cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pulse-burst laser system for Thomson scattering on NSTX-U

A pulse-burst laser system has been built for Thomson scattering on NSTX-U, and is currently being integrated into the NSTX-U Thomson scattering diagnostic system. The laser will be operated in three distinct modes. The base mode is continuous 30 Hz rep rate, and is the standard operating mode of the laser. The base mode will be interrupted to produce a "slow burst" (specified 1 kHz rep rate for 50 ms) or a "fast burst" (specified 10 kHz rep rate for 5 ms). The combination of base mode→ interruption→ burst mode is new and has not been implemented on any previous pulse-burst laser system. Laser pulsing is halted for a set period (~ 1 minute) following a burst to allow the YAG rods to cool; this type of operation is called a heat-capacity laser. The laser is Nd:YAG operated at 1064 nm, q-switched to produce ≥ 1.5 J pulses with ~ 20 ns FWHM. It is flashlamp pumped, with dual-rod oscillator (9 mm) and dual-rod amplifier (12 mm). Variable pulsewidth drive of the flashlamps is accomplished by IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) switching of electrolytic capacitor banks. Direct control of the laser Pockels cell drive enables optimal pulse energy extraction. The laser system has demonstrated compliance with all specifications, and is capable of exceeding design specifications by significant margins, e.g., higher rep rates for longer burst periods. Burst operation of this laser system will be used to capture fast time evolution of the electron temperature and density profiles during events such as ELMs, the L-H transition, and various MHD modes.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction: does tetrahydrobiopterin play a role?

Tetrahydrobiopterin is one of the most potent naturally occurring reducing agents and an essential cofactor required for enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The exact role of tetrahy...
Effect of race on completion of chemotherapy in early stage breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

e18749Background: Black women have a higher risk of death from breast cancer (BC) compared to whites. Survival in early stage BC is influenced by the relative dose intensity (RDI) of adjuvant chemo...
CT-measurement predicts shortening of stable intertrochanteric hip fractures.

Abstract Purpose Intertrochanteric (IT) hip fractures can be treated with sliding hip screws (SHS) or cephalomedullary nails (CMN) based on the stability of the fracture. This stability is affected by the initial impaction of the fracture which can be difficult to assess. The aim of this paper is to develop specific pre-operative computed tomography (CT) measurements of IT fractures which are predictive of post-operative shortening. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 141 patients with AO/OTA 31A1 or 31A2 fracture patterns, who had pre-operative radiographs and CT scans, and who were treated with a SHS or a CMN. Pre-operative and post-operative imaging of IT fractures were analyzed for those fractures that shortened ≥15 mm post-fixation. Results 11 fractures shortened ≥15 mm with CMN being protective of shortening (6/36 SHS versus 5/105 CMN, p = 0.0268). A novel measurement made on the pre-operative CT scan called the cortical thin point (CTP) detected differences between patients with Conclusions Measuring the CTP is predictive of post-operative shortening after fixation of an IT fracture with a SHS. CMN fixation may be protective of shortening. Patients with a CTP of ≤9 mm are at risk for fracture site shortening of more than 15 mm when treated with a SHS.
An Automatic Meter Reading Method Based on One-dimensional Measuring Curve Mapping

Take advantage of the good matching performance of scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) features between multiple images about a textured object, our automatic meter reading method calculates a homography matrix H between the template image and the test image, uses random sample consensus (RANSAC) to filter out false matches, ensuring an accurate H, and finally maps the measuring curve from the template image to the test image. On the path of this measuring curve, the relationship between the pointer and the scale is calculated based on the gray scale change in the image. The pointer is detected and the reading can then be obtained using a particular formula. Our method provides rotation invariance, scale invariance and higher reading accuracy. Experimental results show the effectiveness of our method in the substation environment.
Can You Hear Me Now? Demographic and Structural Status Signals in Voice Reception

In this study, we investigate voice reception – the extent to which supervisors recognize employee voice. Drawing primarily from status characteristics and network theories, we propose that three c...
Every university should have a computer-based testing facility

For the past five years we have been operating a Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) as the primary means of summative assessment in large-enrollment STEM-oriented classes. In each of the last three semesters, it has proctored over 50,000 exams for over 6,000 unique students in 25–30 classes. Our CBTF has simultaneously improved the quality of assessment, allowed the testing of computational skills, and reduced the recurring burden of performing assessment in a broad collection of STEM-oriented classes, but it does require an up-front investment to develop the digital exam content. We have found our CBTF to be secure, cost-effective, and well liked by our faculty, who choose to use it semester after semester. We believe that there are many institutions that would similarly benefit from having a Computer-Based Testing Facility.
Increasing Attendance at Scheduled Appointments for Group Classes at a Diabetes Education Center.

IN BRIEF “Quality Improvement Success Stories” are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc., and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes an effort to improve attendance at scheduled appointments for group classes at a Pennsylvania diabetes education center.
ADAR1 Facilitates KSHV Lytic Reactivation by Modulating the RLR-Dependent Signaling Pathway

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that exhibits two alternative life cycles: latency and lytic reactivation. During lytic reactivation, host innate immune responses are activated to restrict viral replication. Here, we report that adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is required for optimal KSHV lytic reactivation from latency. Knockdown of ADAR1 in KSHV latently infected cells inhibits viral gene transcription and viral replication during KSHV lytic reactivation. ADAR1 deficiency also significantly increases type I interferon production during KSHV reactivation. This increased interferon response is dependent on activation of the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) pathway. Depletion of ADAR1 together with either RIG-I, MDA5, or MAVS reverses the increased IFNβ production and rescues KSHV lytic replication. These data suggest that ADAR1 serves as a proviral factor for KSHV lytic reactivation and facilitates DNA virus reactivation by dampening the RLR pathway-mediated innate immune response.
An extended moments model of quantum efficiency for metals and semiconductors

The complexity of photocathode designs and detector materials, and the need to model their performance for short pulse durations, the response to high-frequency photons, the presence of coatings and/or thinness of the absorptive layer, necessitates modifications to three-step and moments models of photoemission that are used in simulation codes. In this study, methods to include input from computationally intensive approaches, such as density functional theory to model optical properties and transfer matrix approaches to treat emission from the surface or transport past coatings, by means of parametric models are demonstrated. First, a technique to accurately represent optical behavior so as to model reflectivity and penetration depth is given. Second, modifications to bulk models arising from the usage of thin film architectures, and a means to rapidly calculate them, are provided. Third, a parameterization to model the impact of wells associated with coatings and surface layers on the transmission probably is given. In all cases, the methods are computationally efficient and designed to allow for including input from numerically intensive approaches that would otherwise be unavailable for simulations.
Preparation and Potential for Application of Cationic Polysaccharides in Cosmetic Formulations

Polymeric quaternary ammonium salts (polyquats) have a variety of uses in cosmetic formulations due to their solubility in both aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic media. Polyquats have been used as thickeners, emulsifiers, fixatives or film formers, and as additives in formulations to improve combing of hair, manageability, body, curl retention and substantivity of ingredients to keratin.1,2 The particular application of a polymer depends on the polymer’s ability to absorb at an interface, stabilize dispersions, emulsify, and confer the preferred rheology by means of a three dimensional network.2 Cationic ingredients are substantive to hair keratin due to the low isoelectric point of hair (pH = 3.67).3 However, the high affinity of some cationic polymers has limited their use due to soiling (build up) and resistance to removal by anionic surfactants.1
Side Effects of Nudging: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in the Credit Card Market

This paper studies the direct and indirect effects of nudging, by means of a field experiment with a financial management platform in Brazil. Reminders for upcoming credit card payments reduced credit card late-payment fees by 14%, but increased overdraft fees in checking accounts by 9%. The unintended effect is concentrated in users with a history of overdraft use. These users experienced a net increase of 5% in total fees, while the rest experienced savings of 15%. The results provide clear insights for nudge design: like any policy action, nudges can have side effects, and one size may not fit all.
Stacking, strain, and twist in 2D materials quantified by 3D electron diffraction

The field of two-dimensional (2D) materials has expanded to multilayered systems in which electronic, optical, and mechanical properties change---often dramatically---with stacking order, thickness, twist, and interlayer spacing. For transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), bond coordination within a single van der Waals layer changes the out-of-plane symmetry that can cause metal-insulator transitions or emergent quantum behavior. Discerning these structural order parameters is often difficult using real-space measurements; however, we show that 2D materials have distinct, conspicuous three-dimensional (3D) structure in reciprocal space described by nearly infinite oscillating Bragg rods. Combining electron diffraction and specimen tilt we probe Bragg rods in all three dimensions to identify multilayer structure with subangstrom precision across several 2D materials---including TMDs (${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{TaSe}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{TaS}}_{2}$) and multilayer graphene. We demonstrate quantitative determination of key structural parameters such as surface roughness, inter- and intralayer spacings, stacking order, and interlayer twist using a rudimentary transmission electron microscope. We accurately characterize the full interlayer stacking order of multilayer graphene (1, 2, 6, 12 layers) as well the intralayer structure of ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ and extract a chalcogen-chalcogen layer spacing of $3.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11$ \AA{}. Furthermore, we demonstrate quick identification of multilayer rhombohedral graphene.
90 years of Arctic Ocean Exploration at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

In 2020, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) celebrates 90 years of research, education, and exploration of the World Ocean. Since inception this has included Arctic studies. In fact, WHOI’s first technical report is on the oceanographic data obtained during the submarine “Nautilus” polar expedition in 1931. In 1951 and 1952, WHOI scientists supervised the collection of hydrographic data during the U.S. Navy SkiJump I & II expeditions utilizing ski-equipped aircraft landings in the Beaufort Sea, and inferred the Beaufort Gyre circulation cell and existence of a mid-Arctic ridge. Later classified studies, particularly concerning under-ice acoustics, were conducted by WHOI personnel from Navy and Air Force ice camps. With the advent of simple satellite communications and positioning, WHOI oceanographers began to deploy buoys on sea ice to obtain surface atmosphere, ice, and upper ocean time series data in the central Arctic beginning in 1987. Observations from these first systems were limited technologically to discrete depths and constrained by power considerations, satellite throughput, as well as high costs. As technologies improved, WHOI developed the drifting Ice-Tethered Profiler (ITP) to obtain vertically continuous upper ocean data several times per day in the ice-covered basins and telemeter the data back in near real time to the lab. Since the 1980s, WHOI scientists have also been involved in geological, biological, ecological and geochemical studies of Arctic waters, typically from expeditions utilizing icebreaking vessels, or air supported drifting platforms. Since the 2000s, WHOI has maintained oceanographic moorings on the Beaufort Shelf and in the deep Canada Basin, the latter an element of the Beaufort Gyre Observing System (BGOS). BGOS maintains oceanographic moorings via icebreaker, and conducts annual hydrographic and geochemical surveys each summer to document the Beaufort Gyre freshwater reservoir that has changed significantly since earlier investigations from the 1950s-1980s. With the experience and results demonstrated over the past decades for furthering Arctic research, WHOI scientists are well positioned to continue to explore and study the polar oceans in the decades ahead.
The development of climate institutions in the United States

Climate change poses an existential threat to our planet – but does it require wholesale reorganization of our political institutions? As diverse contributions to this special issue describe, count...
Detection of early phenotype cardiac sarcoidosis by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Purpose of review Cardiac sarcoidosis has high prevalence in sarcoidosis patients and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection of cardiac sarcoidosis is essential to improving patients' symptoms and cardiovascular outcomes. Recent findings Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an excellent diagnostic modality for cardiac sarcoidosis. However, early phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis have more mild imaging phenotypes. These mild and sometimes subtle imaging phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis have lower diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for cardiac sarcoidosis by CMR when compared with more severe imaging phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis. In addition, many sarcoidosis patient cohorts frequently have heterogenous potential alternative etiologies for mild myocardial disease detected by mild late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) findings. In early phenotype cardiac sarcoidosis, analysis of the LGE pattern and location can improve the diagnostic specificity of these mild LGE findings. Summary The current review focuses on the current strengths and challenges in CMR detection of early phenotypes of cardiac sarcoidosis by the LGE technique.
Post-fire Regeneration in Yellow Pine and Mixed Conifer Forests of California: Challenges, Tools and Applications for Fire-Adapted Forests

In fire-adapted forests of the North American Mediterranean-climate zone, conifer regeneration following fire is a critical phase in the development and recovery of ecosystems. In recent years, researchers have developed models and other tools to predict the extent to which natural regeneration will meet desired tree density thresholds. In this chapter we describe the current state of post-fire regeneration modeling, how management and restoration efforts can benefit from these new information sources, and how such efforts can evolve to better meet management needs as the climate warms and fires become more extensive and severe. Additionally, we identify gaps in what the current toolset provides as well as potential directions and challenges for improving these tools in the future.
Ancestry-Matched and Cross-Ancestry Genetic Risk Scores of Type 2 Diabetes in Pregnant Women and Fetal Growth - a Study in an Ancestrally Diverse Cohort.

Maternal genetic variants associated with offspring birth weight and adult type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk loci show some overlap. Whether T2D genetic risk influences longitudinal fetal weight and the gestational timing when these relationships begin is unknown. We investigated the associations of T2D genetic risk score (GRS) with longitudinal fetal weight and birth weight among 1,513 pregnant women from four ancestral groups. Women had up to 5 ultrasonography. Ancestry-matched GRS were constructed separately using 380 European- (GRSeur), 104 African- (GRSafr), and 189 East Asian- (GRSeas) related T2D loci discovered in different population groups. Among European Americans, the highest quartile GRSeur was significantly associated with 53.8 g higher fetal weight (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.2-88.5 g) over the pregnancy. The associations began at gestational week 24 and continued through week 40, with a 106.8 g (95% CI: 6.5-207.1 g) increase in birth weight. The findings were similar in analysis further adjusted for maternal glucose challenge test results. No consistent association was found using ancestry-matched or cross-ancestry GRS in non-Europeans. In conclusion, T2D genetic susceptibility may influence fetal growth starting at mid-second trimester among Europeans. Absence of similar associations in non-Europeans urges the need for further genetic T2D studies in diverse ancestries.
Comparative chemopreventive efficacy of Naproxen and NO-Naproxen in rodent models of colon and bladder cancer.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 3054 Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have proven to be very efficacious to prevent colon cancer in humans and in animal models. They are also very effective chemopreventive agents in experimental animal models of bladder and skin cancer. However the major side effect of such agents is gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding. Recently it was found that adding a nitrous oxide (NO) group to NSAIDs alleviated this GI toxicity side effect through the protective activity of NO, yet still inhibited cyclooxygenase activity. Our studies were designed to compare the chemopreventive effects of NO-naproxen with the parent compound Naproxen administered in equimolar concentrations in the diet. In the AOM-induced rat colon cancer model Naproxen was administered at 200 and 400 ppm in the diet reduced mean aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon by about 45 and 60% respectively. NO-Naproxen was likewise administered at 300 and 600 ppm by diet and reduced total ACF by 20 and 40% respectively. Importantly, Naproxen and NO-Naproxen at the higher doses reduced multi-crypt foci (4 or more) in colon by 72% and 50%, respectively. In the OH-BBN rat bladder cancer model NO-Naproxen and Naproxen were given at 550 ppm and 400 ppm in the diet respectively. After 6 months the NO-Naproxen group had a 60% decrease in palpable bladder tumors, while the Naproxen group showed a 53% decrease in incidence. These data show that both Naproxen and NO-Naproxen are effective agents against colon and bladder cancers and show similar efficacies. The decrease in gastrointestinal mucosal toxicity seen with the NO-Naproxen would give this agent a distinct advantage in clinical trials for colon or bladder cancer prevention, while the efficacy should be similar to the parent compound. Supported by NCI -CN53300 and CN43301.
Countercultural Conservatives: American Evangelicalism from the Postwar Revival to the New Christian Right

In the mid-twentieth century, far more evangelicals supported such liberal causes as peace, social justice, and environmental protection. Only gradually did the conservative evangelical faction win dominance, allying with the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and, eventually, George W. Bush. In "Countercultural Conservatives" Axel Schafer traces the evolution of a diffuse and pluralistic movement into the political force of the New Christian Right. In forging its complex theological and political identity, evangelicalism did not simply reject the ideas of 1960s counterculture, Schafer argues. For all their strict Biblicism and uncompromising morality, evangelicals absorbed and extended key aspects of the countercultural worldview. Carefully examining evangelicalism s internal dynamics, fissures, and coalitions, this book offers an intriguing reinterpretation of the most important development in American religion and politics since World War II."
Increased body mass index negatively impacts blastocyst formation rate in normal responders undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of female BMI and metabolic dysfunction on blastocyst formation rate.
Prostate specific antigen and local recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

AbstractWe evaluated the location of recurrent disease in 63 patients with carcinoma of the prostate who had abnormal levels of prostate specific antigen (>0.4ng./ml., Tandem-R† assay) 6 to 240 months after radical prostatectomy but who were otherwise considered to be without evidence of disease. The evaluation involved physical examination including digital rectal examinations by 3 urologists, isotopic bone scans, computerized tomography scans of the abdomen and pelvis, cystoscopy, and random needle biopsies of the urethrovesical anastomotic area. In 6 patients metastatic disease to the bone and/or lymph nodes was found and local prostate cancer was discovered in 5. Among 57 patients without evidence of disease by the usual methods of evaluation needle biopsies of the anastomosis revealed local disease in 42%. No local disease was discovered in 30 post-radical prostatectomy patients with normal prostate specific antigen levels. There was a wide range of transrectally palpable contours after radical prost...
Laboratory diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infections. Principles guiding the development of rapid diagnostic tests.

While the incidence of many bacterial sexually transmitted diseases appears to be decreasing, the complications and frequency of viral sexually transmitted diseases in developed countries has increased over 10-fold in the last decade. Since 1975 genital herpes simplex virus infections have increased at a rate of 12% in the United Kingdom. Significant advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, natural history, and therapy of symptomatic genital herpes has occurred in the last 5 yr. In order to properly utilize this information, however, more widespread availability of laboratory diagnostic testing for herpes simplex virus is needed. The availability of tissue culture isolation facilities for herpes simplex virus has expanded to many community hospitals. More importantly, rapid assays to detect herpes simplex virus using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescent assays and/or detection of herpes simplex virus deoxyribonucleic acid by hybridization methods have also been developed. Recent studies indicate that these assays approach the sensitivity of viral isolation when samples from mucocutaneous lesions are taken. These rapid assays have also allowed clinicians to more rapidly diagnose serious herpes simplex virus infection such as neonatal herpes and to institute antiviral therapy earlier in the course of disease. Although the specificity of these assays in high prevalence populations appears excellent, few studies have evaluated these assays in populations where the prevalence of herpes simplex virus is low. Rapid assays for herpes simplex virus also appear to have decreased sensitivity (
Atomic g-Factors of Hydrogen-Like F 19

We have used a unique method to directly measure both the atomic g-factor of the ground state of hydrogen-like F19 ions and part of the energy dependence of the charge state equilibrium. In this experiment, we precess the ion in an applied magnetic field for a fixed period of time and then use the anisotropic angular distribution of nuclear gamma rays to detect the precession.
Tropical Glaciers and Climate

Tropical glaciers and ice caps are a particularly climate-sensitive component of the environment. It is then not surprising that international efforts directed at climatic and environmental change (UNESCO, 1970; World Meteorological Organization-ICSU, 1975, pp. 7, 11, 16; International Association of Hydrological Sciences -UNESCO, 1977; Temporary Technical Secretariat for World Glaciers Inventory, UNESCO-UNEP-IASH-ICSI, 1977; United Nations Environment Programme, 1979, pp. 5–17) have identified the study of glacier and climate relationships as a task of high priority.
The Disgorgement Interest in Contract Law

Restatement Second of Contracts provided that contract law serves to protect one or more of three interests: the expectation interest, the reliance interest, and the restitution interest. There is,...
Phenotypes of stop codon and splice site rhodopsin mutations causing retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE To understand the pathophysiology of retinitis pigmentosa caused by mutations in the rhodopsin gene that lead to truncation of the protein. METHODS Heterozygotes with the glutamine-64-to-ter (Q64ter), the intron 4 splice site, and the glutamine-344-to-ter (Q344ter) mutations in the rhodopsin gene, representing families with at least three generations of affected members, were studied with clinical examinations and measurements of rod and cone sensitivity across the visual field, rod- and cone-isolated electroretinograms (ERGs), rod dark adaptation, and rhodopsin levels. RESULTS There was a range of severity of disease expression in each family, some heterozygotes having moderate or severe retinal degeneration and others with a mild phenotype. The mildly affected heterozygotes had normal results on ocular examination but decreased rod sensitivities at most loci across the visual field, abnormalities in rod-isolated ERG a- and b-waves, and reduced rhodopsin levels. Rod dark adaptation followed an approximately normal time course of recovery in patients with the Q64ter mutation. Patients with the splice site or Q344ter mutations both had prolonged recovery of sensitivity, but the time course was different in the two genotypes. CONCLUSIONS There is allele specificity for the pattern of retinal dysfunction in the Q64ter, intron 4 splice site, and Q344ter rhodopsin mutations. The pattern of dysfunction in all three mutations suggests the mutant opsins interfere with normal rod cell function, and there is subsequent rod and cone cell death.
Heteroclitic polyclonal and monoclonal anti-Gm(a) and anti-Gm(g) human rheumatoid factors react with epitopes induced in Gm(a-), Gm(g-) IgG by interaction with antigen or by nonspecific aggregation: a possible mechanism for the in vivo generation of rheumatoid factors

Heteroclitic rheumatoid factors (RF) are specific for allotypic determinants, e.g., Gm(a) or Gm(g) on allogeneic, but not autologous IgG. All polyclonal RF we isolated from nine rheumatoid arthritis patients with circulating Gm(a-), (b+), (g-), (f+) IgG displayed dual heteroclitic activity for the Gm(a) and Gm(g) allotypes, as shown by using appropriate RBC agglutination assays and affinity columns bearing Gm(a+) or Gm(g+) IgG. To investigate possible mechanisms underlying the in vivo generation of heteroclitic RF, we tested the ability of nonspecifically and immune-specifically aggregated Gm(a-), (g-) IgG to function as targets for RF from Gm(a-), (g-) patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Heat aggregation (63 degrees C for 20 min) or binding to Ag (as in tetanus toxoid-antitetanus toxoid complexes) induced a "functional" Gm(a+) and/or (g+) phenotype in Gm(a-), (g-) IgG from five healthy subjects and five rheumatoid patients, as suggested by the ability of these altered IgG to function as efficient targets for six heteroclitic RF in direct binding and competitive inhibition experiments. That heterocliticity and dual Gm(a), Gm(g) specificity can be features of a single antibody molecule was formally demonstrated by analysis of a monoclonal RF (IgM mAb 61) generated from a Gm(a-), (g-) rheumatoid patient. RF mAb 61 displayed a high affinity (Kd, 10(-7) M) for IgG Fc fragment of Gm(a+) and (g+) IgG or aggregated autologous Gm(a-), (g-) IgG but did not bind to native autologous IgG. To investigate the molecular basis of the acquired Gm(a) phenotype, PBMC from five Gm(a-) patients with rheumatoid arthritis and two Gm(a-) normal subjects arthritis and two Gm(a-) normal subjects were cultured in vitro after activation with PWM. In most instances, these PBMC produced IgG that behaved as Gm(a+) in sensitive ELISA. Application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using probes specific for the nucleotide sequence coding for the Gm(a) tetrapeptide, to the amplification of DNA from the in vitro-stimulated Gm(a-) normals or rheumatoid patients' PBMC provided no evidence for Gm(a) nucleotide sequences. The present data suggest that acquisition of the Gm(a) determinant by Gm(a-) IgG may result from subtle changes in the CH2-CH3 RF-binding region. Such changes would occur when Gm(a) IgG are complexed with Ag or nonspecifically altered, thereby providing a possible explanation for the induction of heteroclitic RF in Gm(a-) rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Sustained Release of Niridazole from Silicone Rubber Implants for the Treatment of Schistosoma Mansoni Infections

Abstract Niridazole was incorporated into silicone rubber implants to investigate the potential of a sustained release of the drug in the therapy of murine schistosomiasis mansoni. The infected animals (200 cercariae for 6 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups: one group received silicone rubber implants containing 50% by weight niridazole; a second group received blank silicone rubber implants with no drug; and the third group received no implants. Mortality 4 weeks later was in excess of 80% for animals with no implants or with the blank silicone rubber implants. In contrast, 10% mortality was observed in the mice receiving the niridazole-silicone rubber implants over a 10-week period. The worm burden in the niridazole-silicone rubber implant group was reduced at 10 weeks post implantation by 77%.
Novel Solid Redox Polymerization Electrodes Electrochemical Properties

The generic redox reaction of a class of linear sulfur‐containing redox polymerization electrodes can be described asthat is, the polymer electrode can be progressively depolymerized, leading ultimately to monomeric anions, as the sulfur‐sulfur bridges between the organic R groups are cleaved during discharge and then the monomer anions can be subsequently reoxidized back to the original polymer during charge. This is the first time the process of electrodepolymerization‐electropolymerization has been exploited for energy storage, establishing a broad class of chemically flexible, low equivalent weight, and inexpensive electrodes for advanced batteries. Electrochemical investigation of a diverse group of novel solid redox polymerization electrodes indicates that these materials are excellent candidates for all‐solid‐state, thin‐film, energy‐storage systems. Some of the advantages offered by the batteries based on these materials include high energy density and rate capability, extensive utilization of positive electrode capacity, ease of fabrication, low cost, and superior reliability, and safety. In addition, these materials are reversible to lithium and sodium (as well as many alkaline earth and transition metals), allowing for a much greater choice of negative electrode materials, in stark contrast to cells based on analogous intercalation compounds. Further, and in particular, a great advantage of redox polymerization electrodes is the ability to alter the physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties of these materials in a very predictable manner through manipulation of various functional groups, electron‐withdrawing heteroatoms, and the molecular architecture.
Dual roles for class II major histocompatibility complex molecules in staphylococcal enterotoxin-induced cytokine production and in vivo toxicity

The staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) specifically bind to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, resulting in activation of monocytes and T cells. The SE cause weight loss in mice, which is dependent on T-cell stimulation and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production. Here we use a mutant of staphylococcal enterotoxin A that binds class II MHC molecules and activates monocytes but not T cells to evaluate the relative contributions of monocyte- and T-cell-stimulatory activities to in vivo toxicity. The mutant toxin did not cause weight loss in B10. BR mice but did stimulate monocyte TNF-alpha production in vitro, as did the wild-type toxin. Addition of a supernatant from toxin-activated T cells enhanced monocyte-stimulatory activity of both mutant and wild-type toxins fivefold. The effect of the supernatant could be mimicked by recombinant gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and was inhibited by antibody to IFN-gamma. These results suggest that toxin-induced monocyte TNF-alpha production is upregulated by IFN-gamma, which likely represents the T-cell requirement in SE-mediated weight loss. Our studies thus implicate two distinct class II MHC-dependent signaling pathways for SE, the first involving direct signal transduction through class II MHC molecules mediated by either mutant or wild-type toxin and the second requiring T-cell stimulation by toxin-class II MHC complexes with consequent production of IFN-gamma. We suggest that both pathways are required for optimal monocyte TNF-alpha production in vitro and SE-induced toxicity in vivo.
Phonology in multisyllabic word recognition

The present study used two word-naming experiments to investigate whether a phonological representation is computed in the perception of multisyllabic words. In the first experiment, 100- or 250-msec beginning syllable previews were given, followed by the whole word. The results indicated that no phonological representation was computed at 100 msec, but a phonological representation was computed at 250 msec. In Experiment 2, the second syllable was given as a prime for either 100 or 250 msec. The results showed that no phonological representation was computed for the end of a multisyllabic word. Results are discussed in terms of current dual-route theory and connectionist models.
Isolation and identification of a variant of bluetongue virus serotype 11 from a ram in a bluetongue outbreak in western Texas.

Abstract A field strain of bluetongue virus was isolated from a blood sample of a ram during an outbreak of bluetongue in November 1985 in western Texas. In this bluetongue outbreak at least 25 of the 2,000 sheep were infected. Isolation was made by intravenous inoculation of 11-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. The serotype was identified as serotype 11 by serum neutralization tests. The genomic pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the new isolate is similar to that of bluetongue virus prototype 11. Comparisons were also made with proteins labeled in vivo with [3H]leucine and separated by SDS-PAGE. We conclude that this virus belongs to serotype 11, with slight differences in both genome and protein electrophoretic patterns.
Information dynamics of evolved agents

Information-theoretic techniques have received much recent attention as tools for the analysis of embodied agents. However, while techniques for quantifying static information structure are well-established, the application of information theory to the analysis of temporal behavior is still in its infancy. Here we formulate a novel information-theoretic approach for analyzing the dynamics of information flow in embodied systems. To demonstrate our approach, we apply it to analyze a previously evolved model of relational categorization. The results of this analysis demonstrate the unique strengths of our approach for exploring the detailed structure of information dynamics, and point towards a natural synergy between temporally-extended information theory and dynamical systems theory.
Perils of intravascular methylprednisolone injection into the vertebral artery. An animal study.

To The Editor: We commend Dr. Okubadejo and colleagues for the article “Perils of Intravascular Methylprednisolone Injection into the Vertebral Artery. An Animal Study” (2008;90:1932-8). They show a convincing association between intra-arterial injection of particulate steroid and catastrophic neurological injury. This study should help to eliminate remaining questions about the mechanism of injury. We offer a caution about judging the permanency of neural injury and issue a call for further study of the safety and effectiveness of nonparticulate steroids, particularly dexamethasone. In practice, patients are given days or longer to recover from neurological insult before …
Feynman’s Favorite Trick

The starting point for Feynman’s trick of ‘differentiating under the integral sign,’ mentioned at the end of Chap. 1, is Leibniz’s formula. If we have the integral $$ \mathrm{I}\left(\upalpha \right)={\displaystyle {\int}_{\mathrm{a}\left(\upalpha \right)}^{\mathrm{b}\left(\upalpha \right)}\mathrm{f}\left(\mathrm{x},\upalpha \right)\ \mathrm{dx}} $$ where α is the so-called parameter of the integral (not the dummy variable of integration which is, of course, x), then we wish to calculate the derivative of I with respect to α. We do that in just the way you’d expect, from the very definition of the derivative: $$ \frac{\mathrm{d}\mathrm{I}}{\mathrm{d}\upalpha}={ \lim}_{\Delta \upalpha \to 0}\frac{\mathrm{I}\left(\upalpha +\Delta \upalpha \right)-\mathrm{I}\left(\upalpha \right)}{\Delta \upalpha}. $$
Zoning and Land Use: A Tale of Incompatibility and Environmental Injustice in Early Phoenix

Little attention has been paid to the role of early land use institutions in development patterns, the creation of disamenity zones of environmental injustice, and the promotion of space-consuming ...
Type I IFNs and their role in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Background: Since their initial use in the 1980s, IFNs have become an essential component of the therapy for many diseases such as hepatitis and multiple sclerosis. Although they have been extremely useful in conditions that pose therapeutic challenges, complications associated with their use have been widely reported including emerging reports of several autoimmune diseases. Many of these reports have shed light on the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and helped to highlight not only the critical role of type I IFNs in defense against viral infections but also the pivotal role they occupy in the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. Many patients with autoimmune disease have increased responsiveness to type I IFNs (α/β), and therapy with these cytokines has induced or unmasked autoimmune disease in many additional patients. Objective: The objective of this paper is to discuss the role of type I IFNs in autoimmunity. Methods: The literature regarding type I IFNs and autoimmunity was reviewed...
The effect of ozone on human cellular and humoral immunity: characterization of T and B lymphocytes by rosette formation.

Abstract Eight healthy male subjects were exposed to 784 μg/m3 (0.4 ppm) of ozone for 4 hours in an environmentally controlled exposure chamber. Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after air and ozone exposures and again at 72 hours and 2 weeks. These blood samples were examined for the percentages of rosette-forming T and B lymphocytes. No statistically significant depressions in T-lymphocyte rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes were found following exposure to air or ozone. The ability of B lymphocytes to form rosettes with sensitized human erythrocytes was depressed following ozone exposure. These results suggest that surface receptors and/or the cell membranes of peripheral blood B lymphocytes may be temporarily altered following short-term exposure to ozone.
Overexpression of transforming growth factor beta-2 and its receptor in rhinophyma: an alternative mechanism of pathobiology.

Proliferative scarring is one of the clinical features of rhinophyma. The following study was undertaken to test the authors' hypothesis that fibrosis might also play an important role in the pathobiology of rhinophyma. The rhinophyma specimens were obtained from 5 white men (mean age, 67.8 years).
Magnetic Resonance Studies of Anisotropic Molecular Rotation in Liquid Acetonitrile‐d3

The magnetic relaxation times T1 for 14N and 2D in liquid CD3CN have been measured as functions of temperature and concentration of added ionic salts. With no model assumed for the reorientation process, the molecular rotation is demonstrated to be anisotropic. The further assumption of a rotational diffusion equation permits the determination of the rotational diffusion constants. At 25°C, D⊥=1.35×1011(sec)−1, and D∥=1.2×1012(sec)−1. The rotational diffusion tensor remains anisotropic over a wide range of temperatures. The addition of the perchlorates of silver, lithium, or sodium to CD3CN reduces D⊥ for bound CD3CN by a factor of 10, but leaves D∥ unchanged.
Prevention of Virus Inactivation During Drinking Water Vaccination of Poultry

Abstract Newcastle disease (N.D.) and infectious bronchitis (I.B.) drinking water type vaccines secured at the time of actual field application all had adequate viable virus to produce an immune response. I.B. vaccine having only 0.7 logs (E.I.D.50) titer at the final drinking water concentration stimulated an immune response in 4-week old chickens. Titer of both N.D. and I.B. vaccines from manufacturing source A average approximately 1.0 logs higher than vaccines from source B. N.D. and I.B. test virus suspensions were prepared in phosphate buffered saline (P.B.S.), distilled water and filtered tap water. I.B. virus titers were markedly reduced when held at room temperature. The greatest reduction was from filtered tap water, both at room temperature and when held in an ice water bath. N.D. virus filtered tap water at room temperature was also markedly reduced. The addition of powdered skim milk (P.S.M.) at 1:400 concentration overcame the adverse effects of both temperature and diluent resulting in titers which were higher than the control tests using P.B.S. and an ice water bath. As little as 1 p.p.m. of chlorine or quaternary ammonium sanitizers greatly reduced the titer of N.D. test virus. The addition of 1:400 concentration of P.S.M. neutralized the adverse effects of up to 5 p.p.m. chlorine or 15 p.p.m. quaternary ammonium. When N.D., I.B. and A.E. viruses were prepared in concentrations to approximate those used in drinking water vaccination, they were inactivated by 1 p.p.m. of either chlorine or quaternary ammonium sanitizers. The addition of P.S.M. neutralized the effect of the sanitizers. Virus neutralization tests on serums from 34 field flocks vaccinated against N.D. and I.B. without P.S.M. in the drinking water showed that 32% had not responded to the N.D. vaccine and 44% were still susceptible to I.B. When P.S.M. was used, tests on 42 flocks showed that all had given an immune response to the N.D. vaccine and only 2 (4.8%) had failed to respond to the I.B. vaccine. Results indicated the value of P.S.M. in drinking water vaccination of chickens.
Are initial radiographic and clinical scales associated with subsequent intracranial pressure and brain oxygen levels after severe traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND Prediction of clinical course and outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is important. OBJECTIVE To examine whether clinical scales (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS], Injury Severity Score [ISS], and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II [APACHE II]) or radiographic scales based on admission computed tomography (Marshall and Rotterdam) were associated with intensive care unit (ICU) physiology (intracranial pressure [ICP], brain tissue oxygen tension [PbtO2]), and clinical outcome after severe TBI. METHODS One hundred one patients (median age, 41.0 years; interquartile range [26-55]) with severe TBI who had ICP and PbtO2 monitoring were identified. The relationship between admission GCS, ISS, APACHE II, Marshall and Rotterdam scores and ICP, PbtO2, and outcome was examined by using mixed-effects models and logistic regression. RESULTS Median (25%-75% interquartile range) admission GCS and APACHE II without GCS scores were 3.0 (3-7) and 11.0 (8-13), respectively. Marshall and Rotterdam scores were 3.0 (3-5) and 4.0 (4-5). Mean ICP and PbtO2 during the patients' ICU course were 15.5 ± 10.7 mm Hg and 29.9 ± 10.8 mm Hg, respectively. Three-month mortality was 37.6%. Admission GCS was not associated with mortality. APACHE II (P = .003), APACHE-non-GCS (P = .004), Marshall (P < .001), and Rotterdam scores (P < .001) were associated with mortality. No relationship between GCS, ISS, Marshall, or Rotterdam scores and subsequent ICP or PbtO2 was observed. The APACHE II score was inversely associated with median PbtO2 (P = .03) and minimum PbtO2 (P = .008) and had a stronger correlation with amount of time of reduced PbtO2. CONCLUSION Following severe TBI, factors associated with outcome may not always predict a patient's ICU course and, in particular, intracranial physiology.
Why religious nationalists are not fundamentalists

(1993). Why religious nationalists are not fundamentalists. Religion: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 85-92.
DNA sequence quality trimming and vector removal

MOTIVATION Most sequence comparison methods assume that the data being compared are trustworthy, but this is not the case with raw DNA sequences obtained from automatic sequencing machines. Nevertheless, sequence comparisons need to be done on them in order to remove vector splice sites and contaminants. This step is necessary before other genomic data processing stages can be carried out, such as fragment assembly or EST clustering. A specialized tool is therefore needed to solve this apparent dilemma. RESULTS We have designed and implemented a program that specifically addresses the problem. This program, called LUCY, has been in use since 1998 at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR). During this period, many rounds of experience-driven modifications were made to LUCY to improve its accuracy and its ability to deal with extremely difficult input cases. We believe we have finally obtained a useful program which strikes a delicate balance among the many issues involved in the raw sequence cleaning problem, and we wish to share it with the research community. AVAILABILITY LUCY is available directly from TIGR (http://www.tigr.org/softlab). Academic users can download LUCY after accepting a free academic use license. Business users may need to pay a license fee to use LUCY for commercial purposes. CONTACT Questions regarding the quality assessment module of LUCY should be directed to Michael Holmes (mholmes@tigr.org). Questions regarding other aspects of LUCY should be directed to Hui-Hsien Chou (hhchou@iastate.edu).