.3 trillion in assets, a sum that exceeds all bank savings deposits. Due to the great number of funds in existence, evaluating managers' performance and selecting funds with relatively high riskadjusted returns can be an especially difficult and challenging task. The growth of data companies such as Lipper, Morningstar, and Micropal and the explosion in the publication of books and articles on mutual funds both reflect investors' tremendous demand for detailed mutual fund information and investment advice. This huge demand suggests that many investors are making mutual fund investment decisions themselves and many of them study current and historical information about funds carefully during the decision-making process. With all the effort spent in selecting and evaluat
Reduction in ventilatory response to CO2 with relaxation feedback during CO2 rebreathing for ventilator patients.

Background Previous studies have shown that relaxation biofeedback reduced the amount of time spent receiving ventilation for difficult-to-wean patients. Objective The present study was begun to test the hypothesis that the underlying mechanism of biofeedback ventilator weaning was the reduction of neural respiratory drive (NRD). Design Prospective. Setting Pulmonary Medicine division in a Veterans Affairs hospital and the St. Louis Regional Medical Center. Subjects Twenty-four patients who were receiving mechanical ventilation were randomly assigned to either the biofeedback group or the control group. Intervention Respiratory relaxation feedback (RFB) was administered while a single variable, Paco2, was inputted to the respiratory control system and the output was measured. While rebreathing 7% CO2/93% O2, the biofeedback group received a CO2 trial session and a CO2 RFB session, and the control group received a CO2 trial session and a CO2 no-feedback (NFB) session. Measurements and results There was a significant (p Conclusion We conclude that the decrease in respiratory parameters reflecting NRD induced by RFB represents a key mechanism for the previously demonstrated effectiveness of biofeedback in reducing weaning time from mechanical ventilation.
The Interleukin-2 Fusion Protein, DAB389IL-2, Inhibits the Development of Infectious Virus in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1- Infected Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

DAB389IL-2 is a genetically engineered fusion protein that reduces human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in activated, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (IL-2R) ‐ expressing human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The level of infectious virus released by cultured PBMC after treatment with DAB389IL-2 was measured by a quantitative microculture assay. The inhibition of p24 antigen production was also evaluated in cultures that differed in duration of infection and activation state. Although the activation state of the cell and the time of DAB389IL-2 addition to the cultures influenced its anti-HIV activity, DAB389IL-2 treatment decreased levels of infectious HIV-1 to 0.1% ‐ 6.5% of untreated cell levels. DAB389IL-2 also decreased p24 antigen expression to 10% ‐ 48% of controls, even when added as late as 8 days after acute infection. Mutational variants of DAB389IL-2 that lack catalytic activity or IL-2R binding are without anti-HIV activity.
Harmonic measure on DLA and extended self-similarity (M & Evertsz 1991)

DLA is nearly self-similar, but departures from simple self-similarity are unquestionable and quantifying their statistical nature has proven to be a daunting task. We show that DLA follows a surprising new scaling rule. It expresses that the screened region, in which the harmonic measure is tiny, increases more than proportionately as the cluster grows. This scaling rule also gives indirect evidence that the harmonic measure of lattice DLA follows a hyperbolic probability distribution of exponent equal to 1. This distribution predicts that sample moments behave erratically, hence explains why the common restricted multifractal formalism fails to apply to DLA.
Differential effects of unusual climatic stress on capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) populations on Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Though the harmful effects anthropogenic disturbances pose to wild primates are well appreciated, comparatively little is known about the effects of natural disturbances. From December 2010 to January 2011, different mortality patterns were observed for two primate species, capuchins and howler monkeys, on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. Unusually high rainfall in 2010 was associated with census and cadaver data indicating the rapid loss of >70% of the capuchin population in late 2010 to early 2011. In contrast, over this same period, no decline was documented for howler monkeys and cadaver data for howlers was unexceptional. The high mortality experienced by the capuchin population was unexpected and its extent was not fully appreciated until the event was largely over. Explanations proposed for it included effects of hypothermia, disease or a shortage of some essential nutrient(s). Of these, the dietary explanation seems most probable. BCI capuchins depend most heavily on arthropod foods in December, when few higher quality ripe fruits are available. The unprecedented high rainfall in December 2010 is hypothesized to have largely eliminated the arthropod peak expected on BCI each December. A lack of protein-rich arthropods, when coupled with the climatic and nutritional stress capuchins generally experience at this time of year, appears to have precipitated the rapid die-off of most of the island's capuchin population. As howler monkeys obtain dietary protein primarily from leaves, a shortage of edible arthropods would not affect howler numbers. Comparison of our 2010 data with similar data on earlier primate/mammalian mortality events reported for BCI and for Corcovado, Costa Rica indicates that our understanding of the effects of natural disturbances on wild primate populations is not profound. We suggest that more research be devoted to this increasingly timely topic, so important to conservation policy. Am. J. Primatol. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A metascheduler for the Grid

With the advent of Grid computing, scheduling strategies for distributed heterogeneous systems have either become irrelevant or have to be extended significantly to support Grid dynamics. In this paper, we describe a metascheduling architecture for a Grid system that takes into account both the application and system level considerations. Results are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the metascheduler.
MicroRNA as a Diagnostic Tool in Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid cancer accounts for 1.5% of all malignancies in the U.S., and it is the most common endocrine malignancy. Detection of thyroid cancer mostly relies on evaluation of thyroid nodules, which are very common but only 5%–7% harbor malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is currently the most important tool for the evaluation of thyroid nodules; however, it is limited in that it provides only a cytology assessment of the aspirated cells, and indeterminate diagnoses are present in up to 30% of FNAB results. This limitation can be overcome by the molecular analysis of FNAB, and more specifically with the use of microRNAs (miRs). miRs constitute a class of endogenous small noncoding RNA fragments that regulate gene expression, and in vitro studies have shown that miRs play a significant role in cancer and regulate major processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Several studies have investigated the miR expression signature in different thyroid cancers, and data support its use as a diagnostic tool that is highly accurate for thyroid nodules. The purpose of this study is to review the accumulated data on miR dysregulation in the different thyroid cancer types, critically assess its diagnostic utility, and conclude with future study strategies. The Oncologist 2012;17:000–000
Learning: Association or Computation? Introduction to a Special Section

The fundamental nature of learning is a central problem in psychology. Traditionally, psychologists have assumed that learning must involve the formation of associations. Early last century, the pioneering work of Pavlov on conditioned learning in animals seemed to put this assumption beyond doubt. More recently, many psychologists came to believe that a different kind of process must underlie complex learning, such as language learning in humans, and that this process must be described as computational rather than associative. Whether complex human learning is associative or computational continues to be a subject of intense research. The articles in this Special Section turn this debate on its head by asking whether simple animal learning is associative or computational. Surprisingly, the question is still very much open, and excitingly, it appears quite tractable.
Personality dimensions in pathological gambling disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder

This study was conducted to investigate the similarities and differences in the personality dimensions of patients with pathological gambling disorder (PGD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thirty-three subjects with PGD, 41 with OCD and 40 normal controls were assessed with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), which assesses three personality dimensions: novelty seeking, reward dependence, and harm avoidance. Compared with OCD subjects, PGD subjects expressed significantly greater novelty seeking, impulsiveness, and extravagance. The PGD subjects also reported significantly less anticipatory worry, fear of uncertainty, and harm avoidance than the OCD subjects. Compared with controls, the PGD subjects expressed significantly greater novelty seeking, impulsiveness, and extravagance. These results suggest that the personality dimensions of pathological gamblers may differ significantly from both those of OCD patients and normal controls.
Pre-laying Nutritional and Environmental Factors in the Performance of the Adult Fowl 2. Influence of Environment on the Calcium Requirement and Adaptation of Single Comb White Leghorn Females

Abstract FACTORS affecting the calcium and/or phosphorus requirements of the growing chicken female from 8–18 weeks for “normal” development and maximum productive performance and body maintenance during the first egg laying cycle have been given inadequate consideration. Of the numerous pre-laying factors, known or unknown, that may possibly contribute to the variation in response of production bred stock, differences in nutrient intake (“inadequate,” “adequate” or “excessive”) and environmental conditions (housing, temperature, lighting, etc.) are of universal importance. It has been demonstrated that restricting the level of total feed intake during the growing period resulted in delayed sexual maturity and increased egg production which persisted through the second egg laying cycle (Hollands and Gowe, 1961) or third cycle (Fuller and Dunahoo, 1962). That these effects may possibly result from more optimum development of the endocrine system of birds reared on restricted feed has been suggested by Hollands and Gowe (1961). The …
Requirements for Global Precipitation Measurement

The measurement of precipitation on a global basis has many scientific and societal benefits. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), developed in cooperation with the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, was launched in 1997, and is widely viewed as a highly successful mission. TRMM has successfully addressed many science issues, has identified areas relating to precipitation where additional research is required, and has also demonstrated the value of precipitation measurements to other disciplines, including hydrology and weather forecasting. In response to substantial interest in precipitation measurement, NASA has established a Project Office to begin planning for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM). This paper will provide a brief overview of the needs for precipitation measurement, identify the top-level requirements, and provide details concerning the spacecraft and instruments that comprise the space segment of the concept mission.
Sexuality and Teen Television: Emerging Adults Respond to Representations of Queer Identity on Glee

Academic scholarship on teen television programs indicates that images of queer sexualities can strongly impact the identities of emerging adults. Yet what is missing from this body of scholarship is an in-depth examination of how these representations are incorporated into the identity projects of the emerging adults who watch these shows. This study fills this gap by examining qualitative interviews with emerging adults who watch Glee. The participants consistently and overwhelmingly identified Glee as representing “progressive” emerging adult sexuality. Within that, three key themes emerged. First, identifying with Glee is a gendered practice. Second, Glee fandom aligns with an affinity for musical theater, which is traditionally considered a mirror for gay culture. Finally, while viewers recognized queer narrative content, it did not produce a broader acceptance of non-heterosexual identities. Viewers normalized their own (real, straight) identities in relation to the (fake, queer) identities shown in the narrative.
Adhesion of Actinomyces Isolates to Experimental Pellicles

The ability of oral bacteria to adhere to surfaces is associated with their pathogenicity. Actinomyces can adhere to pellicle and cells through extracellular fimbriae. Research on adhesion of actinomyces has been conducted with use of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated with mammalian-derived salivary constituents, whereas the bacterial-derived components of the acquired pellicle have been largely ignored. The influence of the cell-free bacterial enzyme, glucosyltransferase (GTF), on adhesion of human and rodent isolates of Actinomyces viscosus was examined. Cell-free GTF was adsorbed onto parotid saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA). Next, A. viscosus was exposed to the pellicle following the synthesis of glucan formed in situ by GTF. Glucans formed on the pellicle served as binding sites for adhesion of a rodent strain ofA. viscosus. Conversely, the presence of in situ glucans on sHA reduced the adhesion of human isolates of A. uiscosus compared with their adhesion to sHA. Adhesion of the rodent strains may be fac...
A taxonomy of geospatial services for global service discovery and interoperability

Geospatial service taxonomies represent the knowledge about the characteristics of geospatial services from the enterprise, computational, information, engineering, infrastructure, or technology viewpoints. This paper presents a lightweight taxonomy of geospatial services with the aim of promoting the global sharing of and interoperability among geospatial service instances. This taxonomy focuses on the knowledge connected with service interoperability. As a hierarchical taxonomy, it consists of six layers: service category, service type, version, profile, binding and uniform resource name (URN), from the root down to the leaves. Each layer is composed of classification nodes, with each node identifying one classification concept. Each concept, with a concrete semantic meaning, can be used to classify service instances. The application of this classification scheme to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Component and Service registry is also introduced. The results of this study may lead to the further development of service taxonomy to thoroughly capture the knowledge about geospatial services. The lessons learned may be useful to others representing and manipulating geoscientific knowledge.
Sentence effects and noun-pair learning: A developmental interaction during adolescence

Abstract Children learn noun pairs presented in sentences more readily than noun pairs presented alone; such a sentence effect is not found in college students. Two experiments were performed to evaluate the hypothesis that this discrepancy can be attributed to an interaction between experimental conditions and developmental level. In both experiments, subjects were drawn from five grade levels: first, third, sixth, eighth, and eleventh. The first experiment revealed a sentence effect at all grade levels, contrary to the hypothesis. The population sampled in the second experiment was chosen to represent that from which college-age subjects are usually drawn, and the expected developmental interaction clearly materialized. This outcome was regarded as implying that adolescence is a fruitful age range for investigating developmental changes in learning processes.
Enhancement of microgrid dynamic voltage stabilty using Microgrid Voltage Stabilizer

The microgrid concept has the potential to solve major problems arising from large penetration of distributed generation in distribution systems. A microgrid is not a robust system when compared to a power system. Therefore, proper control strategies should be implemented for a successful operation of a microgrid. This paper proposes the use of a coordinated control of reactive sources for the improvement of the dynamic voltage stability in a microgrid. The associated controller is termed as a Micro Grid Voltage Stabilizer (MGVS). The MGVS is a secondary level voltage controller which takes the weighted average of the voltage deficiencies at the load Buses and generates a control signal. This control signal is divided among the reactive power sources in the microgrid in proportion to their available capacities; thus each source will be required to generate certain amount of reactive power. The MGVS is implemented in a micro grid test system in MATLAB environment. A dynamic simulation of the test system is carried out for the cases of with and without the MGVS for various disturbances. Both grid-connected and islanded modes of operation are considered. Results show that, with the addition of MGVS, the dynamic voltage profile of the microgrid system, especially at the load Buses, improve drastically.