cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Broad T-Cell Receptor Repertoire in T-Lymphocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have enormous potential for the treatment of inherited and acquired disorders. Recently, antigen-specific T lymphocytes derived from hiPSCs have been reported. However, T lymphocyte populations with broad T cell receptor (TCR) diversity have not been generated. We report that hiPSCs derived from skin biopsy are capable of producing T lymphocyte populations with a broad TCR repertoire. In vitro T cell differentiation follows a similar developmental program as observed in vivo, indicated by sequential expression of CD7, intracellular CD3 and surface CD3. The γδ TCR locus is rearranged first and is followed by rearrangement of the αβ locus. Both γδ and αβ T cells display a diverse TCR repertoire. Upon activation, the cells express CD25, CD69, cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2) and cytolytic proteins (Perforin and Granzyme-B). These results suggest that most, if not all, mechanisms required to generate functional T cells with a broad TCR repertoire are intact in our in vitro differentiation protocol. These data provide a foundation for production of patient-specific T cells for the treatment of acquired or inherited immune disorders and for cancer immunotherapy.
State Income Tax Amnesties: Causes

The purpose of this paper is to analyze empirically for the years 1980-88 the factors which led states with state income taxes to run tax amnesty programs. We find a principal factor to be the level of IRS auditing; in particular, we find that states have tended to "free-ride" on the IRS-if the IRS is active in a state, then that state is less likely to run a tax amnesty program. Indeed, our estimates indicate that had the IRS audit rate remained constant during the 1980-88 period (instead of falling by almost one-half) , then the cumulative probability that an average state would have a tax amnesty by 1988 would have fallen by almost one-half compared to its actual level.
Applying bioethical principles to human biomonitoring.

Bioethical principles are widely used as a normative framework in areas of human research and medical care. In recent years there has been increasing formalization of their use in public health decisions. The "traditional bioethical principles" are applied in this discussion to the important issue human biomonitoring for environmental exposures. They are: (1) Autonomy – Also known as the "respect for humans" principle, people understand their own best interests; (2) Beneficence – "do good" for people; (3) Nonmaleficence – "do no harm"; (4) Justice – fair distribution of benefits and costs (including risks to health) across stakeholders.
Population and the socialization process part 1

The first part of this paper is concerned with the ways the socialization process (e.g., cultural transmission and acquisition) shapes, directs and sets a specific context for human population processes and dynamics. It begins with a brief review of anthropological approaches to population research. Then, the discussion turns to a summary of current understanding of socialization, in terms of the origin, development and present nature of that process. In the second part of the paper (in the next issue of the Journal) an account is presented describing the principal ways socialization affects human population processes and dynamics. The discussion concludes with a commentary regarding some of the ways individuals responsible for policy planning and administration of population problems might proceed through taking account of current knowledge of the socialization process.
The level of 40Ca at 6.75 MeV

Abstract The 6.75 MeV level of 40 Ca was populated by means of proton inelastic scattering and the properties accessible to study through its γ-ray decay were determined. This level is found to decay only to the second excited state at 3.74 MeV. The energy of the transition is found to be E = 3013.7±1.5 keV placing the level at an excitation energy of 6750.5±1.5 keV. The mean lifetime of the level as measured by the method of Doppler-shift attenuation is determined to be τ m = 185 ± 65 fs. On the basis of pγ double and pγγ triple angular correlation measurements, a spin J = 2 is assigned to the level and a value of δ = 0.84 ± 0.16 to the mixing ratio of the 3.01 MeV γ-ray. An M1-E2 multipolarity for this transition is inferred from the combined lifetime and correlation results and thus the parity of the level is determined to be odd. Electromagnetic transition strengths computed from these data are B ( M 1) = (0.66 ± 0.26) × 10 −2 μ 0 2 and B ( E 2) = 7.4 ± 3.0 e 2 · fm 4 .
Age-related changes in activities of daily living ability

The objective of this study was to examine the relation between activities of daily living (ADL) ability and age among well people between three and 93 years of age. The study is one of descriptive comparison in design. Existing data from the international Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) database were examined. The participants constituted a sample of 4398 persons who met the inclusionary criteria. All participants were evaluated using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). The results showed that ADL ability increased sharply from 3 to 6 years and continued to improve beyond six until 15 years. After age 15 years, ADL performance ability plateaued until age 50 where it began to gradually decline through to the end of the age range studied. This research has implications for the practice of occupational therapy in determining the need for service and establishing goals based on the identification of people whose ADL performances are below age expectations.
Ribosomal DNA sequences attached to the nuclear matrix

The organization of rat liver ribosomal DNA (rDNA) as matrix-attached DNA loops was examined using a protocol which fractionates chromatin from discrete regions of DNA loops. Southern blot analysis of matrixattached and solubilized chromatin DNA fragments demonstrated that rDNA is associated with the matrix via its 5′ and 3′ nontranscribed spacer sequences (NTS). Although the 45 S rRNA coding sequences were approximately threefold enriched in matrix preparations, the recovery of this DNA (unlike the NTS) was dependent on the extent of nuclease digest and proportional to the length of the matrix-attached DNA fragments. The data suggest that rDNA is organized as matrix-attached DNA loops and only the NTS are directly involved in matrix binding. Further, we demonstrated that while the kinetics and extent of nuclease digestion were similar in all regions of the DNA loops, the nuclease digestion pattern of bulk nuclear and matrix DNA showed a typical nucleosome organization, but the rDNA fragments retained with the nuclear matrix did not.
A theoretical analysis of the PAN ambiguous-cue problem.

Abstract The PAN ambiguous-cue problem consists of three stimuli: P, the positive (consistently rewarded) cue; N, the negative (consistently nonrewarded) cue; and A, the ambiguous cue which is negative (nonrewarded) when paired with P, but positive (rewarded) when paired with N. This paper demonstrates how the finding of superior performance on the NA trials as compared to the PA trials (with stereometric objects) can be rigorously derived from a recent extension of Hull-Spence discrimination learning theory, the Stimulus Interaction Hypothesis. It is also shown how this theory can account for the converse outcome of better performance on PA than on NA trials when planometric plaques are used as stimuli. Finally, alternative explanations of the findings are described and evaluated.
Model results of Er-Yb double clad fiber amplifier

We present model calculations of gain at 1550 nm for Er-Yb double clad amplifiers as a function of pump power, pump wavelength, signal input power, and fiber length. The absorption coefficient of Yb varies ( by a factor of ~ 5) with the pump wavelength in the range of 910 to 990 nm. However, semiconductor lasers may be available only at certain wavelengths. Thus it is important to calculate optical gain and amplified output power as a function of pump wavelength. The calculation shows that significant optical gain and amplified output power can be obtained even if the pump laser wavelength is not at the peak absorption wavelength. The gain decreases with increasing input signal. We show that a high power Er-Yb co-doped double-clad fiber amplifier also exhibits high gain for Yb transition near 1060 nm. This is not unexpected since the input pump causes population inversion in Yb. More than 100 W of amplified power can be obtained using 24m long fiber with 300 W of total pump power by using side-pumping method. Side pumping increases the efficiency over end pumping for high output power.
Assessing mental retardation in death penalty cases: Critical issues for psychology and psychological practice.

In 2002, the United States Supreme Court decided the Atkins case, which held that mentally retarded defendants could not be executed. The opinion gave no guidance on the definition of mental retardation, preferring to leave to individual states the task of determining not only the definition of mental retardation but also the assessment procedures to be used in making the diagnosis. This lack of guidance has resulted in many issues, including varying definitions of what constitutes mental retardation across states, use of different assessment procedures to make the determination that a person has mental retardation, and numerous psychometric concerns regarding the provision of psychological assessment services to the courts in capital cases that involve a defendant who may have mental retardation. This article examines these latter issues in detail from both psychological and legal perspectives and makes recommendations for practicing psychologists.
Britomart's Armor in Spenser's Faerie Queene: Reopening Cultural Matters of Gender and Figuration

In the early cantos of The Faerie Queene, Book III, Britomart is the figure of a young woman vested in armor that forms and masks, expresses and veils, protects and contains her, and she is further invested in finding Artegall, himself a figure vested in various armors. By the beginning of Book IV, Britomart, the armed but nubile virgin, not only Venus-Virgo but also Venus within Mars, has become a complex cultural signifier implicated in cultural conceptions of gender. Her figure indicates that a binaristic conception of gender is inadequate: there are four terms in play or at least two in each of the major amatory players of the books featuring Britomart. Venus-Virgo does not sufficiently represent this doubled perception. Unless seen as a cultural inflection of the composite Venus-Mars, Venus-Virgo conceals the truly Martian, martial, masculine nature of Britomart's figure and elides the hard questions that her armor presents, those involving combinations of nubility and firm resistance, incorporation and active agency, the kinds of questions involving what the early modern period typically perceived as masculinity. My essay explores how a doubled perception of Britomart's gender develops through a process of figuration in allegorical narrative: Britomart is an evolving figure, and her armor conspicuously participates in—figures—the development of her integrity and its loss.
Bone Remodeling Increases Substantially in the Years After Menopause and Remains Increased in Older Osteoporosis Patients

Bone remodeling rates (Ac.f) were measured in transilial biopsy specimens from 50 healthy premenopausal women before and 1 year after menopause, in 34 healthy women 13 years past menopause, and in 89 women with untreated osteoporosis. Ac.f nearly doubled 1 year after menopause, tripled 13 years after menopause, and remained elevated in women with osteoporosis. Introduction: Increased bone remodeling rates are associated with increased skeletal fragility independent of bone mass, partially accounting for the age-related increase in fracture risk in women that is independent of bone loss. We examined bone remodeling rates before and after menopause and in women with osteoporosis by measurements of activation frequency (Ac.f, #/year) in transilial bone biopsy specimens. Materials and Methods: We recruited 75 women, >46 years old, who had premenopausal estradiol and gonadotropin levels and regular menses. During 9.5 years of observation, 50 women experienced normal menopause and had 2 transilial bone biopsy specimens after tetracycline labeling, one at the beginning of observation and the second 12 months after the last menses, when serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was >75 mIU/ml and serum estradiol was <20 pg/ml. Ac.f was also computed for a group of older healthy postmenopausal women and a group of women with untreated osteoporosis studied earlier by the same biopsy (Bx) and labeling protocol. Results: Median Ac.f rose from 0.13/year to 0.24/year (p < 0.001) across menopause and was greater still in the older normals (p < 0.008) than in the second Bx. Ac.f was not significantly greater in the osteoporosis patients than in the older postmenopausal normals. Conclusion: Bone remodeling rates double at menopause, triple 13 years later, and remain elevated in osteoporosis. This change contributes to increases in age-related skeletal fragility in women.
Non-covalent delivery of proteins into mammalian cells.

Substances that mediate the import of proteins into cells, “carriers”, have many potential applications. The most potentially useful carriers do not have to be covalently linked to their protein cargoes. However, a common problem with all carrier molecules is that they tend to deposit the cargo proteins into endosomes; diffuse distribution in the cytosol is the desired outcome. This paper describes the import of four different labeled (Alexa Fluor® 488) proteins (avidin, recombinant streptavidin, bovine serum albumin, and β-galactosidase), with the well-known non-covalent carrier called pep-1 (also known as Chariot™), with R8 (a molecule that is not widely appreciated to import protein cargoes via a non-covalent mode of action), and with a new molecule called azo-R8. The data collected from fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry indicate that all three non-covalent carriers can facilitate transport. At 37 °C, import into endocytic compartments dominates, but at 4 °C weak, diffuse fluorescence is observed in the cytosol, indicative of a favorable mode of action.
Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements

With crucial insights and indispensable information concerning modern-day political upheavals, the sixth edition of Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements provides a representative cross-section of many of the most significant revolutions of the modern era. Students can trace the historical development of eleven revolutions using a five-factor analytical framework. Attention is devoted to clearly explaining all relevant concepts and events, the roles of key leaders, and the interrelation of each revolutionary movement with international economic and political developments and conflicts. New to this edition: Expanded coverage of women and revolution with profiles of individual women revolutionaries. Coverage of the recent student movement in Hong Kong as well as economic developments in China, Chinese international influence and international economic development projects, and trade relations with the US during the Trump administration. Changes in US policy toward Cuba during the Trump administration. Examination of the cancellation of the Iran nuclear agreement by the Trump administration, Trump administration policies towards Iran, the impacts on Iran and Iranian reactions, and Iranian and Saudi Arabian involvement in Yemen. Coverage of the near extinction of geographic ISIS caliphate, terrorist attacks, and the implications of US policy on Palestinians and Middle Eastern countries during the Trump administration. Examination of persisting economic inequality, corruption, and recent South African political developments and government actions. Analysis of revolutionary movements in Venezuela and Bolivia and coverage of major political developments and events in both countries. Trump administration policy toward authoritarian states in the Middle East and implications for the possibility of pro-democracy movements in Middle Eastern countries. Updated student resources include multiple orienting maps, summary and analysis sections, chronologies, and documentary resources.
Fluorescence lifetime-based sensing of pH, Ca2+, K+ and glucose

Abstract Optical sensing of analytes is often accomplished using fluorescence detection. Quantitation is usually performed by measuring the fluorescence of a probe whose intensity changes in response to the analyte of interest. In the present report we describe sensing based on changes in lifetime or decay time of the probe. Such a sensing scheme is advantageous because, in contrast to intensity measurements, the decay times are mostly independent of intensity changes due to light losses, photobleaching or probe washout. Present technology allows nanosecond (ns) decay times to be measured by the phase-modulation method with inexpensive and robust instrumentation. In particular, we describe lifetime-based pH sensing using a green 543 nm He-Ne laser, sensing of Ca2+ using 514 nm excitation and a Ca2+ competitive assay for glucose using an energy-transfer mechanism. We also discuss emerging applications of phase-modulation method sensing to cellular imaging and flow cytometry.
Pulmonary function and abdominal adiposity in the general population.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing, and there is evidence that obesity, in particular abdominal obesity as a marker of insulin resistance, is negatively associated with pulmonary function. The mechanism for this association and the best marker of abdominal adiposity in relation to pulmonary function is not known. Study objective: We assessed the association between pulmonary function and weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, and abdominal height as markers of adiposity and body fat distribution. We used multiple linear regression to analyze the association of pulmonary function (ie, FEV1 and FVC) [with maneuvers performed in the sitting position] with overall adiposity markers (ie, weight and BMI) and abdominal adiposity markers, stratified by gender, and adjusted for height, age, race, smoking, and other covariates. Setting and participants: A random sample of individuals (n 2,153) from the general population living in western New York state, 35 to 79 years of age. Results: In women, abdominal height and waist circumference were negatively associated with FEV1 percent predicted, while all five adiposity markers were negatively associated with FVC percent predicted. In men, all overall and abdominal adiposity markers were inversely associated with FEV1 percent predicted and FVC percent predicted. Conclusion: These results suggest that abdominal adiposity is a better predictor of pulmonary function than weight or BMI, and investigators should consider it when investigating the determinants of pulmonary function. (CHEST 2006; 129:853–862)
Text and context: Fabling in a relationship

The nature and meaning of a play relationship can best be understood within its dynamic, historical context.
Response of White Leghorn Chickens of Various B Haplotypes to Infection at Hatch with Subgroup J Avian Leukosis Virus

SUMMARY. White leghorn chickens from seven 15.B congenic lines (genetically similar except for genes linked to the major histocompatibility complex [MHC] B haplotype) and two Line 0.B semicongenic lines were infected at hatch with strain ADOL Hc-1 of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J). At 5, 8, 16, and 36 wk of age, chickens were tested for viremia, serum-neutralizing antibody, and cloacal shedding. Chickens were also monitored for development of neoplasia. In the 15.B congenic lines (B*2, B*5, B*12, B*13, B*15, B*19, and B*21) there were no significant differences in the incidence of viremia between B haplotypes. In fact, infection at hatch in all of the 15.B congenic lines induced tolerance to ALV-J because 100% of these chickens were viremic and transient circulating serum-neutralizing antibody was detected in only a few chickens throughout the 36 wk experiment. However, at 16 wk of age more B*15 chickens had antibody and fewer B*15 chickens shed virus than did the 16-wk-old B*2, B*5 ,o rB*13 chickens. Moreover, compared with B*15 chickens, a higher percentage of B*13 chickens consistently shed virus from 8 wk postinfection to termination at 36 wk postinfection. The B haplotype had a transient effect on viral clearance in Line 0.B semicongenics, as more B*13 than B*21 chickens remained viremic through 5 wk of age. Very few (0%‐18%) of the Line 0.B semicongenic chickens shed virus. By 36 wk of age, all Line 0 B*13 and B*21 chickens produced serum-neutralizing antibodies and cleared the virus. These results show that following ALV-J infection at hatch the immune response is influenced transiently by the B haplotype and strongly by the line of chicken. Although this study was not designed to study the effect of endogenous virus on ALV-J infection, the data suggest that endogenous virus expression reduced immunity to ALV-J in Line 15I5, compared with Line 0, a line known to lack endogenous virus genes.
Arsenic Requires Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Type 1 Receptors to Induce Angiogenic Genes and Endothelial Cell Remodeling

Arsenic in drinking water is a major public health concern as it increases risk and incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Arsenic exposure affects multiple vascular beds, promoting liver sinusoidal capillarization and portal hypertension, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and tumor angiogenesis. While Rac1-GTPase and NADPH oxidase activities are essential for arsenic-stimulated endothelial cell signaling for angiogenesis or liver sinusoid capillarization, the mechanism for initiating these effects is unknown. We found that arsenic-stimulated cell signaling and angiogenic gene expression in human microvascular endothelial cells were Pertussis toxin sensitive, indicating a G-protein coupled signaling pathway. Incubating human microvascular endothelial cells with the sphingosine-1-phosphate type 1 receptor (S1P1) inhibitor VPC23019 or performing small interfering RNA knockdown of S1P1 blocked arsenic-stimulated HMVEC angiogenic gene expression and tube formation, but did not affect induction of either HMOX1 or IL8. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) defenestrate and capillarize in response to aging and environmental oxidant stresses. We found that S1P1 was enriched on LSECs in vivo and in primary cell culture and that VPC23019 inhibited both sphingosine-1-phosphate-stimulated and arsenic-stimulated LSEC oxidant generation and defenestration. These studies identified novel roles for S1P1 in mediating arsenic stimulation of both angiogenesis and pathogenic LSEC capillarization, as well as demonstrating a role for S1P1 in mediating environmental responses in the liver vasculature, providing possible mechanistic insight into arsenic-induced vascular pathogenesis and disease.
Recent Insights into the Metallurgical Technologies of Ancient Mesoamerica

Data gained from the analyses reported here make it possible to distinguish West Mexican artifacts from artifacts that may represent indigenous local Mesoamerican metalworking industries. Further lead-isotope studies of Mesoamerican ores and artifacts, archaeological surveys in key areas to locate metal processing and production sites, and excavations of those processing and production sites to establish chronologies and to investigate the specifics of the processing technologies are now required.
Adding Badging to a Marketing Simulation to Increase Motivation to Learn

Badging has become a popular tool for obtaining social recognition for personal accomplishments. This innovation describes a way to add badging to a marketing simulation to increase student motivation to achieve the simulation’s goals. Assessments indicate that badging both motivates students to perform better and helps explain students’ perceived learning in a marketing course that uses a simulation.
Vegetation mediated the impacts of postglacial climate change on fire regimes in the south-central Brooks Range, Alaska

We examined direct and indirect impacts of millennial-scale climate change on fire regimes in the south-central Brooks Range, Alaska, USA, using four lake sediment records and existing paleoclimate interpretations. New techniques were introduced to identify charcoal peaks semi-objectively and to detect statistical differences between fire regimes. Peaks in charcoal accumulation rates provided estimates of fire return intervals (FRIs), which were compared among vegetation zones identified by fossil pollen and stomata. Climatic warming between ca. 15 000-9000 yr BP (calendar years before Common Era (CE) 1950) coincided with shifts in vegetation from herb tundra to shrub tundra to deciduous woodlands, all novel species assemblages relative to modern vegetation. Two sites cover this period and show decreased FRIs with the transition from herb to Betula-dominated shrub tundra ca. 13 300- 14 300 yr BP (FRImean ¼ 144 yr; 95% CI ¼ 120-169 yr), when climate warmed but remained cooler than present. Although warming would have favored shorter FRIs in the shrub tundra, the shift to more continuous, flammable fuels relative to herb tundra was probably a more important cause of increased burning. Similarly, a vegetation shift to Populus-dominated deciduous woodlands overrode the influence of warmer- and drier-than-present summers, resulting in lower fire activity from ca. 10 300-8250 yr BP (FRImean ¼ 251 yr; 95% CI ¼ 156- 347 yr). Three sites record the mid-to-late Holocene, when climatic cooling and moistening allowed Picea glauca forest-tundra and P. mariana boreal forests to establish ca. 8000 and 5500 yr BP, respectively. FRIs in forest-tundra were either similar to or shorter than those in the deciduous woodlands (FRImean range ¼ 131-238 yr). The addition of P. mariana ca. 5500 yr BP increased landscape flammability, overrode the effects of climatic cooling and moistening and resulted in lower FRIs (FRImean ¼ 145 yr; 95% CI ¼ 130-163). Overall, shifts in fire regimes were strongly linked to changes in vegetation, which were responding to millennial-scale climate change. We conclude that shifts in vegetation can amplify or override the direct influence of climate change on fire regimes, when vegetation shifts significantly modify landscape flammability. Our findings emphasize the importance of biophysical feedbacks between climate, fire, and vegetation in determining the response of ecosystems to past, and by inference, future climate change.
On the extent and connectivity of conical intersection seams and the effects of three-state intersections.

We discuss the connectivity of intersection spaces and the role of minimal energy points within these intersection spaces (minimal energy conical intersections or MECIs) in promoting nonadiabatic transitions. We focus on malonaldeyde as a specific example, where there is a low-lying three-state conical intersection. This three-state intersection is the global minimum on the bright excited electronic state, but it plays a limited role in population transfer in our ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) simulations because the molecule must traverse a series of two-state conical intersections to reach the three-state intersection. Due to the differences in seam space dimensionality separating conventional (two-state) and three-state intersections, we suggest that dynamical effects arising directly from a three-state intersection may prove difficult to observe in general. We also use a newly developed method for intersection optimization with geometric constraints to demonstrate the connectivity of all the stati...
Growth of Usnea longissima Across a Variety of Habitats in the Oregon Coast Range

The sensitive lichen Usnea longissima Ach. has a limited, patchy distribution across forested landscapes in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. To gain insight into whether the current distribution within the Oregon Coast Range has resulted from a lack of suitable habitat or from dispersal limitations, we measured growth of U. longissima transplants placed in four habitats. Transplant study site locations and habitats were determined through an accompanying study that identified significant U. longissima habitat characteristics, based on the present distribution of the species, and used predictive modeling to identify areas of apparently suitable habitat within the study area. Transplants were placed in 12 sites, comprised of three replicates of the four habitats. Ninety transplants were placed in each habitat (n = 360). Growth was measured as changes in biomass and length after one year. Transplants grew in all habitats, particularly in sites where habitat was predicted to be least suitable for U. longissima. Although transplants in those sites had mean biomass increases that were 2.7 to 4.6 times greater than those of transplants placed in the other three habitats, their overall rate of attrition was 1.5 to 1.8 times higher than transplants in the other three habitats. Increases in length were also greatest in sites where habitat was predicted to be least suitable. The fact that the transplants grew well in all habitats and actually thrived in sites where habitat was predicted to be least suitable indicates that dispersal limitations may play a more significant role than the availability of suitable habitat in determining the distribution of U. longissima in the Oregon Coast Range. These findings underscore the importance of green tree retention during timber harvests. Trees containing U. longissima should be retained so that they may inoculate the regenerating stand with U. longissima fragments. It is also recommended that stands harboring significant populations of U. longissima (typically old stands) be preserved as source locations of this dispersal-limited species.
ANTIBODY DIVERSITY, HISTOCOMPATIBILITY SYSTEMS, DISEASE STATES, AND AGEING

Abstract An extension of the immunological theory of ageing is proposed according to which mutator genes specifically controlling histocompatibility genes become derepressed at the end of the reproductive period. A progressive, exponential loss in self-recognition homœostatic mechanisms and in immunological competence follows this derepression. The senile phase of ageing and the " diseases of ageing" ensue. Such a mechanism for ageing is consistent with ideas about the developmental biology of the immune system, with the increasing knowledge about the complexities of the HL-A and H-2 histocompatibility systems, and with numerous other experimental and observational data.
Scalable and concise synthesis of dichlorofluorescein derivatives displaying tissue permeation in live zebrafish embryos

Fluorescent imaging is becoming an increasingly important technology for examining the real-time localizations of biologically relevant molecules within model organisms such as the zebrafish. Such imaging often requires the use of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF, Scheme 1), 2′,7′-difluorofluorescein (Oregon Green), or one of their derivatives, since each offers pH insensitivity, compact size, and high quantum yield.[1,2] However, the negatively charged carboxyl groups in these compounds can nonspecifically interact with positively charged biomolecules. Furthermore, the carboxyl group might be responsible when inherently cell-permeable molecules become impermeable following conjugation to fluorescein.
EAS-E: an integrated approach to application development

EAS-E (pronounced EASY) is an experimental programming language integrated with a database management system now running on VM/370 at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. The EAS-E programming language is built around the entity, attribute, and set (EAS) view of application development. It provides a means for translating operations on EAS structures directly into executable code. EAS-E commands have an English-like syntax, and thus EAS-E programs are easy to read and understand. EAS-E programs are also more compact than equivalent programs in other database languages.The EAS-E database management system allows many users simultaneous access to the database. It supports locking and deadlock detection and is capable of efficiently supporting network databases of various sizes including very large databases, consisting of several millions of entities stored on multiple DASD extends. Also available is a nonprocedural facility that allows a user to browse and update the database without writing programs.
(6Li,d) spectroscopy in the f-p shell

Abstract It is seen that in the f-p shell the ( 6 Li,d) reaction is predominantly direct and that angular distributions can be fitted reliably with simple zero-range DWBA calculations for α -cluster transfer. Thus the reaction is established as a valuable spectroscopic tool.
Two-stage model for lifetime prediction of highly stable amorphous-silicon thin-film transistors under low-gate field

Highly stable a-Si TFTs reported recently with extremely long operating lifetimes under DC gate bias are attractive for analog drivers of the OLEDs in AMOLED displays [1]. At room temperature, the time for the DC saturation current to drop to 50% is predicted to be 100 to 1,000 years. However, the lifetimes were extrapolated with a stretched-exponential model for defect creation in a-Si, based on only month-long room temperature tests. In this study, we present a two-stage threshold voltage shift model for lifetime prediction from temperature dependent measurements. We find that (i) a “unified stretched exponential fit” models the drain current degradation from 60°C to 140°; and (ii) there is a second instability mechanism that initially dominates up to hours or days at low temperatures, so that tests conducted only at room temperature may not predict lifetime accurately.
The Virtual Haptic Human Upper Body

The objective of this research is to create a movable, palpable virtual model of the dynamic human upper body, including the spine, shoulders, and arms skeletal structure, with dynamic pivot point and deformable skin. This Virtual Haptic Human Upper Body (VHHUB) model has realistic human motion with anatomically-accurate joint motion limits and a 71 degrees-of-freedom branching serial chain model. The aim is to provide realistic motions when an osteopathic medical student moves the virtual patient for palpatory diagnosis training. Medical trainees can thus practice feeling changes in human tissue due to motions, a common diagnostic technique.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Numerical simulation of geophysical turbulence

The differences between simulations of geophysical flows and flows of direct interest to engineers are discussed in some detail. A large number of direct numerical and large eddy simulations of turbulent stratified flows that are mainly of interest in environmental fluid mechanics and geophysics that have been made over that last ten years are described. These include homogeneous stratified shear flow, oscillating grid flow (with and without a thermocline or inversion), stratified channel flow and Langmuir circulations. The ability of simulations to provide physical insights and information that are useful in constructing parameterizations for these flows is demonstrated.
Isochromosome 7q in adult Wilms' tumors: Diagnostic and pathogenetic implications

Wilms' tumors affecting adults are rare and are thought to have a worse prognosis than similar stage tumors in the pediatric population. To understand these tumors better, the authors reviewed their multi-institutional experience in a series of nine lesions diagnosed as Wilms' tumors in adults. In addition to histologic and immunohistochemical examination, they performed cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. On review, four cases were reclassified: two "blastema only" as Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor and the other two as clear cell sarcoma of soft parts and sarcoma not otherwise specified (NOS). Of the remaining five cases, three exhibited biphasic histology and two were triphasic. In this group, there were three women and two men, and patient age ranged from 17 to 37 years (median age, 26 years). Tumor size was large and ranged from 10 to 31 cm (median tumor size, 12.5 cm). Histologically, the tumors showed the typical features of Wilms' tumors with varying amounts of blastema (n = 5), epithelium (n = 5), and stroma (n = 2). No tumors contained anaplasia, and persistent renal blastema was not identified in the non-neoplastic kidney in any specimen. All tumors were positive for cytokeratins (CK7, n = 3; pankeratin, n = 5), and one tumor was weakly positive for CD99 (0-13). Molecular analysis including dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (all tumors), and cytogenetic analysis (n = 2) disclosed the presence of isochromosome 7q in three of five tumors whereas all tumors were diploid with respect to chromosome 12. Follow-up data ranged from 6 to 133 months (median follow-up, 82 months) with progression in only one patient who had stage IV disease with lymph node and lung metastases at presentation. The authors conclude that adult Wilms' tumor has been overdiagnosed. Most "blastema-only" tumors in adults are not Wilms' tumors, and in an adult, biphasic morphology should be the minimum criteria for their diagnosis. Using strict diagnostic criteria, adult Wilms' tumors have a relatively favorable prognosis. The characteristic findings of isochromosome 7q, lack of trisomy or tetrasomy for chromosome 12, and absence of persistent renal blastema suggest that the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumors in adults may be different than in the pediatric population. These genetic features may be helpful in distinguishing adult Wilms' tumors from other primary renal tumors.
Cluster analysis in predicting the carcinogenicity of chemicals using short-term assays.

Abstract Cluster analysis can be a useful tool for exploratory data analysis to uncover natural groupings in data, and initiate new ideas and hypotheses about such groupings. When applied to short-term assay results, it (1) provides and improves estimates for the sensitivity and specificity of assays, (2) provides indications of association between assays and, in turn, which assays can be substituted for one another in a battery, and (3) allows a data base containing test results on chemicals of unknown carcinogenicity to be linked to a data base for which animal carcinogenicity data are available. Cluster analysis was applied to the Gene-Tox data base (which contains short-term test results on chemicals of both known and unknown carcinogenicity). The results on chemicals of known carcinogenicity were different from those obtained when the entire data base was analyzed. This suggests that the associations (and possibly the sensitivities and specificities) which are based on chemicals of known carcinogenicity may not be representative of the true measures. Cluster analysis applied to the total data base should be useful in improving these estimates. Many of the associations between the assays which were found through the use of cluster analysis could be ‘validated’ based on previous knowledge of the mechanistic basis of the various tests, but some of the associations were unsuspected. These associations may be a reflection of a non-ideal data base. As additional data becomes available and new clustering techniques for handling non-ideal data bases are developed, results from such analyses could play an increasing role in strengthening prediction schemes which utilize short-term test results to screen chemicals for carcinogenicity, such as the carcinogenicity and battery selection (CPBS) method (Chankong et al., 1985).
Characterization of electrostatically chucked EUVL mask blanks

The flatness of electrostatically chucked EUVL reticles was evaluated on two Zerodur bipolar coulombic electrostatic chucks (from Invax Technologies) of different thicknesses, which represent different chuck stiffness, different hardness of the dielectric material used for chuck surface, and different surface flatness finishing. A Zygo GPI interferometer was used to measure the flatness of the chucked reticles, freestanding reticles, and chuck surfaces. The chucked reticle flatness was impacted by the flatness and shape of the front and back sides of the reticle and that of the chuck. Chucked reticle dynamics during chucking and reticle hysterisis were observed. A stable operation range for the e-chucks was found. We also observed backside-particle-induced-out of plane distortion (OPD) on the chucked reticle in the experiments when Cu particles of height 1 to 3μm were placed between the chuck and the reticle backside.
Non-resonant zeros of the real part of the denominator function of three-particle amplitudes

Abstract We point out that the definition of a three-particle resonance used by some authors is inadequate, since it will not lead to an observable bump in the cross-section. This is so in some of the models which predict a T = 5 2 nucleon isobar.
Plasticity of Mesangial Cells: A Basis for Understanding Pathological Alterations

In the last two decades, the ability of mesangial cells to respond to various stimuli or injurious agents by altering their phenotype and function has become recognized. The plasticity of these mesangial cells has been linked to the morphological and functional alterations responsible for the pathologic findings. Many of the glomerular disorders target the mesangium as the primary and/or initial site of injury. Understanding how mesangial cells are altered in the various conditions provides a platform for conceptualizing pathologic mechanisms and defining key steps amenable to therapeutic intervention. The present paper reviews the normal and altered mesangium with an emphasis on mechanisms involved in alterations of mesangial homeostasis. Mesangial cells and matrix are very important in maintaining normal glomerular structure, and function and the plasticity of these cells is responsible for pathological manifestations, repair, and scarring. Our more sophisticated understanding of mesangial cell behavior and matrix biology provides very useful information to help design new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of renal diseases. The potential for bone marrow-derived cells to differentiate into mesangial cells and repopulate damaged mesangium, thus "healing" what is today considered to be irreversible damage represents an exciting new area of research.
Employment protection: Do firms' perceptions match with legislation?

Abstract Drawing from harmonized surveys of firms around the world, we compare employers' responses with actual labor legislation. Employers' concerns about labor regulations are closely related to the relative stringency of labor laws. Medium and large firms, as well as innovating firms, are those most negatively affected by onerous labor regulations.
Global planning on the Mars Exploration Rovers: Software integration and surface testing

In January 2004, NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), Spirit and Opportunity, began searching the surface of Mars for evidence of past water activity. To localize and approach scientifically interesting targets, the rovers employ an onboard navigation system. Given the latency in sending commands from Earth to the Martian rovers (and in receiving return data), a high level of navigational autonomy is desirable. Autonomous navigation with hazard avoidance (AutoNav) is currently performed using a local path planner called GESTALT (grid-based estimation of surface traversability applied to local terrain) that incorporates terrain and obstacle information generated from stereo cameras. GESTALT works well at guiding the rovers around narrow and isolated hazards; however, it is susceptible to failure when clusters of closely spaced, nontraversable rocks form extended obstacles. In May 2005, a new technology task was initiated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to address this limitation. Specifically, a version of the Field D* global path planner was integrated into MER flight software, enabling simultaneous local and global planning during AutoNav. A revised version of AutoNav was then uploaded to the rovers during the summer of 2006. In this paper we describe how this integration of global planning into the MER flight software was performed and provide results from both the MER surface system test bed rover and five fully autonomous runs by Opportunity on Mars. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The information in the term structure

Abstract This paper presents a regression approach to measuring the information in forward interest rates about time varying premiums and future spot interest rates. Like earlier work, the regressions identify variation in the expected premiums on longer-maturity Treasury bills. The more novel evidence concerns the forecasts of future spot rates in forward rates. The regressions provide evidence that the one-month forward rate has power to predict the spot rate one month ahead. During periods preceding 1974, forward rates have reliable forecast power for one-month spot rates up to five months in the future.
Effects of varying sex pheromone component ratios on the zigzagging flight movements of the oriental fruit moth,Grapholita molesta

As the ratio of (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate (E8–12∶Ac) to (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12∶Ac) increased past optimal low levels in the pheromone blend, fewer males were able to fly 2.5 m upwind to the source. The tracks of males that flew in plumes of such high-(E)off-blends were slower and narrower than those of males flying to lower-(E)blends. The tracks were narrower, first of all, because as the proportion of E8–12∶Ac increased, the males steered more into the wind. More of their thrust was directed upwind and therefore their groundspeed to either side of the windline was reduced. In addition, males also reduced their airspeeds to high-(E)blends, which contributed to the decreased groundspeeds and narrower tracks. No significant changes in the frequency of counterturning were found in response to increasing proportions of E8–12∶Ac. The inability to continue upwind flight in a plume of an off ratio was indicated by in-flight arrestment in the plume. Arrestment resulted from changes in the course angles steered by the males and the airspeeds flown.
The body habitus and the body politic

Shephard, Roy J. Body Composition in Biological Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. x + 345 pp. including references and index. $79.95 cloth. Himes, John H., ed. Anthropometric Assessment of Nutritional Status. New York: Wiley‐Liss, 1991. xi + 431 pp. including index. $115.00 cloth.
High‐resolution Studies of Lung Surfactant Collapse¶

Abstract Survanta is a replacement lung surfactant (LS) used in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), the fourth leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. It consists of purified LS from bovine sources and retains the surfactant proteins (SP) SP-B and SP-C, both thought to be important in proper respiratory function. As such, it provides a useful and biologically relevant model system to probe the structure and function of natural LS. Here, we report results from high-resolution studies on model monolayers formed from Survanta to probe the mechanism of collapse at high surface pressure. Our results show the formation of two different collapse structures. At 62 mN/m, slightly below the collapse pressure, monolayer collapse occurs through buckling. Confocal fluorescence measurements on supported films reveal regions of overlapping phase structure in the films that mark the transition from monolayer to multilayer. Simultaneous near-field scanning optical microscopy fluorescence ...
An arrayable flow-through microcentrifuge for high-throughput instrumentation–a matter of scale

Often, technical advances are necessary for scientific progress. The recent paper by Marziali et al. (1) describes significant technical advances to one of the oldest biochemical methods, preparative ultracentrifugation. These advances are achieved by scaling the equipment and its operation to take advantage of the rigorous theory that underlies centrifugation.